Milk Thistle: Preparation, Benefits & Tea Recipes

Milk thistle is considered a medicinal plant; milk thistle seeds have been used to treat extreme cases of hepatitis and liver degeneration with remarkable effects. Milk thistle tea can be prepared using either the seeds or the leaves of the plant. The seeds have a greater medicinal benefit than the leaves, as they contain silymarin, but the leaves still have benefits, particularly for those with liver, gall bladder and mild digestive complaints.

Milk Thistle Tea From Seeds

Crush the milk thistle seeds with a mortar and pestle; transfer them to a small pan.

Use a mortar and pestle for easy crushing.
Add three cups of water and bring to the boil on the stovetop.

Take care when boiling water.
Remove the pan from the stovetop. Steep the milk thistle seeds for around 20 minutes, then strain with the sieve.

Use a sieve to strain the tea.

Milk Thistle Tea From Leaves

Chop 1 1/2 milk thistle leaves.

Use a knife to finely chop the leaves.
Boil water and pour one cup of it over the leaves.

One cup of boiling water is required.
Steep the leaves for five to ten minutes, then strain.

You only need to steep the leaves for up to ten minutes.

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