Carduus Marianus – St. Mary’s Thistle (Silybum)

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried ripe seeds of Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn. N.O. Compositae.

The total symptomatology of Carduus Marianus focusses on conditions of the liver, both feverish and otherwise, with diarrhoea or constipation, also icterus, gall- stone colics and as a supplementary remedy in ascites.

Carduus Marianus has also been used empirically with success in coughing with stitches in the side, in affections of the pleura and peritoneum, and in congestive states and abnormal bleeding of the uterus.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Silybum marianum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for carduus marinus: affections of the liver and gallbladder; haemorrhoids and spasmodic contractions (cramps); rheumatism of the shoulders and hips.