Whole Milk Thistle Seed | 453 g | Frontier Co-op

Frontier Co-op Milk Thistle Seed comes in a 453 g pack of whole herb, the seed arriving intact, neither ground nor extracted, traditionally used to support liver function. What distinguishes this form is that the decision to grind, how much and when, stays in the user's hands rather than on a production line. It is sought by anyone who prefers the herb raw over a ready-made capsule, and by anyone who prepares herbal drinks at home.

What is milk thistle?

Milk thistle is an annual plant of the daisy family (Asteraceae), scientific name Silybum marianum, native to the Mediterranean basin. The hard dark seed is the part of the plant intended for use, not the leaf or the flower, because in the seed alone gather the flavonolignans known collectively as silymarin (Silymarin). The name milk thistle itself comes from the white sap that appears when the leaf vein is broken.

Benefits of milk thistle seed

• Liver function support: milk thistle seed is credited with a supporting role for the liver cell during the biotransformation stages taking place inside it.
• Meeting oxidative stress: silymarin compounds behave as scavengers of free radicals in tissue.
• Assisting fat digestion: steady liver activity is tied to bile secretion, and bile is what emulsifies the fats in a meal.
• Assisting liver cell renewal: studies point to an association between silymarin and support for protein synthesis inside the liver cell.
• Natural fibre: the seed with its hull carries an amount of fibre of which nothing remains in a concentrated extract.
• Freedom over the amount: the whole seed leaves the user to set the quantity and the preparation method according to their own use.

How silymarin works inside the body

Silymarin begins its work at the liver cell membrane, embedding itself in the lipid bilayer, altering its permeability and making entry of certain compounds into the cell harder. It also participates in preserving the glutathione reserve, the pivotal molecule in the second phase of liver processing, where compounds are conjugated with molecules that prepare them for excretion. Silymarin is further credited with an association with supporting the activity of RNA polymerase inside the liver cell nucleus, the step preceding the synthesis of new proteins.

What sets this pack apart

Frontier Co-op milk thistle seed arrives whole in a pack weighing 453 g, a form entirely unlike a standardised extract inside capsules. The hard seed hull is a natural fence shutting oxygen and light away from its contents throughout storage, and that alone explains why grinding at the moment of use is preferred over buying a pre-ground powder. The 453 g weight serves daily use or regular preparation of an infusion, and it leaves setting the amount and the preparation method to the user.

Who is this herb for?

• Anyone who prefers herbs in raw form over packaged extracts.
• Anyone who prepares herbal infusions and decoctions at home.
• Anyone who adds ground seed to food or to a blended drink.
• Anyone who wants a large pack lasting a long period of use.

How to use

Grind milk thistle seed fresh immediately before use, then steep it in hot water to prepare an infusion, or sprinkle it over food, or add it to a blended drink. Grinding on demand is preferable to storing ready-ground powder, because silymarin compounds oxidise on long contact with air. Some fat alongside supports the extraction of these compounds, since they are closer to fat-soluble than water-soluble. Keep the pack closed in a dry place away from light.

Product details

• Form: whole unground seed
• Weight: 453 g
• Scientific name: Silybum marianum
• Part used: the seed
• Brand: Frontier Co-op — United States

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between whole milk thistle seed and a standardised extract?

Whole seed presents the plant with all its compounds in their natural proportions along with the fibrous hull, whereas a standardised extract goes through industrial processing until it reaches a defined percentage of silymarin. For that reason the amount used of each differs greatly and neither is measured against the other.

Should milk thistle seed be ground before use?

Grinding milk thistle seed before use is preferred because its hard hull prevents its contents from being released into water or in the digestive tract. Grinding on demand is better than keeping a powder left exposed to air for a long stretch.

What does milk thistle seed taste like?

Milk thistle seed tastes mildly bitter with a nutty note alongside, and it shows more clearly in an infusion than in food. Mixing it with honey or with other aromatic herbs softens the edge of the bitterness.

Cautions

• Not intended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.
• Consulting a doctor is necessary when taking chronic medication, because milk thistle compounds interact with the liver enzymes that process many medicines.
• To be avoided by anyone allergic to daisy family plants such as ragweed and chamomile.
• Not to be used as a substitute for a balanced diet.