Weed Power: Milk Thistle, Liver Disease & the Endocannabinoid System

Photo by Sarah Russo

By Sarah Russo

Indigenous to the Mediterranean region but today found throughout the world, the prickly Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is well known among herbalists as a liver tonic and a promoter of kidney and gall bladder health. Considered an invasive plant species in some areas, Milk Thistle has been used by folk healers to treat a wide range of ailments. What do Cannabis and Milk Thistle have in common? Both of these versatile “weeds” have a rich history of medicinal use going back thousands of years. And both convey significant therapeutic benefits that are mediated by the endocannabinoid system.

Originally appeared on Project CBD | Versión En Español