Galen's Garden
for the Natural Care
of Rabbits, Guinea Pigs
& Chinchillas
Latin Name: Silybum marianum
Family: Compositeae
Height: 30-50cm
In herbal medicine the seeds are used but rabbits & cavies can be fed the whole plant.
A safe food for rabbits and guinea pigs of all ages but particularly nursing does and sows.
Only the leaves and softer, young stems should be fed as animals normally refuse the harder stems
Constituents: Flavones silybin,silydianin andsilychristin; essential oils, bitter principle; mucilage.
Actions: Cholagogue, galactagogue, and demulcent.
Sources: Milk Thistle is one of the main ingredients in Galen's Garden's Herbal Tincture Blend V, Lactation Support
Herbs and Wild Plants
Constituents and Actions
Agrimony |
Avens |
Borage |
Calendula |
Cats Claw |
Celery |
Chanca Piedra |
Chickweed |
Chicory |
Cleavers |
Coltsfoot |
Comfrey |
Cornsilk |
Dandelion |
Echinacea |
Elder Flower |
Fennel |
Fenugreek |
Garlic |
Goats Rue |
Golden Rod |
Groundsel |
Inula |
Lemon Balm |
Maca |
Mallow |
Marshmallow |
Meadowsweet |
Melilot |
Milk Thistle |
Mouse Ear |
Nettles |
Parsley |
Plantain |
Raspberry Leaf |
Red Clover |
Rosehip |
Shepherds Purse |
Suma |
Valerian |
Yarrow
Herb uses, myths and herb/drug interactions
From Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information
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Herbs and Wild Plants
Constituents and Actions
Agrimony |
Avens |
Borage |
Calendula |
Cats Claw |
Celery |
Chanca Piedra |
Chickweed |
Chicory |
Cleavers |
Coltsfoot |
Comfrey |
Cornsilk |
Dandelion |
Echinacea |
Elder Flower |
Fennel |
Fenugreek |
Garlic |
Goats Rue |
Golden Rod |
Groundsel |
Inula |
Lemon Balm |
Maca |
Mallow |
Marshmallow |
Meadowsweet |
Melilot |
Milk Thistle |
Mouse Ear |
Nettles |
Parsley |
Plantain |
Raspberry Leaf |
Red Clover |
Rosehip |
Shepherds Purse |
Suma |
Valerian |
Yarrow
Herb uses, myths and herb/drug interactions
From Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information