Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

 

Sow thistle is a nutritious plant that contains several minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc) and vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, & C), has a high carotenoid content, and is used as a sedative and diuretic. Sow thistle is also an anti-inflammatory, helping to relieve pain and inflammation.


The sap is said to be very effective in removing warts, just apply daily directly to the wart and in two weeks the wart should be gone.

Sow thistle is a good fodder for any stock. Cows, pigs and chickens love it, and I imagine it would be good for sheep and goats, as well, so you might consider encouraging or even planting it in the pasture.

Precautions:
Sow thistle is high in oxalic acid, and can contribute to the formation of kidney stones in the human body.
If you or someone else who would be consuming sow thistle has previous history with kidney stones, or has medical history with other kidney health concerns, it is recommended to avoid taking sow thistle internally.






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