Silymarin is an annual or biennial herb of silymarin in Compositae, with a height of 1.2 meters. The stem is upright, ribbed, rarely unbranched, the leaves are of the same color on both sides, green, with white flower spots, thin texture, large head inflorescence, the middle and outer layers of the involucral bracts are wide spoon shaped, oval, long rhombic to lanceolate, the bracts are hairless, and the outer and outer bracts are hard and leathery. The florets are red purple, rarely white, the filaments are short and wide, the achenes are flattened, the crown hairs are multi-layer, setose, white, and bloom and bear fruit from May to October.
This kind of achene is used as medicine. It is bitter and cool in nature and taste. It has the functions of clearing away heat, detoxifying, protecting liver and gallbladder.
Bitter, cold. Clearing away heat and dampness; Soothe the liver and benefit the gallbladder.