Description

Native to Siberia, and a big part of the Russian herbal tradition. Extremely hardy and ornamental medicinal. Named after the Maral deer that dig and eat the root during rutting season. Root and seeds are used as adaptogens. In Russia, used as an ergogenic to enhance strength and endurance in athletes. Useful in recovery after an illness, often combined with Eleuthero Root.

Roots are harvested in autumn of the second year.

Very thistle-like – these plants are dramatic and attractive with deeply-cut foliage that will grow to 2′ in all directions. Flower stalks are topped with big violet-pink Centaurea-like blooms and can grow to 5′. Likes part shade and moist, but not waterlogged, garden soils. It will not overwinter in wet soil.

You can use the seeds of this herb instyead of the roots, which are hard to work with – almost as you would Milk Thistle. Seeds are produced abundantly. Seeds contain 4x the ecdysterones than the root (2% vs 0.5% – according to Finnish research), and the seeds have become the focus of recent studies.