Getting to Know Herbs: Blessed or Holy Thistle

in #gardening6 years ago (edited)

Blessed thistle has seen wide use since the Middle Ages as it was seen as a cure-all. It's still used today, but it's main use has been as an ingredient in herbal tonics. A warm infusion is used as a galactogogue to promote lactation for nursing mothers. It's also been used as a contraceptive.


Photo by @krnel

The scientific botanical name is Cnicus benedictus, with other common names like St. Benedict's thistle and spotted thistle, as well as Carbenia Benedicta, Cardo Bendito, Cardo Santo, Carduus, Carduus Benedictus, Chardon Béni, Chardon Bénit, Chardon Marbré, Cnici Benedicti Herba, Cnicus, Safran Sauvage, St. Benedict Thistle.


Cookie/wikimedia - CC BY-SA 3.0

Key Points

  • not very edible, but can be eaten
  • used during Middle Ages to treat bubonic plague
  • treats coughs, colds and fever
  • found all over the world

History

In Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing, a tincture made of blessed thistle is recommended to treat a cold.

Where is it found?

Blessed thistle is an annual that is native to Southern Europe and Mediterranean region, from Portugal to Iran. It's been introduced in other parts of the world, including North America. The map shows where it's been reported, but likely is in more places. It can be found in Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Chile, Czech, Europe, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kurdistan, Macedonia, Mediterranean, North Africa, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Turkey, Uruguay.

Look for it in dry and sunny places, such as arable, stony or waste grounds.

What's it used for?

The flowering tops, stems and leaves are used to make medicine. During the Middle Ages it was commonly used to treat the bubonic plague. Monks used it as a tonic.

In modern times, blessed thistle is made into a tea to treat loss of appetite and indigestion. It's also used to treat colds, cough, fever, bacterial infections, diarrhea and as a diuretic to increase urine output and promote the flow of breast milk.

Treating skin oils, wounds and ulcers can be done by soaking a gauze is blessed thistle before application.

Alcoholic beverage manufacturing has used blessed thistle as a flavoring.

None of the plant's parts are considered edible due to the bitter taste, but they can be eaten nonetheless. Flowers can be harvested before they open. Roots can be boiled as a pot herb.

The seeds can produce a good quality oil.

Are there any risks?

High doses of more than 5 grams per cup of tea can induce stomach irritation and vomiting. Oral use it not recommended if pregnant. Those with intestinal problems, such as infections, Crohn's disease, and other inflammatory conditions should also avoid as it might irritate the stomach and intestines.

Those allergic to the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants should avoid it, this includes plants like ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others.

Antacids, H2-blocking medicines, and proton pump inhibitors interact with blessed thistle, as it increases stomach acid while and work against the desired effect of lower stomach acid.


References:


Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal


Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.


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I see that blessed thistle has multiple uses including contraception. That is pretty wild. Also a very interesting name and something can be blessed and still have thistles or hurt. Thanks for sharing as I enjoyed reading about it @krnel

I think it's because it was seen as a cure-all, and for the plague. So blessed it was ;)

Woo! Love your post! We've given you a full upvote with a chance to be featured in the weekly curation. Hope this helps you continue to write such amazing posts. We encourage you to keep using the #naturalmedicine tag so we can more easily find you.

If you're a supporter of all things natural healing, and haven't already got on board our collective, you might like to read our introductory post here. We'd also love to welcome you on Discord here!!

What an informative series you're writing! We wonder about the herbs that affect you personally!

Thanks ;)

I think I have seen that growing in my lawn before, that's a tenacious weed.

Yes, it's a prickly bugger of a weed, but turns out it can be helpfull ;)

My acupuncturist suggested I drink some dandelion tea and so I bought some, even though it is a weed that grows everywhere!

You are giving me understanding of the importance of herbs. I some how prefer the use of herbs to refined drugs

Yes, better to trust nature more and use manufacture drugs only when they are required without other recourse that can't be naturally done (like better diet, exercise, etc.)

Wow. I love this. Well detailed description and great image quality. Keep it up. Thank you 😘😘

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What do you love about it?

Actually I have been seeing this type of plant around the neighborhood but I don't really know it has medical advantage. Now I know.

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Fantastic work sir

What do you think is fantastic about it?

You described about blessed use and good effective side and careful way. People will really happy with your this helping blogg.

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