BLESSED THISTLE
(Cnicus benedictus)
holy thistle, St. Benedict's thistle

Description: Herbaceous, 2 ft. high, reddish, slender, much branched and unable to keep upright with weight of its leaves and flower heads. Long, narrow leaves have prominent pale veins, irregular teeth ending in spines that clasp the dull green stem. Flowers, pale yellow. Subtending the flower heads are green scales tipped with a long, brown bristle. The whole plant, including leaves, stalks, flower heads are covered with a thin down. Cultivated in the U.S., occurring in waste places when escaped.

Medicinal: Diaphoretic, emetic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, stimulant, tonic. The whole herb is used. When taken in large doses it acts as a strong emetic producing vomiting and should be used cautiously. Cold infusions of the plant (2 tsp.to 1 cup water) in small doses are helpful in weak conditions of the stomach and for producing an appetite. A warm infusion is very helpful in fevers of all kinds. Poultice or tea of the plant, externally for chilblains, wounds, sores.

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