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Blessed Thistle Carbenia benedictus

Cnicus benedictus

Common Names

Blessed Thistle , Holy thistle, St. Benedict's thistle

Botanical Name

Carbenia benedictus

Family

ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE Sunflower family

Blessed Thistle Medicinal Properties & Benefits
Common Uses:	Cancer Prevention * Digestion/Indigestion * Female Tonics * IBS * Liver * Pregnancy *
Properties:	Tonic* Stimulant* Diaphoretic* Diuretic* Galactagogue* Anti-inflammatory* Febrifuge*
Parts Used:	Root, aerial parts and seeds
Constituents:	bitter compound (cnicine), alkaloids, mucilage, tannin, small amount of essential oil.

Blessed thistle is a bitter tonic, and as such is an excellent herb to use for both the liver and digestion. Take a half cup hot, before heavy meals to aid digestion. The herb is also a directic and induces perspiration, and helps the liver to repair itself. These actions can help purify the system and rid the body of toxins.

There is supporting research to suggest that blessed thistle has anti-tumor and anticancer effects. This adds another reason for those who are at risk for cancer to consider the use of blessed thistle as a tonic herb.

Blessed thistle is a traditional tonic for women

Dong quai and wild yam, along with other estrogenic herbs can be used in combination with blessed thistle to treat menstrual difficulties, and other conditions where a womans hormones need to be brough back into balance. One of the traditional used for blessed thistle in herbal medicine is that of a galactaloge, an herb that stimulates a mothers milk. It can also be applied externally as a poutice herb to treat chilblains.

Side Effects:

Large doses, such as more than five grams in a cup of tea may provoke vomiting. Not recommended for use for those with an ulcer, or during pregnancy

How to Use: Blessed Thistle

Preparation Methods :Traditionally taken as a tea, also used in extracts. Can be applied as a external poultice.

Remedies using : Blessed Thistle Hot Flashes Tea*

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Certified Organic Blessed Thistle

Cnicus benedictus Origin-USA

PRODUCT DETAILS

Certified Organic Blessed Thistle extract

(Cnicus benedictus) Extracted from: Flowering head and leaf

PRODUCT DETAILS

Blessed Thistle Medicinal Uses & Benefits

Blessed Thistle for :Combat tumors
	According to research, all parts of the plant show some ability to combat tumors. The active constituent, cinicin, cools inflammation, fights bacteria and reduces fluid retention James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Blessed thistle for :Liver tonic
	Blessed thistle is an excellent tonic for the liver and is known to repair damaged liver cells. . A distinctive bitter, blessed thistle can be used as a digestive aid before meals. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Blessed Thistle for :Galactagogue
	Stimulates blood flow to the mammary glands to enrich and increase breast milk

Blessed Thistle for :Cancer
	A plant whose leaves, stems, and flowers have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems. Blessed thistle may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The scientific name is Cnicus benedictus. Also called cardin, holy thistle, spotted thistle, and St. Benedict's thistle. NIH. Definition of Blessed Thistle. (), National Cancer Institute

Blue Cohosh for :Hormonal imbalances
	Beneficial for hormonal imbalances, used most often in combination with other herbs in women who have menstrual difficulties.

Blessed Thistle for :Combat tumors
	According to research, all parts of the plant show some ability to combat tumors. The active constituent, cinicin, cools inflammation, fights bacteria and reduces fluid retention James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Blessed thistle for :Liver tonic
	Blessed thistle is an excellent tonic for the liver and is known to repair damaged liver cells. . A distinctive bitter, blessed thistle can be used as a digestive aid before meals. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Blessed Thistle for :Galactagogue
	Stimulates blood flow to the mammary glands to enrich and increase breast milk

Blessed Thistle for :Cancer
	A plant whose leaves, stems, and flowers have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems. Blessed thistle may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The scientific name is Cnicus benedictus. Also called cardin, holy thistle, spotted thistle, and St. Benedict's thistle. NIH. Definition of Blessed Thistle. (), National Cancer Institute

Blue Cohosh for :Hormonal imbalances
	Beneficial for hormonal imbalances, used most often in combination with other herbs in women who have menstrual difficulties.

Plant Description
Related Species Do not confuse blessed thistle with its cousin, milk thistle Cardus marianus, both thistles share the common name Holy thistle, along with many of the same properties and uses, but they are two entirely different plants, from different plant families.
Koehler's Medicinal-Plants 1887 A handsome annual plant, thistle grows about 2 feet high, is reddish, slender, with pale yellow flowers.
History and Traditions
Medieval monks held this plant in high esteem, as the name suggests and considered it a cure for everything from smallpox to headaches, being supposed to even cure the plague. It has been stated that the herb was first cultivated by Gerard in 1597, but as this book was published twenty years previously it would appear to have been in cultivation much earlier, and in fact is described in the Herbal of Turner in 1568. ^{(Grieve, M.)}
Astrology:
It is an herb of Mars, and under the sign of Aries. Now, in handling this herb, I shall give you a rational pattern of all the rest; and if you please to view them throughout the book, you shall, to your content, find it true. It helps swimming and giddiness in the head, or the disease called vertigo, because Aries is in the house of Mars. It is an excellent remedy against the yellow jaundice and other infirmities of the gall, because Mars governs choler. It strengthens the attractive faculty in man, and clarifies the blood, because the one is ruled by Mars. The continually drinking the decoction of it, helps red faces, tetters, ring-worms, because Mars causeth them. It helps the plague, sores, boils, and itch, the bitings of mad dogs and venomous beasts, all which infirmities are under Mars; thus you see what it doth by sympathy. ^{Nicholas Culpeper}
Folklore, Myths and Legends

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