Family: Compositae (Asteraceae)
Synonyms: Cnicus benedictus, Carduus benedictus, Blessed Thistle

Part Used:

The entire herb — especially the leaves and flowering tops — is collected in July when the plant begins to bloom. Harvesting is best done at noon on a dry, dew-free day.

Chemical Composition:

Blessed Thistle contains:

• Volatile oil

• Cnicin — a bitter, crystalline compound similar to salicin, soluble in alcohol and slightly in water.

Plant Description:

Blessed Thistle grows up to 2 feet tall, with reddish, slender, and heavily branched stems that struggle to stay upright under their leaves and flower heads. The leaves are long, narrow, and spiny-edged, clasping a dull green stem with pale veins. Its pale yellow flowers appear in green, spiny heads. The whole plant is covered in a fine, soft down and can vary in compactness depending on the soil.

Cultivation:

An easy-to-grow annual:

• Propagated by seeds in ordinary soil.

• Sow seeds in spring or in early autumn for a winter harvest in sheltered areas.

• Seedlings should be spaced 2 feet apart.

While sometimes found in waste places in England as an escape from cultivation, it’s not native there.

Therapeutic Uses:

Blessed Thistle has long been valued in herbal medicine for its diverse actions:

• Tonic

• Stimulant

• Diaphoretic (promotes sweating)

• Emetic (induces vomiting in large doses)

• Emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow)

Applications:

• In large doses, acts as a gentle emetic with minimal discomfort.

• In smaller, cold infusions, it serves as a digestive tonic — improving appetite and easing nausea.

• Traditionally used for:

  • Weak digestion

  • Loss of appetite

  • Indigestion

  • Intermittent fevers

  • Menstrual irregularities, especially due to cold.