|
|
The use of blessed thistle has been recorded as far back as the early sixteenth century for treating smallpox, fever, anorexia, dyspepsia, indigestion, constipation, and flatulence. It popularly regarded as a galactagogue, although some leading herbalists do not believe it has this property.
Biological name: Compositae Cnicus benedictus
Other names: St. Benedict Thistle, Holy Thistle, spotted thistle, cardin
This plant, which scarcely exceeds 2 feet in height, has a coarse, erect, branched, and rather woolly stem. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches long, more or less hairy, with margins lobed and spiny. The yellow flower heads which appear from about May to August are borne at the ends of the branches, almost hidden by the upper leaves, and are about 1 1/2 inches long. Surrounding the flower heads are leathery scales, tipped with long, branching, yellowish-red spines. The herb has a rather disagreeable odor which is lost in drying.
Click Above
To Enter Store Now!
Premium Organic Herbs! 100% Organic Purest Herbs!
A very bitter, antiseptic and antibiotic herb, used mainly as a digestive tonic in herbal remedies.
The biological activity of the herb is ascribed to the bitter substances found within the herb - sesquiterpene lactones of the germacrane type, with its main constituent, cnicin, as well as artemisiifolin and soloniternolide. The bitter taste is partly due to trachelogenin and arctigenin. It furthermore contains polyacetylenes, triterpenes and flavonoids, as well as a volatile oil containing p-cymene, citronellol, cuminal, as well as cinnamaldehyde and benzaldehyde.
The bitter terpenoid lactones can form bonds with proteins and are known to have antiphlogistic and antibacterial activities. The cnicin has shown anti-tumor activity, while the bitter principles stimulate the secretion of digestive juices and saliva and help to increase appetite.
|
|
