Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) can be found mostly on deserted pieces of land and it can be quite invasive once it starts growing and developing deep roots and prickly leaves. The plant is definitely a nuisance for the farmers but such a blessing for the herbalists. They start picking the young leaves, stems and yellow flowers in late spring and setting them to dry in cool, airy places, away from direct sunlight in order to keep the chemical components intact.
Blessed Thistle has quite a reputation. It was used by the ancient populations to ease digestive problems like bloating, flatulence, nausea, indigestion and lack of appetite. Modern herbalists did some more research and proved the ancients right. Blessed Thistle has many beneficial effects on the gall bladder and the liver. The bitter chemicals stimulate bile production, jumpstart the production of stomach acids and have a general tonic effect on the entire digestive system. The plant also helps the liver with the detoxification process.
Blessed Thistle can be administered as an infusion or as an alcoholic tincture. The infusion can restore the hormonal imbalance in women, thus alleviating the PMS symptoms, and it can also stimulate the production of breast milk. Applying the blessed thistle powder on some wounds can stop the bleeding and speed the healing process. The infusion is also recommended as an adjuvant in anticancer therapies, as a mild diuretic, antimicrobial and to reduce allergies and fever.
Modern scientists, herbalists and botanists try to isolate and study as many of the important chemical components of this plant as possible. Some studies are conclusive and some are not but the blessed thistle remains a plant of great importance for the humanity. Your digestive system can definitely benefit from a good, bitter tonic to help move along the many toxins, trans-fats, processed carbohydrates and other poisons that you ingest on a daily basis!
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