27-7-2012 : Another useful herb: Blessed Thistle=Holy thistle =Cnicus benedictus=Carduus benedictus
Another useful herb: Blessed Thistle=Holy thistle =Cnicus benedictus=Carduus benedictus
Blessed Thistle=Holy thistle (Cnicus benedictus=Carduus benedictus] : medical plant
Was once considered a panacee [good for everything!], therefore the addition: benedictus [blessed]
Used parts:Leaves and flowers
Main use in short: all kind of gastrointestinal problems [gall bladder] and improves appetite.
Cnicus has a wide range of antibacterial activity: Esch coli , proteus, pseudomonas, Staphyl aureus and even brucella.
I have seen one patient who after treatment for brucella never got back to good health and rapidly improved after taking cnicus.
It increases secretion of saliva and gastric juice [achlorhydrya] and improves appetite
High in minerals: calcium,magnesium,potassium,manganese.
Further Use:
Positive effect on the gall bladder [the stools may become whitish pale, clay-colored if there is insufficient bile secretion], anti fever, antibacterial [see above], stimulates breast milk
Helps digestion[especially of fats] and absorption, against nausea, against gas[flatulence,bloating], useful for constipation.
Especially in older age there is often a lack of stomach acid [gastric juices] and cnicus can help increase the secretion of these juices as well as the secretion of saliva [dry mouth]
It seems to have been used for girls who had delayed puberty and a lack of breast development
In animal experiments it has shown activity against lymphoid leucemia.[leukemia]
Safety: quite safe ,not advised in pregnancy, but fine during breastfeeding [can help with milk secretion][galactogogue]
Use: easiest as a tincture some 40 to 60 drops 3 times per day
In too high dose in can cause nausea.