Blessed Thistle
Botanical Description & Habitat
Cinicus benedictus
Family
Compositae
Common Names
| Bitter thistle | Blessed cardus |
| Cardin | Cardus |
| Our Lady's thistle | St. Benedict thistle |
| Spotted thistle |
Habitat
An annual plant native to southern Europe and western Asia, cultivated elsewhere and occasionally found wild in North America.
Description
The branched stem of blessed thistle is approximately 2 feet in height and produces oblong, pinnatifid, spiny leaves; both stem and leaves are hairy. The leaves are bright green on the upper surface and whitish on the underside. The flowers are yellow, situated on branch ends and almost hidden by upper leaves; they are about 1 inch long, 1-3/9 inches wide, and are tipped with long, reddish spines. The flowers bloom from May to August.
Medicinal Parts
Aerial parts - dried, collected between June and July.
Historical Properties & Uses
Blessed thistle is one of the bitters. As such it is used as a cholagogue to stimulate the appetite, to increase the flow of bile and other digestive juices, to prevent and treat liver disease and as a general glandular tonic.
The cholagogue effect has been observed experimentally. Other uses of the plant, as an expectorant, diuretic and diaphoretic, have not experimentally investigated.
This herb is approved by the German Commission E for loss of appetite and dyspepsia.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
The cholagogue potential of blessed thistle has been somewhat validated. This activity is attributed to the presence of heterocyclic nitrogen-containing constituents.
Antimicrobial terpenoids (sesquiterpene lactone, cnicin) are present in blessed thistle.
Blessed thistle has proven antibiotic activity against Staphylococci.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
The use of diuretics, such as blessed thistle, may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs.
The tannin in blessed thistle may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in tea made from this herb may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
Comments
There is evidence to show combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the bacteriostatic agent. However, how this finding applies to herbal anti-infectives is still unknown.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Large doses of blessed thistle are emetic, producing severe vomiting. Cnicine, a constituent of the herb, is very bitter, and concentrated doses may cause burns in the mouth and esophagus. Cnicine may also cause diarrhea.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Dried flowering tops
1.5-3 grams
Tea
1/2-1 tsp of dried flowering tops
Fluid extract
1:1 in 25% alcohol, 1.5-3 ml
This herb is approved by the German Commission E for loss of appetite and dyspepsia.
The daily dosage is 4 - 6 g
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Chiles, V.K. 1968. Drug interactions and the pharmacist. Canadian Pharaceutical Journal. 101(7). pp. 241-247.
Committee on Pharmocopaeia of the Am Institute of Homeopathy, The Homeopathic Pharmacopaeia of the United States. 8th ed., Vol 1. Otis Clapp and Son, Agents, Boston, l981.
Goldner, M.G., H. Zarowitz & S. Akgun. 1960. Hyperglycemia and glycosuria due to thiazide derivatives administered in diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine, 262(Feb 2). pp. 403-405.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. Macmillan, NY. Hansten, P.D. 1968. Antidiabetic drug interactions. Hospital Form. Management, 4(2). pp. 30-32.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Hyde, F.F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Assoc: West Yorks, England, 1983
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
Korte, F. & Beckmann, G. Naturwissenschaften, 45, 390, 1958.
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, E. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Ohigashi, H. & T. Mitsui. Antimicrobial substances in higher plants. Botyu-kagak, 38(3), 165-180, 1973.
Reuter, H.D. Fortschritte in der arzneimittelforschung. Zeitschrift Der Allgemein Medizin, 59, 1309-1312, 1983.
Scientific Committee, British Herbal Pharmocopaeia, British Herbal Med Assoc, Lane House, Cowling, Na Keighley, West Yorks, Bd Bd220lx, l983
Tuttle, C.B. 1969. Drug interactions. Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 22(5-6). pp. 2-15.
Vincent, D. & G. Segonzac. Higher plants having antibiotic properties. Toulouse Med., 49, 669, 1948.
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