Blessed Thistle 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Blessed Thistle 100 g ($13.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Blessed thistle is suggested to be an effective medicinal plant that has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. There’s a lack of preclinical and clinical evidence to clearly quantify its benefits. However, the potential effectiveness of blessed thistle continues to pique the interest of researchers due to certain compounds found in the plant, such as cnicin.

Liver  Classed as a cholagogue herb, Blessed Thistle stimulates the production of bile which assists in detoxification of the liver. This in turn leads to a decrease in symptoms associated with poor liver function such as; fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and brain fog. This liver supportive herb is often recommended to people who need to regain their appetite when recovering from illness or from certain treatments known to cause loss of appetite.

Digestion  The above mentioned stimulation of bile will in turn stimulate the production of gastric juices and saliva. This allows the body to digest fat more effectively, thus reducing cholesterol and helping to prevent gall stones. Blessed Thistle is also high in sesquiterpene lactones, such as cnicin – these lactones are reported to stimulate digestive activity by increasing the secretion of digestive enzymes which leads to improved digestion and appetite.

Blessed thistle contains bitter glycosides that stimulate the gustatory nerves, which are located in the mouth and affect the sense of taste, ultimately promoting appetite and gastric juice secretion in the stomach. (13)

It is believed that drinking blessed thistle in a tea or tonic may aid digestion and stimulate saliva. (14)

In addition, blessed thistle has natural diuretic qualities, helping support cleansing and detoxification of the body. Detoxification involves eliminating excess waste such as urine and bile, which supports the health of the liver, kidneys, and colon. (15)

Anti-Microbial   Two compounds found in Blessed Thistle – polyacetylene and cnicin – can help your body battle bacterial infections. Some studies have shown these compounds to be effective against Bacillus subtilis, Brucella species, Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis.

Anti-Viral  Research indicates (1) that blessed thistle could be promising in treating COVID-19 due to its antiviral compounds.

Anti-Inflammatory  Blessed Thistle has anti-inflammatory characteristics that have been observed to decrease or completely cease inflammation in addition to helping to remedy infections. This action is again thought to be due to the plant compound cnicin which is known to have anti-inflammatory activity. Nevertheless, persons with inflammatory bowel problems shouldn’t take this herb before getting the opinion of their personal health-care professional.

An animal study from 2020 suggested that leaf extraction and cnicin could reduce pain and inflammation.

Nursing  There is some controversy surrounding this herb’s ability to act a galactagogue (to increase milk supply). However, in a study by Tim Fei Sim et al, it was concluded that the most effective of the herbal galactagogues were Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle taken together. The findings of this study also identified a need for more scientific evaluation of these herbs and provided directions for subsequent research in this field.

Blessed thistle is often used as a “galactagogue” in conjunction with fenugreek, a common Middle Eastern spice, to support breast milk supply. (19) The word galactagogue comes from the Greek word “galacta,” meaning milk. A galactagogue is any food, herb or drug that promotes breast milk production. A healthy breast milk supply is important in facilitating breastfeeding, but some mothers may need help producing enough milk to feed a hungry infant. To promote breast milk supply, a mother should also lower her exposure to stress, and reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption. (20)

According to the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk may help to protect babies from illness. (21) The National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, says that breast milk gives infants a “better survival during a baby’s first year, including a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Research also shows that very early skin-to-skin contact and suckling may have physical and emotional benefits. Other studies suggest that breastfeeding may reduce the risk for certain allergic diseases, asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.” (22)

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding as the normal way of providing infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Colostrum is a sticky, yellow form of milk produced by the breasts of mammals (including humans) at the end of pregnancy and during the nursing stage. The WHO considers breast milk the best nutritional food for infants up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding recommended, along with age-appropriate foods, for up to two years of age. (23) The American Academy of Pediatrics also confirms the importance of breastfeeding to support a baby’s developmental health. (24)

Participants of a clinical study who used a combination herbal supplement of fenugreek and blessed thistle during breastfeeding reported breast engorgement and infants’ perceived satisfaction and fullness during feeding. However, more research is needed. (25)

Warning: Herbs such as blessed thistle or fenugreek that are used to stimulate lactation are also uterine stimulants, which may cause a miscarriage, so they should not be used during pregnancy. Other common herbs used as galactagogues are stinging nettle, goat’s rue, fennel, shatavari, or alfalfa, but caution should always be used. Herbal galactagogues may interfere with other medications or cause reactions, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before use.

Immune  People experience seasonal allergies due to an overactive immune system, which triggers histamine reactions. Essentially, your body tries to fight off what it identifies as invading substances. Herbal supplements may help calm these reactions. (16)

Active ingredients in blessed thistle include bitter substances known as sesquiterpene lactones, which keep plants in their natural environment healthy by providing defense against mild microbial attack. Consumption of such active ingredients in herbs like blessed thistle could have a similar effect on humans. (17)

In vitro studies suggest a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity of blessed thistle. However, not enough is known about the safety or efficacy of the plant, according to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.

Skin  Blessed thistle has been used externally to help treat wounds, ulcers, and injured skin. A soft cloth soaked in a poultice of blessed thistle and heated may be applied to the skin for this purpose. (18)

Nerve Repair: A 2024 study conducted in rats and rabbits indicated that cnicin may improve axon regeneration and recovery after nerve injury. However, more research is needed to determine the benefits of extracting cnicin from blessed thistle for this purpose due to uncertainty about proper dosage.

Botanical Name: Centaurea benedicta
English: Holy thistle, Lady’s thistle
Also, known as: Carduus, St. Benedict’s thistle, Cardin, Blessed cardus, Bitter thistle, Spotted thistle
Habitat: Europe
Origin: Hungary
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Plant

General Information:
Blessed thistle leaves, stems, and flowers have been traditionally used in bitter tonic drinks and in other preparation taken by mouth to enhance appetite and digestion. Being indigenous to Asia and Europe, Blessed thistle is specially raised across the globe including the USA. This is an annual plant and grows up to 2-3 feet in height. The straight stems are a brown color and covered with fuzz The leaves are lanceolate. The plant blossoms from the end of spring through summer, when it’s covered with multiple yellow flowers, appearing at the top of the plant. The leaves have a very bitter and slightly nauseous taste and a feeble odor. Cold water extracts only a portion of their properties, but boiling water acts on them fully and forms an intensely bitter decoction By treatment with acids, they yield a neutral principle called niacin, which is crystallized, without odor, soluble in alcohol, sparingly soluble in boiling water, with a bitter character, resembling a solution.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
For blessed thistle it is recommended to use 1 tsp of dried herb up to 3 times a day.