Thistle Blessed
|
Botanical Name |
Cnicus benedictus |
|
Family |
Asteraceae (Compositae) –Daisy |
|
Other Names |
Carbenia benedicta, carduus benedictus, holy thistle |
|
Habitat |
Coast |
|
Description |
Leaves: grey-green, thin, brittle, pale veins, irregularly toothed margins, each tooth ending in a spine. Flower heads 2 cm long, 4 cm broad, bristly involucral scales |
|
Native to |
Mediterranean, Asia |
|
Cultivated in |
Europe, America |
|
Parts used |
Aerial parts, seeds |
|
Harvesting |
Leaves and flower whilst in bloom June-august Seeds in autumn |
|
Preserving |
Dry in shade, then cut them up |
|
Classification |
Bitter |
|
Actions |
Anti-bacterial, anti-haemorrhagic, antiseptic, astringent, bitter tonics, diaphoretic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactagogue, stimulant, vulnerary |
|
Constituents |
Flavonoids, essential oil, tannins Lignans –arctigenin, trachelogenin, nortracheloside, 2-acetylnortacheloside Sesquiterpene lactones, cnicin, salonitenolide Volatile oil –cinnamldehyde, cuminaldehyde, citronellol, fenchone, paraffins Polyacetylenes Lithospermic acid, potassium, manganese salts Carbohydrates: mucilage 12-20%; sugars-glucose, sucrose; starch |
|
Combines with |
Meadowsweet, balmory, kola, tormentil |
|
Digestion |
Anorexia nervosa, diarrhoea |
|
Dosage |
1.5-5gm dried powder 3xs daily |
|
Notes |
It was named blessed as it was known to be a good cure all herb “Cnicus” is derived from the Greek “knekos” of safflower “carduus” is derived from the Latin meaning spiny “Benedictus” is from the Latin meaning blessed |
Thistle Carline
|
Botanical Name |
Carlina vulgaris |
|
Family |
Asteraceae (Compositae) –Daisy |
|
Habitat |
Sand dunes |
|
Description |
Biennial with purplish flowering stems up to 30cm/12in with 1-5 flower heads. Stiff, shiny inner bracts spread about the flower head like ray florets to close up at night or in bad weather July –September |
|
Cultivation |
Chalk and limestone |
|
Part used |
Whole herb |
|
Harvesting |
Root –autumn |
|
Actions |
Diaphoretic, diuretic, vulnerary |
|
Constituents |
Essential oil, sesquiterpenes, tannin, inulin |
|
Genito-urinary |
Cystitis |
|
Other Notes |
The name comes from medieval emperor Charlemagne who used it to heal his soldiers |
Thistle Cotton
|
Botanical Name |
Onopordom acanthium |
|
Family |
Daisy |
|
Other Names |
Scotch thistle, wooly thistle |
|
Habitat |
Roadsides, waste ground, fields |
|
Description |
Biennial up to 2.5m covered with cotton like hair. Stems: erect Flowers: purple solitary July-September |
|
Native to |
Europe, Asia |
|
Constituents |
Bitters, tannins, flavone-glycosides |
|
Other Notes |
The emblem of Scotland |
Thistle Globe
|
Botanical Name |
Echinops ritro |
|
Description |
Perennial up to 90cm/3ft |
|
Cultivation |
Full sun |
Thistle Milk
|
Botanical Name |
Silybum marianum |
|
Family |
Asteraceae (Compositae) |
|
Other Names |
Carduus marianus, Marian thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle |
|
Habitat |
Waste ground especially near the sea. |
|
Description |
Spiny annual/biennial up to 1.5m/5ft tall. Leaves dark green, spiny with intricate white veins. Flowers purple, rayless, solitary with sepal like bracts ending in sharp yellow spines June – August bracts end in yellow spines |
|
Native to |
Europe |
|
Part Used |
Whole herb |
|
Actions |
Cholagogue, demulcent, galactagogue, hepatoprotective |
|
Constituents |
Essential oil, bitter principle, mucilage Flavolignans: (known as silymarin) silybin with isosilybin, dihydrosilybin, silydianin, silychristin Flavonoids: based on pigenin, kaempferol, luteolin Triterpenes: beta-sitosterol |
|
Culinary Uses |
Leaves boiled, stems stewed, flowers cooked |
|
Digestive |
Liver, gallbladder, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis |