BLESSED THSTLE CNICUS BENEDICTUS

BLESSED THISTLE (Cnicus benedictus L.) ++

Activities (Blessed Thistle):
- Allergenic (1; APA); Analgesic (f; APA); Antibacterial (1; APA; CAN; PED); Antidiarrheic (1; CAN); Antiedemic (1; CAN; PH2); Antihemorrhagic (f; PNC); Antigonadotropic (1; CAN); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; CAN; SKY); Antileukemic (1; CAN); Antipyretic (f; CAN); Antiseptic (1; APA; PH2; PNC; WBB); Antitumor (1; APA; CAN; PH2); Aperitif (1; APA; PH2; VVG); Astringent (1; CAN); Bitter (1; APA; PED; PH2; PNC); Carminative (1; BGB); Cholagogue (1; BGB; PH2; PHR; VVG); Choleretic (1; APA); Contraceptive (f; WBB); Cytotoxic (1; PH2); Depurative (f; EFS); Diaphoretic (f; APA; FAD; PED; WBB); Diuretic (f; EFS; FAD; PH2); Emetic (f; PED; WBB); Emmenagogue (f; APA; EFS; PED); Expectorant (f; PNC); Fibrinolytic (1; APA); Gastrogogue (2; APA; KOM; PH2; VVG); Hemostat (1; APA; WBB); actagogue (f; APA; FAD; PED); Sialagogue (2; APA; KOM; PH2; SKY); Stimulant (f; PED); Stomachic (1; CAN; PNC; VVG); Swelling (1; PH2); Tonic (f; VVG; WBB); Uterosedative (f; WBB); Vermifuge (f; EFS; HHB; WBB).

Indications (Blessed Thistle):
- Amenorrhea (f; APA); Anemia (f; HHB); Anorexia (2; APA; KOM; PH2; SKY; VVG); Arthrosis (1; APA; VVG); Asthma (f; HHB); Atony (f; HHB); Bacteria (1; APA; CAN; PED); Bleeding (1; APA; HHB; PNC; WBB); Bronchosis (f; HHB); Bursitis (1; APA); Cancer (1; APA; CAN; WBB); Cancer, abdomen (f; JLH); Cancer, breast (f; JLH); Cancer, colon (f; JLH); Cancer, intestine (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, stomach (f; JLH); Catarrh (1; PNC); Chilblain (f; HHB); Cold (f; PH2); Colic (1; CAN); Cholecystosis (1; APA; HHB); Diabetes (f; VVG); Diarrhea (1; BGB); Dyslactea (f; APA; FAD; PED);
Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; PED); Dyspepsia (2; APA; KOM, PH2; SKY); Edema (1; CAN); Enterosis (1; BGB; CAN; HHB; WBB); Escherichia (1; HHB); Fever (f; APA; CAN; FAD; PED; PH2; WBB); Gangrene (f; CAN); Gas (2; BGB); Gastrosis (f; BGB; HHB); Gout (f; HHB); Heartburn (f; SKY); Hemorrhoid (F; HHB); Hepatosis (1; APA; HHB); Hypochondria (f; HHB); Hysteria (f; HHB); Infection (1; APA; PNC); Inflammation (1; APA; CAN; SKY); Leukemia (1; CAN); Neurasthenia (f; HHB); Pain (f; APA; CAN); Plague (f; APA); Rheumatism (1; APA); Sclerosis (f; JLH); Scrofula (f; EFS); Sore (1; CAN; PH2; VVG); Splenosis (f; JLH); Staphylococcus (1; HHB); Swelling (1; CAN; PH2); Tuberculosis (1; HHB); Tumor (1; APA; CAN; PH2); Water Retention (f; EFS; FAD; PH2); Worm (f; EFS; HHB; WBB); Wound (1;
APA; PH2; PNC; VVG).

Dosages (Blessed Thistle):
- 4000 - 6000 mg/day; 1.5 - 2 tsp chopped leaf/cup water, before meals; 1.5 - 3.0 g dried flowering shoots, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 10 - 20 drops extract in water; 1.5 - 3 ml liquid herbal extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 4 - 6 g herb/day (KOM; PH2); 1.5 g herb/cup water (HHB); 2 - 4 tbsp fresh herb (PED); 3 - 6 g dry herb (PED); 4.5 g dry herb:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water (PED); 2 - 4 ml liquid herb extract (PNC); 2 (360) mg) capsules 3 ×/day (APA).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Blessed Thistle):
- Class 2b (AHP). Commission E reports contraindications: hypersensitivity to the plant and other Asteraceae; adverse effects of allergic reactions (AEH). High doses (>5 g/cup tea) may irritate the stomach and cause vomiting (AHP). Safety not established. Excessive use during pregnancy and lactation should be avoided. In view of emmenagogue citations, use in pregnancy discouraged (PED). Avoid this herb completely during pregnancy. In view of the lack of toxicity data, excessive use of holy thistle should be avoided (CAN). Also known as St. Benedicts thistle, used in Benedictine. A strong
emetic; vomiting can occur in overdoses. Stimulates gastric activity, avoid if you have an ulcer. Use only with medical supervision (TMA, 1996).

Extracts (Blessed Thistle):
- Antitumor activity reported for the whole herb; and cnicin, which also has antibacterial, antiedemic, antiinflammatory (~ = indomethacin), antileukemic effects; cnicin LD50 = 1.6 - 3.2 µM/kg; causing writhing (ED50 = 6.2 µM/kg). Extracts as potent an antiinflammatory as indomethacin (APA).