Description

OVERVIEW
Blessed thistle has been revered since the Middle Ages in Europe for its use as a digestive stimulant and nutritive tonic. It was also eaten as a vegetable. This herb is approved by the German Commission E for its ability to increase appetite and support the digestive process, and is also an approved food additive in the United States for its flavoring of liqueurs such as Benedictine.

BOTANY
Blessed thistle has long narrow leaves with white veins and spines, is entirely covered with fine hairs, and boasts yellow flowers with prickly green flower heads that are similar to those of its cousins artichoke and milk thistle. This annual is native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia where it is often found growing as a weed in waste places with poor rocky soil.

CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING
The leaves and flowering tops are best collected in the summer, just after flowering, in the late morning after the dew has evaporated.

HISTORY AND FOLKLORE
First used in Ayurvedic medicine, blessed thistle eventually made its way to Europe. By the early sixteenth century, it had gained footing in European folk medicine and was cultivated widely in monastery gardens. Even the famous poet Shakespeare mentioned blessed thistle in his play Much Ado About Nothing.

Spiritually, it is associated with purification and therefore used in purification baths. It is also believed that wearing a bit of it would protect one from evil. Further, it was associated with the planet Mars, the zodiac sign of Aries, and the element fire.

In the United States and Germany, blessed thistle has been used in various formulas, particularly as a component of digestive bitters. Many of the other thistles, such as milk thistle, have similar qualities to blessed thistle. Milk thistle, in particular, has been used to support the healthy functioning of the liver. According to herbalist Michael Moore, blessed thistle may be used similarly to other bitters, like barberry and gentian, that stimulate the upper gastrointestinal.

Blessed thistle is also a part of the secret recipe used to make the Benedictine liqueur. As the story goes, in 1510, a Benedictine monk, Don Bernardo Vincelli, created the recipe for this liqueur that contains 27 different herbs, including angelica, hyssop, and lemon balm. It is said that only three people on earth (at a time) know the complete recipe for making it.

FLAVOR NOTES AND ENERGETICS
Cooling and drying energetically with bitter taste.

USES AND PREPARATIONS
Dried leaves and flowering stems.
Fresh leaves as a tincture or cooked as a vegetable.

HERBAL MISCELLANY
Blessed thistle is closely related to other Centaurea species that are often referred to as ‘knapweeds’ and are considered highly invasive species.

PRECAUTIONS
Specific: Persons with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae family (such as feverfew, chamomile, or Echinacea species) should exercise caution with Blessed Thistle as allergic cross-reactivity to Asteraceae plants is common.
General: We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.