Blessed Thistle
Cnicus benedictus G.
“Blessed thistle is used to stimulate secretion of gastric juices and saliva, to increase appetite and facilitate digestion, and to stimulate the flow of bile. It has been used as a minor component of the alternative cancer remedy Flor-Essence and has antibacterial and antifungal activity. Other pharmacologic activities for blessed thistle include blockade of gonadotropin and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there are no reported human clinical trials for any of these uses.”
- https://www.drugs.com/npp/blessed-thistle.html
"The blessed thistle has a bittering power of 1:1800, which is quite substantial. Hence, the blessed thistle is mainly classified as a bitter, although it also has additional carminative and cholagogic action. Because of its bittering power, blessed thistle is a popular ingredient in liqueurs, such as benedictine."
- Herbal Medicine, 2nd edition
a.k.a.
holy thistle
