Blessed Thistle Herb

Profile: Cnicus benedictus is a Mediterranean-native Asteraceae annual. It features long, narrow leaves and a spiky, green flowerhead. Thistle has been used in European herbalism since the Middle Ages. Blessed thistle is used in extracts and cordials.Details: Blessed thistle has been used as a digestive stimulant and nutritional tonic since the Middle Ages. Also a vegetable. This plant is certified by the German Commission E for its capacity to promote appetite and support digestion. In the U.S., it's used to flavor liqueurs like Benedictine.Blessed thistle leaves and flowering tips are finest picked in late summer when dew has dissipated.Blessed thistle came to Europe through Ayurvedic medicine. By the early 1600s, it was popular in European folk medicine and monastic gardens. Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing mentions blessed thistle.Spiritually, it's employed in purifying baths. It's also thought to protect from evil. It was linked to Mars, Aries, and fire.Blessed thistle is