medicinal herbs
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Musk Thistle

Latin name: Carduus nutans

Family: Compositae

Medicinal use of Musk Thistle:

The flowers are febrifuge and are used to purify the blood. The seeds contain a fixed oil that is rich in linoleic acid. This has proved of benefit in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Pastures, arable fields and waste places on calcareous soils.

Edible parts of Musk Thistle:

Pith of stem - boiled. A pleasant taste, it is eaten like asparagus. Said to be delicious. The dried flowers are used as a curdling agent for plant milks etc.

Other uses of the herb:

The down of the plant is used to make paper. The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression. This species contains 41 - 44% oil.

Propagation of Musk Thistle:

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Cultivation of the herb:

Pastures, arable fields and waste places on calcareous soils.

Known hazards of Carduus nutans:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.