Cnicus benedictus - HerbWorld

HERBALPEDIA 

Cnicus benedictus 

[NYE-kus ben-uh-DICK-tus] 

Family: Compositae 

Names: Holy thistle, bitter thistle, spotted 

carduus, sacred thistle, bitterweed, blessed 

carduus, cursed thistle, our lady’s thistle, St. 

Benedict’s thistle, spotted thistle, Fuller’s 

Thistle; Drapacz Lekarski, Bernardynek 

(Polish); Bernardinerdistle (German); Chardon 

bénit (French); Cardo santo (Spanish) 

Description: A prickly, rounded bush with a 

height of 2 feet and a width of 1.5 feet. The 

flowers are yellow, 1 ½ inches, partially 

concealed by the leaves. The leaves are prickly 

with pale veins, deeply indented with veins and 

surrounded by sharp, 1-inch spines. The fruit 

are sharp spines surrounding the seed pods 

filled with small seeds. Blooms from July to 

September. 

Cultivation: Annual that germinates in 1-3 

weeks. Space 12-14 inches. Soil temperature 

65-70F for germination. Soil is dry, fairly poor 

is suitable. Full sun. Propagate by seed. The 

THISTLE, BLESSED 

flowering top parts are collected before the 

flowers have passed their prime. Dry them in 

the shade and cut them up after drying. The 

seeds are collected in fall when the plant has set 

them. 

Constituents: essential oil, bitters, 

sesquiterpene lactones (cnicin), alkaloid, 

lignans, polyacetylenes, flavonoids, triterpenes, 

phytosterols and tannins. 

History: The Greeks called this herb knekos or 

thistle, which came cnicus to the Romans. In 

medieval days, it was called carduus 

benedictus, or “blessed thistle,” because its 

virtues made it considered a cure-all. Others 

say the scientific name benedictus was given in 

honor of St. Benedict, who founded the 

religious order that bears his name and grew 

the plant. Many different formulas through the 

centuries used blessed thistle, including plague 

treatments. Monks in medieval Europe were 

very fond of blessed thistle and added it as a 

tonic to their elixirs and as a cure for smallpox. 

It was even said to strengthen the emotions, as 

Shakespeare knew when he wrote in Much Ado 

About Nothing, “Get you some of this distilled 

Carduus Benedictus and lay it to your heart; it 

is the only thing for a qualm…I mean plain 

holy thistle.” Included in the liqueur 

Benedictine. 

Properties: A very bitter, antiseptic, 

antibiotic herb that acts mainly as a digestive 

tonic. It is also expectorant, checks bleeding, 

encourages healing, lowers fever and stimulates 

lactation. 

Medicinal Uses: Blessed thistle has been used 

as a treatment for liver disorders, as well as 

menstrual problems. It seems to detoxify the

liver. In many European countries blessed 

thistle tablets are prescribed along with 

acetaminophen or aspirin to counterbalance the 

potential liver damage these drugs can cause. 

Many women take blessed thistle to regulate 

their periods. It seems to stimulate the appetite 

and many herbalists prescribe it to their 

anorexic patients. It is often combined with 

other herbs that are beneficial to the liver, such 

as milk thistle, artichoke or red clover. The 

leaves are considered one of the best herbs for 

increasing mother’s milk. Blessed thistle is 

antibiotic, destroying staph and other 

infections, although it has not proved very 

effective against harmful intestinal bacteria. 

Externally used as a healing balm for wounds 

and ulcers. Combines well with turtlehead and 

cola for anorexia and with meadowsweet, 

agrimony and cinquefoil for diarrhea. 

Combinations: 

With peppermint, elder flowers, and ginger for 

colds, fevers, and backache. 

Indigestion due to a sluggish state of the 

digestive system: balmony and cola 

Diarrhea: meadowsweet and tormentil 

Dosage: 

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 tsp 

of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10-15 

minutes. Drink 3 times a day 

Tincture: take 1-2ml of the tincture three times 

a day 

Homeopathy: Homeopaths use Carduus 

benedictus for nausea, left-sided stomach pain, 

gallstones, surging of blood, homesickness, 

intermittent fever, and enlarged liver, especially 

when eye symptoms are present and there is a 

sensation of contraction in many parts 

Toxicity: Avoid large dosages, which are 

emetic and laxative. 

Ritual Uses: An herbe which holds the ability 

to help a priest move into the more positive 

aspects of men’s mysteries, blessed thistle is 

not known for its exceptional taste yet serves 

well in the ritual cup. It may be powdered and 

added to an incense mixture or tossed into the 

fire as an offering. When working with sexual 

magick, blessed thistle assists in bringing the 

potent sexuality of Pan to manifestation within 

the priest. It may also be used in general when 

invoking any of the fertility gods. It is 

sometimes associated with Yule, used to invoke 

the newly born Sun. It is an herb of protection 

used in the ritual bath. It is also used to 

counteract hexing. Thistle brings spiritual, 

physical and financial blessings. A shirt with 

thistle fibers woven into it will protect the 

wearer from any evil spell. The herb has been 

used to make magical wands and to conjure or 

communicate with spirits. Herbe of Mars and 

Aries. 

Culinary Uses: It can be eaten raw in 

sandwiches and salads, or taken powdered in 

wine or tea. 

References: 

A Compendium of Herbal Magick, Paul Beyerl, 

Phoenix Publishing, 1998; ISBN: 0-919345-45-X 

A Druid’s Herbal, Ellen Evert Hopman, Destiny 

Books, 1995; ISBN: 0-89281-501-9 

The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia, Kathi Keville, 

Mallard Press, 1991; ISBN: 0-7924-5307-7 

Resources: 

Companion Plants, www.companionplants.com 

seed 

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http://www.herbalpedia.com Editor: Maureen Rogers. Copyright 2006. 

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Cnicus benedictus - HerbWorld

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