Top 40 Herbs of North America Series - Blessed Thistle
Hey there! I’m back for part 5 of our Top 40 herbs of North America Series. Today we will be playing with Blessed Thistle!
Blessed Thistle has been cultivated in monastery gardens for hundreds of years, giving it one of its common names, St. Benedict’s Thistle. Despite the plant having been consumed like a food in medieval times, it is not particularly nutrient rich or tasty. While it is known to contain Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, and Manganese, its constituents seem to play the more active role in how this plant supports the body. It contains a lactone called cnicin, bitter glycosides, tannins, mucilage, and other active constituents.
In all bodies the nutrients and constituents from this herb can assist to stimulate the natural cleansing and eliminative processes of the digestive system, but especially the liver. It can promote tone of the cardiovascular and lymphatic tissues, and stimulate blood and lymph flow. Both of these bodily functions are essential to a healthy response to heat in the body during times of immune compromise. Other active constituents found in the plant can discourage the growth of microbial immune compromises.
Blessed Thistle is also known for supporting the health of the reproductive tissues. It can help to discourage irregular cell growth, especially in glandular tissues, and stimulate immune response to immune compromises in reproductive tissues. Additionally, it can help to balance menstruation in women, and promote lactation after birth.
This is another water-loving herb. While it can often be found in capsules by itself or in formulas, the nutrients and constituents from this plant are most accessible by the body when it is prepared as a tea or extraction of some kind.
