Image 1 of 1
Blessed thistle is an herb used for various medicinal purposes, primarily to aid digestion, stimulate appetite, and relieve symptoms like indigestion, heartburn, and diarrhea. It is also traditionally used to promote breast milk production in nursing mothers, help with coughs and colds, and has potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. It is typically consumed as a tea, tincture, or capsule.
Uses and benefits
Digestive health: Stimulates appetite and helps with indigestion, heartburn, gas, and diarrhea, partly due to tannins that may relieve these issues.
Respiratory issues: Used in traditional medicine to help with coughs and colds.
Lactation: Widely used as a galactagogue to help increase breast milk production in nursing mothers.
Wound healing: Topical applications on gauze can be used for boils, wounds, and ulcers.
Other traditional uses:
Increasing sweating
Promoting menstrual flow
Supporting the liver
Treating bacterial infections
How to use
Tea: Brew the flowering parts of the plant as a tea. A common method is to steep 1 teaspoon of dried herb in hot water.
Capsules or tinctures: Available in supplement form, often taken several times a day.
Topical use: Soaking gauze in blessed thistle can be applied to the skin for wound care.
Important considerations
Allergies:
People with allergies to plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) should use caution.
Drug interactions:
May decrease the effects of medications that reduce stomach acid, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) or famotidine (Pepcid).
Pregnancy:
Not recommended for pregnant individuals.
Medical conditions:
Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially if you have severe liver or kidney conditions.