Cnicus benedictus L.

Gezegende distel

Familie: Asteraceae - Samengesteldbloemigen (Composieten).

Materia medica: Cnici benedicti herba = tijdens de be­gin­nende bloei­tijd ingezamelde blade­ren en bloeiende toppen.

Indicaties:

- Gebrek aan eetlust, maagatonie

- Cholereticum, cholagogum

- Licht bloeddruk verlagend (Meere ?)

- Antireumaticum (elimineert urine­zuren en ureum)

- Koorts

Receptuur:

- 1 koffiel. = 5 g

- Decoct 2', 2g/kop/3 x daags vóór eten, meer kan braakwekkend zijn

- Infuus

Vloeibaar extract: 100 tot 400 dr./d. Kan lichte euforiever­schijnse­len veroorzaken zoals hash ?

Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus L. [Asteraceae]) is a Mediterranean weed; it is occasionally found in North America (Hitchcock and Cronquist, 1987). The dried aerial parts are used as a galactagogue; (Gladstar, 1993; Grieve, 1971; Weed, 1986) it is considered to be one of the best galactagogue herbs. It is usually taken in capsules or as a tea. It is said to work by stimulating the flow of blood to the mammary glands, and thereby enriching the milk flow (Gladstar, 1993), but this theory has not been confirmed in a laboratory or clinical setting. There have been no clinical trials of blessed thistle as a galactagogue.

Blessed thistle was historically reputed to be a heal-all, and was even said to heal the plague. (Grieve, 1971) It is recommended for birthing and nursing mothers because of its hemostatic properties, which reduce the likelihood of postpartum hemorrhage (Gladstar, 1993), and because of its antidepressant effects (Weed, 1986).

Famed for its ability to increase milk supply, Cnicus benedictus is best used as a tincture; up to 20 drops, two to four times daily is the usual dose. It is said to remove suicidal feelings and lift depression as well. -Weed, 1986: 85 Blessed thistle is approved by the German Commission E for loss of appetite and dyspepsia (Blumenthal et al., 2000). It is rich in a sesquiterpene lactone called cnicin (Blumenthal et al., 2000), which stimulates digestive enzymes and bile secretions (Blumenthal et al., 2000; Gladstar, 1993). The Commission E does not recommended blessed thistle for use during pregnancy and lactation, and its popularity as a galactagogue is not mentioned in their monograph (Blumenthal, 2000). The plant is strongly emetic in large doses (Grieve, 1971), so it should not be overused. It is reputedly an effective emmenagogue and thus should be avoided by pregnant women (Bartram, 1998).

Meer info:

Blessed Thistle Complete Monograph: http://www.mcp.edu/herbal/blessedthistle/blessedthistle.pdf

Blessed Thistle Patient Fact Sheet:

http://www.mcp.edu/herbal/blessedthistle/blessedthistle.ph.pdf

Cnicus benedictus Internetlinks

Cnicus Benedictus.—Blessed Thistle. | Henriette's Herbal Homepage

Blessed thistle: MedlinePlus Supplements

Blessed Thistle, Herb Monograph - Flora Health Herb Encyclopedia