Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to contain blessed thistle. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with their pharmacist or health care provider before starting.
Scientists have studied blessed thistle for the following health problems: Viral infections | Blessed thistle has been observed to have antimicrobial effects in laboratory studies. However, reliable studies in humans are lacking. | Stomach upset | Historically, blessed thistle has been recommended as a treatment for stomach upset, indigestion and gas. There is only limited study in this area, and it is not clear what the effects of blessed thistle may be on the stomach. | Induced abortion | Although blessed thistle has been used traditionally to induce abortion, there is limited study in humans. It is unclear what dose may be safe and effective. |
Blessed thistle has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult a health care provider before taking blessed thistle for any unproven use. Anorexia
Antibiotic
Antimicrobial
Appetite stimulant
Astringent
Bleeding
Blood purification
Boils
Breast milk stimulant
Bubonic plague
Cancer
Cervical dysplasia
Choleretic
Colds
Contraception
Diarrhea
Digestive tonic | Diuretic
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)
Expectorant
Fever
Gallbladder disease
Inflammation
Jaundice
Liver disease
Malaria
Memory enhancer
Menstrual cramps
Menstrual stimulant
Salivary stimulant
Skin ulcers
Sweating stimulant
Wound healing |
Allergies People should avoid blessed thistle if they have a known allergy to blessed thistle, mugwort, Echinacea or any member of the Asteraceae or Compositae plant families. In theory, people with allergies to bitter weed, blanket flower, chrysanthemum, coltsfoot, daisy, dandelion, dwarf sunflower, goldenrod, marigold, prairie sage or ragweed may be likely to have allergies to blessed thistle as well. Signs of allergy may include rash, itching or shortness of breath. Side Effects Blessed thistle is usually considered to be safe when used at recommended doses for short periods of time. Some people experience stomach discomfort, including vomiting. Other side effects may include eye irritation or skin rash. These adverse effects may be the result of blessed thistle allergies. Other side effects may include kidney disease, liver toxicity or cancer of the nose or throat. The risk of developing these complications is believed to be greater if blessed thistle is used at high doses or for long periods of time. In theory, blessed thistle may increase the risk of bleeding. If you use anticoagulants (blood thinners) or antiplatelet drugs and are considering using blessed thistle, discuss this with your health care provider. Because blessed thistle is believed to increase the production of stomach acid, it is best if people with a history of stomach ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease avoid using products that contain blessed thistle. From laboratory studies, there is preliminary evidence that some components found in blessed thistle may increase the risk of cancer or birth defects. High doses of blessed thistle have caused death in mice. Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided when driving or operating heavy machinery. Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding Blessed thistle has been used historically to stimulate menstruation or induce abortion. Therefore, it cannot be recommended during pregnancy and breast-feeding because of the risk of birth defects or spontaneous abortion. Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Interactions with drugs, supplements and other herbs have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with your health care provider or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements. Interactions With Drugs In theory, blessed thistle may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulants (blood thinners) or antiplatelet drugs. Examples include warfarin (Coumadin), heparin and clopidogrel (Plavix). Some pain relievers may also increase the risk of bleeding if used with blessed thistle. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox). Because blessed thistle is believed to stimulate stomach acid production, it may decrease the effectiveness of antacids and drugs that inhibit the actions of stomach acid, such as famotidine (Pepcid) or esomeprazole (Nexium). Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and may cause nausea or vomiting when taken with metronidazole (Flagyl) or disulfiram (Antabuse). Antibiotics, antineoplastic drugs, and antiviral drugs may interact with blessed thistle. Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements In theory, blessed thistle may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with products such as Ginkgo biloba and garlic ( Allium sativum). Antacids, antibacterials, anti-inflammatories, antineoplastics and antivirals may interact with blessed thistle.
The doses listed below are based on scientific research, publications or traditional use. Because most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly studied or monitored, safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients even within the same brand. Combination products often contain small amounts of each ingredient and may not be effective. Appropriate dosing should be discussed with a health care provider before starting therapy; always read the recommendations on a product's label. The dosing for unproven uses should be approached cautiously, because scientific information is limited in these areas. There are no standard or well-studied doses of blessed thistle, and many different doses are used traditionally. Essiac is a combination product that contains blessed thistle, burdock root, Indian rhubarb, sheep sorrel, inner bark of slippery elm, watercress, red clover, and kelp. Essiac is an unproven cancer therapy. Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Tincture: A dose of 7.5 to 10 milliliters (one and a half to two teaspoons) of tincture containing blessed thistle (concentration of 1.5 grams per liter) has been taken by mouth three times daily. Liquid extract: A dose of 1.5 to 3 milliliters of a liquid extract of blessed thistle (1:1 gram per milliliter in 25 percent alcohol) has been taken by mouth three times daily. Infusion: A dose of 1.5 to 2 grams of blessed thistle in 150 milliliters of water has been taken by mouth three times daily. Tea: A dose of 1.5 to 3 grams of dried blessed thistle flowering tops steeped in boiling water has been taken as a tea three times daily. Or a dose of one to three teaspoons of blessed thistle herb placed in one cup of boiling water for five to 15 minutes has been used three times daily before meals. Children (Younger Than 18) There are not enough scientific data to recommend blessed thistle for use in children, and blessed thistle is not recommended because of potential side effects.
Blessed thistle has been suggested as a treatment for many conditions, but there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of blessed thistle for any medical condition. Blessed thistle may increase the risk of bleeding and may aggravate stomach ulcer diseases. It should be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding women and in children. Consult your health care provider immediately if you have any side effects. The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
- Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research
Selected Scientific Studies: Blessed Thistle Natural Standard has reviewed all of the currently available medical literature to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created. Some of the more recent studies are listed below: - Anonymous. Essiac for cancer? Treatment update 1998;10(5):4-5.
- Kataria H. Phytochemical investigation of medicinal plant Cnicus wallichii and Cnicus benedictus L. Asian J Chem 1995;7:227-228.
- Maeda Y, Mitsuya H. Antiretroviral chemotherapy against AIDS. Med Biol Environ 1995;23:267-278.
- Natural Standard Research Collaboration, Chief Editors: Ulbricht C, Basch E, Natural Standard Herb and Supplement Reference - Evidence-Based Clinical Reviews, USA: Elsevier/Mosby, 2005.
- Pfeiffer K, Trumm S, Eich E, et al. HIV-1 integrase as a target for anti-HIV drugs. Arch STD/HIV Res 1999;6:27-33.
- Ryu SY, Ahn JW, Kang YH, et al. Antiproliferative effect of arctigenin and arctiin. Arch Pharm Res 1995;18(6):462-463.
- Yang L, Lin S, Yang T, et al. Synthesis of anti-HIV activity of dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1996;6(8):941-944.
Last updated September 04, 2008
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