Cnicus benedictus – cut bitter plant

Native to the warm regions of southern Europe and western Asia, blessed thistle was a staple plant in medicinal herb gardens. It is often used in seasonal herbal tea blends or as a one-off treatment. Its characteristic bitterness stimulates the senses and recalls the ancient traditions of Benedictine herbalism.

Description

Fragments of yellowish-green leaves and stems, dry texture, sometimes thorny. Strong grassy odor, very bitter taste.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Blessed thistle, sacred thistle, blessed thistle
• Latin name: Cnicus benedictus
• Family: Asteraceae
• Part used: Aerial part (leaves, stems, flowers)
• Form: Cut, dried
• Origin: Mediterranean Basin, Asia Minor
• English name: Blessed thistle
• Name in German: Benediktenkraut
• Name in Spanish: Cardo bendito
• Name in Italian: Cardo benedetto
• Name in Arabic: الشوك المبارك (al-Shawk al-Mubārak)

Main virtues

Used in traditional bitter infusions, in combination with other tonic or digestive plants. Also present in some artisanal herbal liqueur recipes. Sometimes used externally in ancient herbal compresses.

Main constituents

Sesquiterpene lactones (cincin), flavonoids, mucilages, tannins, phenolic acids.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 teaspoon per cup, infuse for 10 minutes in simmering water.
• Decoction: boil for 5 minutes, let infuse for 10 minutes, filter.
• External use: concentrated decoction for local application as a compress.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Very bitter plant: moderate use recommended.
• Not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• May irritate the stomach in case of increased digestive sensitivity.

History and origin

Considered a sacred medicinal plant in the Middle Ages, blessed thistle was featured in monastic gardens and ancient pharmacopoeias for its tonic properties. It owes its name to its use by Benedictine monks in fortifying preparations.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: away from light and humidity.
• Packaging: loose in kraft bag or airtight jar.
• Appearance: green to yellow, dry, fibrous fragments.
• Odor: strong, herbaceous.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Corpus of European monastic plants
• Ancient herbaria and historical pharmacopoeias
• Collections of traditional bitter infusions

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

Disclaimer

The Apophycaire brand, the aromacentre.fr website, and SAS LPBE disclaim all liability for the use of the information on this site. Each individual is responsible for the use of these products and must ensure that their use is appropriate for their health.