Carduus Benedictus, Blessed Thistle

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
Koehler's Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887
Medical Botany, Woodville, 1810
Botanical name:
Carduus benedictus

Parts used:
Herb; Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, pungent
attenuates, opens, discusses, and is cordial

Classification:
2F. PURIFYING
3A. SUDORIFICS & DIAPHORETICS.    3C. ALEXIPHARMIC.   3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS.   3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE.   3M. ARTHRITIC
4c. CARDIAC.   4d. PECTORAL.   4e. STOMACHIC

Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison, Promotes Sweat:
-Cold, Flu, acute Cough, Allergies

2. Clears Wind-Heat, Calms the Liver, stops Wind:
-Headache, Migraine, Dizziness

3. Clears Damp-Heat:
-obstructions of the Liver; Jaundice, Cholecystitis

4. Clears Phlegm-Heat, Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-Cough, Wheezing

5. Promotes Digestion:
-promotes appetite and strengthens Digestion (as a bitter)

6. Tonic:
-strengthens the principle Organs (Brain, Heart, Liver, Stomach, Lungs and Kidney)

7. Promotes Milk
-promotes and enriches Breast Milk

8. Kills Worms

9. Externally:
-poultice to sores and swellings
-externally to stop Gangrene (as a poultice)
-stubborn, indolent and gangrenous Ulcers

Main Combinations:
1. A good way to use is to decoct Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
2. Fever:
i. Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
3. Antidote against Wind-Cold infection: Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
4. Asthma:
i. Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
5. Cholagogue: Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
6. Inflammations, Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version
7. Diarrhea, Blessed Thistle with  ... available in PRO version

Major Formula
Bitter Decoction
Decoction to Promote Appetite
Syrup of Balm (Fernelius)
Tincture Against Asthma
Tincture for Suppressed Menstruation
Powder Against Toxicity and Venom (Wecker)


Cautions:
Some have said it shouldn't be used in Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:
Powder, Distilled Water, clarified Juice, Spirit, Distilled Oil, Conserve, Syrup, and an Extract