Blessed Thistle Herb Benefits
The stems, leaves and flowers of blessed thistle have been used traditionally in the form of bitter tonic drinks and in combination with other preparations taken orally to enhance appetite and digestion. Various laboratory tests are been conducted on this herb for its usefulness in health conditions like cancer treatment, infection and inflammation, however high quality scientific researches for human benefits are lacking.
Health Benefits of Holy Blessed Thistle Tea
The health benefits listed below are based on the unclear scientific evidences carried on blessed thistle. The chemicals in blessed thistle – cnicin and polyacetylene can be helpful in fighting bacterial infections as they have activity against several types of bacteria. Traditionally blessed thistle is considered to stimulate stomach acid secretion and has been used for the treatment of indigestion and flatulence (gas problem).Traditionally blessed thistle was used in the treatment of digestive disorders like flatulence and indigestion as it helps to increase the production of stomach acids. Blessed thistle is also used in various natural appetite stimulants and digestion enhancement tonics and so it can be used in the treatment of anorexia.
It can also be used to treat certain types of diarrhea as it acts as a bile flow stimulant.
Blessed thistle is as an astringent and helps to prevent excessive bleeding and so it is included in several natural remedies for wounds, boils, and skin ulcers. Blessed thistle is believed to have blood purifying properties and is often used to treat yeast infections.
Blessed thistle has been proved to be an effective breast milk stimulant and is often used in combination with Fenugreek seeds to help treat insufficient or delayed milk production. Blessed thistle may also be used to treat cervical dysplasia, jaundice, malaria, and liver, bladder, and menstrual disorders. But all these effects are based on scientific theories and not been thoroughly tested for its safety and effectiveness in humans.
Side Effects of Blessed Thistle
When used for short period of time orally, blessed thistle is generally considered to be safe with few reported side effects. However when high doses of blessed thistle are administered it may cause stomach irritation and vomiting. A patient with stomach ulcers, hiatus hernia, reflux diseases, or Barrett’s esophagus intake of blessed thistle is not advisable as traditionally it is believed to elevate stomach acid secretion. Long term intake of tannins present in blessed thistle can lead to liver disease, kidney toxicity, and gastrointestinal upset or increased risk of developing esophageal or nasal cancer.Patients with bleeding disorder should take blessed thistle with a word of caution as it may increase the risk of bleeding. Also patients taking medications for the same might require dose adjustments if on blessed thistle supplementation. Skin contact with blessed thistle can lead to skin and eye irritations. It is advisable to avoid blessed thistle during pregnancy as traditionally it is used to stimulate menstrual flow and cause abortions. Also tinctures with high alcohol levels are not recommended during pregnancy. Due to limited information regarding the safety of its use in lactating mothers, it is not recommended during breastfeeding although it is believed to stimulate breast milk flow. Due to these effects there are chances of blessed thistle interacting with other drugs, supplements or herbs. So it is advisable to take this herb under recommended doses and strict supervision of a health care professional.
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