B
FAD; PH2); Emetic (f; PED; WBB); Emmenagogue (f; APA; EFS; PED); Expectorant (f; PNC);
Fibrinolytic (1; APA); Gastrogogue (2; APA; KOM; PH2; VVG); Hemostat (1; APA; WBB);
Lactagogue (f; APA; FAD; PED); Sialagogue (2; APA; KOM; PH2; SKY); Stimulant (f; PED);
Stomachic (1; CAN; PNC; VVG); Swelling (1; PH2); Tonic (f; VVG; WBB); Uterosedative (f;
WBB); Vermifuge (f; EFS; HHB; WBB).Indications (Blessed Thistle) — Amenorrhea (f; APA); Anemia (f; HHB); Anorexia (2; APA;
KOM; PH2; SKY; VVG); Arthrosis (1; APA; VVG); Asthma (f; HHB); Atony (f; HHB); Bacteria
(1; APA; CAN; PED); Bleeding (1; APA; HHB; PNC; WBB); Bronchosis (f; HHB); Bursitis
(1; APA); Cancer (1; APA; CAN; WBB); Cancer, abdomen (f; JLH); Cancer, breast (f; JLH);
Cancer, colon (f; JLH); Cancer, intestine (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, stomach
(f; JLH); Catarrh (1; PNC); Chilblain (f; HHB); Cold (f; PH2); Colic (1; CAN); Cholecystosis
(1; APA; HHB); Diabetes (f; VVG); Diarrhea (1; BGB); Dyslactea (f; APA; FAD; PED);
Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; PED); Dyspepsia (2; APA; KOM, PH2; SKY); Edema (1; CAN);
Enterosis (1; BGB; CAN; HHB; WBB); Escherichia (1; HHB); Fever (f; APA; CAN; FAD;
PED; PH2; WBB); Gangrene (f; CAN); Gas (2; BGB); Gastrosis (f; BGB; HHB); Gout (f;
HHB); Heartburn (f; SKY); Hemorrhoid (F; HHB); Hepatosis (1; APA; HHB); Hypochondria
(f; HHB); Hysteria (f; HHB); Infection (1; APA; PNC); Inflammation (1; APA; CAN; SKY);
Leukemia (1; CAN); Neurasthenia (f; HHB); Pain (f; APA; CAN); Plague (f; APA); Rheumatism
(1; APA); Sclerosis (f; JLH); Scrofula (f; EFS); Sore (1; CAN; PH2; VVG); Splenosis (f; JLH);
Staphylococcus (1; HHB); Swelling (1; CAN; PH2); Tuberculosis (1; HHB); Tumor (1; APA;
CAN; PH2); Water Retention (f; EFS; FAD; PH2); Worm (f; EFS; HHB; WBB); Wound (1;
APA; PH2; PNC; VVG).Dosages (Blessed Thistle) — 4000–6000 mg/day; 1.5–2 tsp chopped leaf/cup water, before
meals; 1.5–3.0 g dried flowering shoots, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 10–20 drops extract in
water; 1.5–3 ml liquid herbal extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 4–6 g herb/day
(KOM; PH2); 1.5 g herb/cup water (HHB); 2–4 tbsp fresh herb (PED); 3–6 g dry herb (PED);
4.5 g dry herb:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water (PED); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (PNC); 2 (360
mg) capsules 3 ×/day (APA).Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Blessed Thistle) — Class 2b (AHP). Com-
mission E reports contraindications: hypersensitivity to the plant and other Asteraceae; adverse
effects of allergic reactions (AEH). High doses (>5 g/cup tea) may irritate the stomach and cause
vomiting (AHP). Safety not established. Excessive use during pregnancy and lactation should be
avoided. In view of emmenagogue citations, use in pregnancy discouraged (PED). Avoid this herb
completely during pregnancy. “In view of the lack of toxicity data, excessive use of holy thistle
should be avoided” (CAN). Also known as St. Benedict’s thistle, used in Benedictine. A strong
emetic; vomiting can occur in overdoses. Stimulates gastric activity, avoid if you have an ulcer.
Use only with medical supervision (TMA, 1996).Extracts (Blessed Thistle) — Antitumor activity reported for the whole herb; and cnicin, which
also has antibacterial, antiedemic, antiinflammatory (~ = indomethacin), antileukemic effects; cnicin
LD50 = 1.6–3.2 μM/kg; causing writhing (ED50 = 6.2 μM/kg). Extracts as potent an antiinflam-
matory as indomethacin (APA).BLETILLA, HARDY ORCHID (Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb. f.) ++Synonym — Bletia hyacinthina (J. E. Smith) R. Br.; Cymbidium hyacinthinum J. E. Smith;
Epidendrum tuberosum Lour.; Limodorum striatum Thunb.