Spices & Medicinal herbs

HERBS	Angelica :: Aloe Vera :: Basil :: Chamomile :: Chives :: Coriander :: Dill :: Lemon Balm :: Musli :: Oregano :: Stevia
SPICES	Ajwain :: Allspice :: Bay Leaf :: Black Cardamon :: Green Cardamon :: Cinnamon :: Cloves :: Cumin :: Cayenne Pepper
VEGETABLES	Amaranth :: Breadfruit :: Brocolli :: Cauliflower :: Cucumber :: Drumstick :: Hijiki :: Garlic

Herbs Classifical of Herbs Herbs by Common Name Herbs by Property List of Herbs Alfalfa Allspice Aloe Vera Abuta Aconite Angelica Anise Annatto Antamul Arugula Agrimony African rue Apple mint Asafoetida Ashwagandha Avens Apple of Sodom Barberry Basil Bakula Bhilwa Bistort Bitter melon Bog Labrador Tea Borage Boldo Bala Bayberry Bearberry Bhringraj Beautyberry Black walnut Blessed thistle Black cohosh Burdock root Candle nut Capsicum Coriander Caraway Calamus Chamomile Chickweed Chives Cleavers Dill Echinacea Flax Fennel Lavender Kali Musli Lemon Balm Musli Oregano Stevia Spices Vegetables

Cnicus Benedictus

(Common name:- Blessed thistle)

Classification

• Kingdom- Plantae
• (Unranked)- Angiosperms
• (Unranked)- Eudicots
• (Unranked)- Asterids
• Order- Asterales
• Family- Asteraceae
• Tribe- Cynareae
• Genus- Cnicus
• Species- C. benedictus

History

Blessed thistle is an annual plant and the only specie from the family of cnicus.

It is native to Mediterranean region from Portugal north to southern France and east to Iran.

Though it is known in many other parts of world too for its medicinal properties.

Plant Description

Blessed thistle an annual plant grows to a height of 60 cm bearing hairy leaves upto 30 cm long and 8 cm broad and having small spines on the margins.

The flowers are yellow or pink that is produced in a dense flowerhead with a diameter of 3-4 cm and surrounded by various spiny basal bracts.

Cultivation

This plant is propagated by seeds and can be thrive in ordinary soils.

It is usually found growing on the roadside and waste places as a weed. The seeds are sown in spring while leaves and flowering tops are collected in July.

Parts Used

The whole plant is used as herb.

Constituents

It contains volatile oils, a bitter crystalline substance called cnicin.

Medicinal uses

• Blessed thistle is a wonderful medicine and said to have several properties like tonic, stimulant, emetic and emmenagogue.
• Cold infusion of blessed thistle is suitable in stomach ache and dehydration.
• The decoction of this plant is given to nursing mothers that helps in lactation.

Names

• DANISH: Benediktinertidsel, Korbendikt, Lægetidsel.
• DUTCH: Gezegende distel.
• ENGLISH: Bitter thistle, Blessed thistle, Holy thistle, Our Lady's thistle, St.-Benedict's thistle, spotted thistle.
• FRENCH: Centaurée bénie, Chardon béni, Chardon bénit, Cnicaut béni, Safran sauvage.
• GERMAN: Acker-Schachtelhalm, Benediktenkraut, Benediktendistel, Bernhardinerkraut, Bitterdistel, Heiddistel , Kardobenedikte, Kardobenediktenkraut, Spinnendistel.
• ITALIAN: Cardo benedetto
• PORTUGUESE: Cardo bento, Cardo santo.
• RUSSIAN: Benedikt aptecnyj, Knikus blagoslovennyj.
• SPANISH: Cardo bendito, Cardo santo.
• SWEDISH: Kardbenedikt.