Although native to Europe and Asia, Blessed Thistle is now cultivated in many areas of the world, including the United States. The leaves, stems, and flowers are all used in herbal preparations. An annual herb, the stem grows to about 2 feet tall. The lance-shaped leaves have a spiny edge and may be either lobed or cleft (deeply cut). The plant produces numerous yellow flowers during May through August that are arranged in a head at the tip of a branch or stem. The herbal-active compounds within Blessed Thistle include sesquiterpene lactones, which provides the main beneficial effects of ...
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