Thistle thistle, or prickly (Carduus acanthoides) - a very widespread, inconspicuous prickly plant found in wastelands, along roads, near dwellings throughout Russia.
Plant height can reach 60-70 cm and more, its stem is erect, very highly branched, prickly. Leaves without petioles, with needle-shaped thorns along the edges. The flowers are tubular, mostly red-violet, collected in baskets at the ends of the branches.
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Thistle has been known in folk medicine since ancient times for its pronounced healing properties. The main one is that it tones up the cardiac activity, excites in small doses, and in large doses inhibits the central nervous system. In addition, thistle has a fairly strong hemostatic and bactericidal effect, is used for colds, rheumatism, asthma (inside), and for various skin diseases it is used in the form of compresses.
For cooking infusion of thistle you need 2 tablespoons of dry crushed leaves with flower baskets, pour 1 glass of water, boil over low heat for 10 minutes, insist in a thermos for 1 hour, drain. Take an infusion of 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
Thistle-based can be prepared difficult collection, which has a strong restorative effect. It consists of 5 parts of thistle leaves, 5 parts of St. John's wort, 3 parts of rose hips, 1 part of Veronica herb, 1 part of elecampane roots, 1 part of leaves of narrow-leaved fireweed, 1 part of mint leaves and 1 part of fragrant rue herb. To prepare the infusion, you need 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of the crushed mixture with 1 glass of boiling water, insist in a thermos for 10 hours, strain. Take 0.75 cup infusion 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Thistle baths have a tonic effect, are useful after a diet for weight loss, so that the skin does not lose its elasticity. To prepare a bath, you need 20 tablespoons of dry thistle leaves, pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, drain. Pour the infusion into a bath with a water temperature of 30–32 ° С.
For chronic pharyngitis, many herbalists use collection, consisting of 3 parts of leaves and root of thistle, 5 parts of raspberry leaves, 3 parts of burdock root, 1 part of chamomile flowers. To prepare the infusion, you need 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of the mixture with 1 glass of boiling water, insist in a thermos for 8 hours, strain. Apply for inhalation 0.25 cups per procedure.
In folk medicine Thistle leaf powder used for oncological diseases, as well as after irradiation, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. For its preparation, the upper part of the plant is passed through a meat grinder, after removing the thorns.
"Ural gardener", No. 29, 2020
