Evidence supporting the use of: Blessed thistle
For the body system: Breasts

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) has a long history of traditional use as a galactagogue, an herb believed to stimulate breast milk production in nursing mothers. Historical records show that it was recommended by herbalists in Europe as early as the Middle Ages for women experiencing difficulties with lactation. Its use has persisted in folk medicine, especially in combination with other herbs such as fenugreek.

Despite its traditional role, the scientific evidence supporting blessed thistle’s effectiveness in promoting lactation is minimal. There are no large, well-controlled clinical trials specifically examining blessed thistle’s effect on breast milk production. Most of the available evidence is anecdotal or derived from small, uncontrolled studies, often where blessed thistle is used alongside other herbs, making it difficult to attribute any effects solely to blessed thistle.

The presumed mechanism is thought to be related to the bitter compounds in the herb, which may stimulate saliva and gastric secretions and, by extension, possibly influence hormonal pathways involved in lactation. However, this mechanism remains speculative.

In summary, while blessed thistle is widely used in traditional herbal practice to support the breasts body system (mainly for lactation), robust scientific validation is lacking, and its use for this purpose should be considered based on tradition rather than solid clinical evidence.

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