Field thistle
StarCirsium discolor
Synonyms: Cirsium altissimum subsp. discolor, Cirsium altissimum f. discolor, Cirsium altissimum var. discolor, Cirsium discolor f. albiflorum, Cnicus altissimus var. discolor, Cnicus altissimus f. albiflora, Cnicus discolor
Safety at a glance
No rule in our tables for this herb: pregnancy, breastfeeding, incompatible pairs (十八反 / 十九畏), herb–drug, dose ceiling. This is not a safety clearance.
Not graded — No toxicity grade is recorded. Most herbs in the catalogue carry none.
Traditionally used for
- Digestion
- Bowel health
- Pain & joints
- Skin
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
The Cree applied a poultice of root paste, bound to wounds with linen cloths, as a dermatological aid (Beardsley, 1941). The Iroquois used a compound decoction of roots taken internally or as a poultice of roots applied to boils, and a compound decoction of plants was taken for hemorrhoids (Herrick, 1977). The Meskwaki took an infusion of root for stomachaches, applied both as an analgesic and as a gastrointestinal aid (Smith, 1928).
Gallery
Botanical Description
Cirsium discolor, the field thistle, is a biennial or short-lived perennial herb in the Asteraceae family native to eastern and central North America. It typically grows 1 to 2.5 metres tall on a stout, grooved, branching stem that arises in the second year from a deep taproot. The alternate leaves are deeply pinnately lobed with strongly spiny margins, dark green above and densely white-tomentose beneath, producing the distinctive bicoloured appearance that gives the species its specific epithet. Flower heads are large, solitary or in loose corymbs at branch tips, with phyllaries bearing weak spines and corollas ranging from pink-purple to occasionally white, blooming from mid summer into autumn. The achenes bear a plumose pappus of feathery, branched bristles that aids wind dispersal. Field thistle inhabits prairies, old fields, woodland edges, and disturbed open ground, and is an important nectar source for butterflies and goldfinches.
Dosage Calculator
⚖ Dosage Calculator
A weight-based mathematical estimate for Field thistle. Not a prescription.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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