Witnessed by: TCM
Field thistle (Cirsium setosum), of the Asteraceae family. Creeping spiny perennial of cultivated and waste ground; native range: fields and waste places across China and temperate Eurasia. Globally recognized as xiao ji (小薊) in Chinese, and lesser thistle, creeping thistle in English. The part used is aerial parts. Slender prickly stems and small purple heads, cool, bitter and slightly sweet.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
FIELD THISTLE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- field thistle
- Scientific name
- Cirsium setosum (Willd.) M.Bieb.
- Family
- Asteraceae
Form
- Part used
- aerial parts
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet · bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cool
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Liver
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- cools the blood and stops bleeding, resolves toxicity and reduces swelling, promotes urination
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold and in bleeding of the cold-deficient type
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity at usual doses
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