Dear Francoise,

Blessed thistle - Cnicus benedictus - not a lot here in scientific places
except
Bingel and Farnsworth (1994) quote this source in reporting the use of the
aerial parts of the plant used in warm infusions (tea) :

Grieve, M and Leyel, CF.  A Modern Herbal: the Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic,
and Economic Properties, Cultivation, and Folk-lore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi,
Shrubs, and Trees with All Their Modern Scientific Uses, Vol. II, Harcourt,
Brace & Co. 1931.

Goat's rue - Galega officinalis ( yes, not to be confused with rue - Ruta
graveolens, and many other plants with the common name rue attached.)


Galega officinalis - sources that Bingel and Farnsworth ( 1994) quote in
addition to the one above:

Bezanger-Beauquesne, L, Pinkas, M et al.  Plantes Medicinales des Regions
Temperes., Maloine S.A. Paris 1980.

Vander, A. Plantas Medicinales, Nueva Edicion, Ronda Univ. Barcelona 1974

Palma, L. Le Piante Medicinali d'Italia. Soc. Edit. Enternaz., Torino 1964.

These and a couple of other sources listed describe use of this plant in
France (people and cows-immune from placebo effects, presumably ! ), Italy and
more generally, Middle and Southern Europe.


Anyone knowing where seeds of blessed thistle or goat's rue can be obtained
for my lactogen garden, please email (privately).

Sheila Humphrey