Plant Comparison
Dill vs Blessed Thistle
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Dill and Blessed Thistle: they share 8 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, bloating, cancer (anticancer research), …); 4 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Dill | Blessed Thistle | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Bloating | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Indigestion | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Infection (general) | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Inflammation (general) | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Skin irritation | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Wounds | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Seed essential oil dominated by the monoterpene ketone carvone and limonene, giving dill its characteristic aroma and much of its carminative and antimicrobial activity.
Antioxidant flavonoids and phenolics identified in metabolomic analysis of leaf and seed extracts.
Pharmacological Actions
Anethum graveolens (dill) extract and essential oil induce ROS-mediated apoptosis in melanoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells (preclinical).
Appetite stimulant for loss of appetite (approved use under German Commission E)
Bitter digestive / stomachic for indigestion and dyspepsia (stimulates saliva and gastric secretion)
Bitter digestive / stomachic for indigestion and dyspepsia (stimulates saliva and gastric secretion)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Anethum graveolens (dill) extract induces ROS-mediated apoptosis in HT-144 melanoma cells, and its essential oil is selectively cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic against A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells (preclinical).
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
Appetite stimulant for loss of appetite (approved use under German Commission E)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
Bitter digestive / stomachic for indigestion and dyspepsia (stimulates saliva and gastric secretion)
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Galactagogue to support breast-milk supply (traditional; no valid clinical-trial evidence)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Widely used as a food herb/spice; WHO monograph notes a “generally regarded as safe” status as a flavouring agent (World Health Organization, 2007). Allergic reactions (including oral itching, swelling, urticaria, vomiting/diarrhoea) are reported; avoid if you react to Apiaceae-family plants (World Health Organization, 2007; Egyptian Drug Authority, n.d.).
Duke (2002) provides clinical evidence (score 2) for dill's antibacterial and antispasmodic activities, consistent with Commission E and PhEur approvals. Traditional uses include management of colic, dyspepsia, and flatulence. The plant is a well-documented lactagogue (promotes milk production) and has a mild hypotensive effect. Dose: 1–3 g seeds as tea three times daily. Dill is generally safe (++) with no known significant contraindications at culinary and medicinal doses (Duke, 2002).
As a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae/ragweed), it can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people; high doses reportedly cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.
Avoid during pregnancy because of a traditional uterine-stimulating reputation.
Although traditionally used to support milk supply, there is no scientifically valid clinical evidence for the galactagogue use.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Aromatic annual herb with a slender, hollow, ridged, blue-green stem. The leaves are finely divided into thread-like segments, feathery and soft, similar to fennel but more delicate. Small yellow flowers are borne in flat, wide compound umbels at the stem tips in summer, ripening into flattened, ridged, aromatic seeds (fruits).[1]
Branching annual herb with a hairy, reddish, ridged stem and spiny, deeply lobed leaves with prominent pale veins. The flower heads are pale yellow, thistle-like, surrounded by a whorl of spiny, leaf-like bracts, giving the plant its 'spotted thistle' appearance.[4]
Habitat
Believed native to the eastern Mediterranean, Western Asia and southern Russia; widely cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb in gardens and fields across Europe, Asia and the Americas.[1]
Grows on dry, sunny waste ground, roadsides and rocky slopes; native to the Mediterranean region and Western Asia and naturalised elsewhere as a garden escape.[4]
Harvesting
Leaves are picked fresh through the growing season; the seeds are harvested in late summer once the umbels have browned and dried, then threshed and dried further before storage.
The flowering aerial parts are cut as the plant comes into flower, in summer, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place to preserve the bitter principle cnicin.[4]
Traditional Uses
Dill seed and leaf have a long culinary-medicinal history as a carminative digestive remedy for colic, dyspepsia and flatulence, and as a traditional lactagogue (galactagogue) to support breastfeeding; dill water ('gripe water') is a classic infant remedy for colic.[1]
Blessed thistle has a long European folk reputation as a bitter digestive tonic for loss of appetite and dyspepsia (an approved use under German Commission E) and, more anecdotally, as a traditional galactagogue to support breast-milk supply, though robust clinical evidence for the latter is lacking.[4, 11]
Preparations
Dried flowering herb infused briefly in hot water as a bitter digestive tea, taken before meals.
Dosage
The WHO monograph on Fructus Anethi gives an average daily dose of 3 g of the dried ripe fruit, or 0.1-0.3 g of the essential oil, or the equivalent in other preparations. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Traditional herbal references suggest around 1-2 g of dried herb per cup, taken before meals, up to three times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Thanuma, J., Phetcharaburanin, J., Dokduang, H., Loilome, W. and others (2025) 'Metabolomic analysis of bioactive compounds in dill (Anethum graveolens L.) extracts', PeerJ, 13, pp. e19567. doi:10.7717/peerj.19567 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19567 - Sharma, H., Yang, H., Sharma, N. and An, S.S.A (2024) 'Neuroprotection by Anethum graveolens (Dill) Seeds and Its Phytocompounds in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Lines and Acellular Assays', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), pp. 7104. doi:10.3390/ijms25137104 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137104 - Mohammed, F.A., Elkady, A.I., Syed, F.Q., Mirza, M.B. and others (2018) 'Anethum graveolens (dill) - A medicinal herb induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cell line', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 219, pp. 15-22. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.008 - Haidari, F., Zakerkish, M., Borazjani, F., Ahmadi Angali, K. and others (2020) 'The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes', Trials, 21(1), pp. 483. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3 - Li, Z., Xue, Y., Li, M., Guo, Q. and others (2018) 'The Antioxidation of Different Fractions of Dill (Anethum graveolens) and Their Influences on Cytokines in Macrophages RAW264.7', Journal of Oleo Science, 67(12), pp. 1535-1541. doi:10.5650/jos.ess18134 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.ess18134 - Jang, S.A., Lee, S.J., Hwang, Y.H. and Ha, H (2023) 'Anti-Osteoporotic Potential of Water Extract of Anethum graveolens L. Seeds', Nutrients, 15(19), pp. 4302. doi:10.3390/nu15194302 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194302 - Stavri, M. and Gibbons, S (2005) 'The antimycobacterial constituents of dill (Anethum graveolens)', Phytotherapy Research, 19(11), pp. 938-941. doi:10.1002/ptr.1758 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1758 - Orhan, I.E., Senol, F.S., Ozturk, N., Celik, S.A. and others (2013) 'Phytochemical contents and enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) samples cultivated under organic and conventional agricultural conditions', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 59, pp. 96-103. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2013.05.053 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.05.053 - Tian, J., Ban, X., Zeng, H., He, J. and others (2012) 'The mechanism of antifungal action of essential oil from dill (Anethum graveolens L.) on Aspergillus flavus', PLoS One, 7(1), pp. e30147. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030147 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030147 - Castro, L.M., Pinto, N.B., Moura, M.Q., Villela, M.M. and others (2021) 'Antihelminthic action of the Anethum graveolens essential oil on Haemonchus contortus eggs and larvae', Brazilian Journal of Biology, 81(1), pp. 183-188. doi:10.1590/1519-6984.225856 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.225856 - World Health Organization (2007) 'Fructus Anethi'. Available at: https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 Traditional / reference
https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 - Egyptian Drug Authority (n.d.). Available at: https://dev.edaegypt.gov.eg/media/a4kf0fmp/anethum-graveolens_1.pdf Traditional / reference
https://dev.edaegypt.gov.eg/media/a4kf0fmp/anethum-graveolens_1.pdf - Haidari, F., Mohammadshahi, M., Zarei, M., Gorji, Z., Asghari-Jafarabadi, M. and Alizadeh, M (2020) 'The effects of anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes'. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102367 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102367 - Mousavi, S.M., Pizarro, A.B., Akhgarjand, C., Bagheri, A., Persad, E., Karimi, E., Wong, A. and Jayedi, A (2022) 'The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) supplementation on lipid profile and glycemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', 62(21), pp. 5705--5716. doi:10.1080/10408398.2021.1889459 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1889459 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:837530-1 Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:837530-1 - World Health Organization (2007) 'WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Volume 3: ‘Fructus Anethi'. Available at: https://e-lactancia.org/media/papers/Fitoterapia-Plantas-WHO-03_2007.pdf Traditional / reference
https://e-lactancia.org/media/papers/Fitoterapia-Plantas-WHO-03_2007.pdf - Aydogmus-Ozturk, F. and Jahan, H. and Ozturk, M. and Gunaydin, K. and Choudhary, M.I (2020) 'Preclinical study of the medicinal plants for the treatment of malignant melanoma', Molecular Biology Reports, 47(8), pp. 5975-5983. doi:10.1007/s11033-020-05671-5 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05671-5 - Tavakkol Afshari, H.S. and Homayouni Tabrizi, M. and Ardalan, T. and Jalili Anoushirvani, N. and Mahdizadeh, R (2021) 'Anethum graveolens Essential Oil Nanoemulsions (AGEO-NE) as an Exclusive Apoptotic Inducer in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) Cells', Nutrition and Cancer, 74(4), pp. 1411-1419. doi:10.1080/01635581.2021.1952450 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1952450 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Washington State University Extension, Yakima County (2025) 'One Invasive, One Native, Both Deadly'. Available at: https://extension.wsu.edu/yakima/2025/08/09/one-invasive-one-native-both-deadly/ Traditional / reference
https://extension.wsu.edu/yakima/2025/08/09/one-invasive-one-native-both-deadly/ - King County Noxious Weeds (2024) 'Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) identification and control'. Available at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock Traditional / reference
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock - Dayan, A.D (2024) 'Death of Socrates: a likely case of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) poisoning', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 62(1), pp. 56-60. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 - Grow Forage Cook Ferment 'Poison Hemlock: How to Identify and Potential Look-alikes'. Available at: https://www.growforagecookferment.com/poison-hemlock/ Traditional / reference
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/poison-hemlock/
- Rezig, K., Benkaci-Ali, F., Foucaunier, M.L., Laurent, S. et al (2023) 'HPLC/ESI-MS Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Cnicus benedictus L. Roots: A Study of Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Alzheimer's Activity', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 21(1), pp. e202300724. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202300724 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202300724 - Ahmadimoghaddam, D., Sadeghian, R., Ranjbar, A., Izadidastenaei, Z. and Mohammadi, S (2020) 'Antinociceptive activity of Cnicus benedictus L. leaf extract: a mechanistic evaluation', Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15(5), pp. 463-472. doi:10.4103/1735-5362.297849 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-5362.297849 - Zhang, J., Shen, S., Zhu, S., Jia, F. et al (2024) 'Cnicus benedictus extract-loaded electrospun gelatin wound dressing for treating diabetic wounds: An in vitro and in vivo study', Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials, 22, pp. 22808000241245298. doi:10.1177/22808000241245298 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/22808000241245298 - Zietal, K., Mirowska-Guzel, D., Nowaczyk, A. and Blecharz-Klin, K (2024) 'Cnicus benedictus: Folk Medicinal Uses, Biological Activities, and In Silico Screening of Main Phytochemical Constituents', Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/a-2401-6049 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2401-6049 - Jalil, D.M., Al-Mahdawi, T.T., Jameel, M.G. and Talal, M (2024) 'In Vitro Evaluate the Antiproliferative Impact of Cnicus Benedictus L. Leaves Methanolic Extract on Cervical Cancer', Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 25(10), pp. 3643-3649. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.10.3643 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.10.3643 - Peng, Y., Jian, Y., Zulfiqar, A., Li, B., Zhang, K., Long, F., Peng, C., Cai, X., Khan, I.A. and Wang, W (2017) 'Two new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides from Cnicus benedictus', Natural Product Research, 31(19), pp. 2211-2217. doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1295239 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1295239 - Paun, G., Neagu, E., Moroeanu, V., Albu, C., Savin, S. and Lucian Radu, G (2019) 'Chemical and Bioactivity Evaluation of Cnicus benedictus and Eryngium planum Polyphenolic-Rich Extracts', BioMed Research International, 2019, pp. 3692605. doi:10.1155/2019/3692605 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3692605 - Gobrecht, P., Gebel, J., Leibinger, M., Zeitler, C., Chen, Z., Grundemann, D. and Fischer, D (2024) 'Cnicin promotes functional nerve regeneration', Phytomedicine, 129, pp. 155641. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155641 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155641 - Avula, B., Katragunta, K., Wang, Y.H., Ali, Z. and Khan, I.A (2022) 'Simultaneous determination and characterization of flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactone, and other phenolics from Centaurea benedicta and dietary supplements using UHPLC-PDA-MS and LC-DAD-QToF', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 216, pp. 114806. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114806 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114806 - Paun, G., Neagu, E., Albu, C. and Radu, G.L (2015) 'Inhibitory potential of some Romanian medicinal plants against enzymes linked to neurodegenerative diseases and their antioxidant activity', Pharmacognosy Magazine, 11(Suppl 1), pp. S110-S116. doi:10.4103/0973-1296.157709 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.157709 - Drugs.com (n.d.) 'Blessed Thistle Uses, Benefits & Dosage'. Available at: https://www.drugs.com/npp/blessed-thistle.html Traditional / reference
https://www.drugs.com/npp/blessed-thistle.html - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) (2021) 'Blessed Thistle'. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501775/ Traditional / reference
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501775/
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.