DONKEY THORNY, GENGEL, CAMEL THORNY
ONOPORDUM ACANTHIUM L.
(Compositae-fam.)
Where it is found: It grows in lush areas all over the country.
Structure: 60-100 cm high, spider web white hairy. Branches only in the upper part. It is a very thorny biennial herbaceous plant. The leaves are pinnately cut, have short petioles, the upper ones are attached to the stem, have large spiny teeth. The flower bases are large, red violet, the wrapping leaves are yellowish, have long spiny leaves. The fruits are winged and nectariferous.
Parts Used: Flower beds are used. Collected during flowering (June-August). Dried in the shade or in ovens at up to 40 degrees. Packed in bales. Stored in dry shade and airy buildings.
Chemical Composition: Seeds contain solid oil and alkaloids. Insignificant amounts of alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactone arcsiopicrin etc. have been found in the leaves. Inulin, saponins, dyes, vitamin C etc. in the flowers and leaves.
In Which Diseases Is It Used: The plant has a diuretic effect and also strengthens all the secretory glands. In small doses it is a stimulant, in large doses it pressurizes the nerves. These strengthen the heart movements and increase blood pressure. The plant also has a certain disinfectant effect.
Donkey thorn is recommended by folk medicine for cough, shortness of breath, hemorrhoids, skin acne, lichen, boils, scrofula, heart weakness, malignant wounds, cancer (with roots) etc. Especially the seeds and leaves are healing for kidney pain. Fresh leaf juices are used externally as a compress for wounds, skin cancer, boils, scrofula, and the flower buds and leaves are used as a bath against skin acne.
Usage: 3 flower bases are boiled with 400 gr. boiling water and kept for 1 hour. A coffee cup is taken before meals 4 times a day. Our folk medicine also uses the smaller donkey thorn (carduus acanthhoides L.). Its flower bases are used for blood spitting, pulmonary tuberculosis, nerve and heart weakness, etc. The liquid obtained from boiling the roots is used against sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder. Roasted fruits are also taken in the form of coffee against hemorrhoids.
