Common Thistle|Field Thistle

Produced in most areas of China.

Stem is cylindrical, sometimes the upper portion is branched, 5~30cm long, 0.2~0.5cm diameter; externally grayish-green or with purple color, with longitudinal ridges and white soft hairs; brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface has hollow center. alternating leaves, with no stem or with short stem; leaf is wrinkled or broken, intact leaf is long elliptical or long round lanceolate after being flattened, 3~12cm long, 0.5~3cm wide; entire or slightly teethed to pinnate, tips have tiny thorns; upper surface is greenish-brown, lower surface is grayish-green, both surfaces covered white soft hairs. Flower head is singular or numerous, grows out from apex; involucres are bell-shaped, 5~8 layers of bracts, yellowish-green; flower is purplish-red. faint odor, slightly bitter taste.

Superior medicinal material is grayish=green, with numerous leaves.

Sweet, bitter, cool.

Cools blood, stops bleeding, dispels stasis, eliminates swelling. Apply to non-traumatic hemorrhage, hematemesis, hematuria, hemafecia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxia. Hemorrhage due to trauma, anthracia and sores.