Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense),Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Leafy thistle (cirsium folium)and Milk Thistle (Silybum mirianum).

Canada thistle is a very misleading name, because Cirsium arvense, like other thistles, is not of Canadian origin; it is native of Europe and Northern Asia. It is also known as creeping thistle, lettuce from hell and several other names.They grow across a wide range, in plains, foothills, mountains, and sub-
alpine regions.
There are three species of Cirsium thistle found in Western Canada; like other Cirsium species, the roots are edible, though rarely used, not least because of their propensity to induce flatulence in some people. The taproot is considered the most nutritious. The leaves are also edible, though the spines make their preparation for food too tedious to be worthwhile. The stalks, however, are also edible and more easily de-spined

Notice the differences in the flower and flower bud between the Canada/Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense), (elongated, Canada Creeping thistle)  shown below;

and the flower and flower bud of Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare),(which is round in shape);shown above;most similar to Scotch Thistle. 

There is only ONE PROBLEM with the images, shown below and shown, and/or used, by Google and Wikipedia(this couldn't be an attempt to claim or steal someone else's material and published, therefore copyright property-not by Amazon, Google or Wikipedia; therefore one can only accept-they don't know any difference.) as illustrations of (Cirsium arvense)-WHICH IS-they are NOT images of Canada Thistle.

The four images, above, are of Scotch or Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle

• Roots of young plants are edible raw but MAY cause gas.
• Roots are best boiled, roasted, or both.
• Roots contain the starch inulin, which breaks down into sugar. when cooked
• Cooked roots can be dried, and ground into flour.
• Stems and leaves are edible raw, but best steam braised.
• Although recent research has proven it highly unliikely and just the opposite often appears to be the fact;, some people still claim that SOME thistles may be carcinogenic.

Unfortunately, although there is SOME,somewhere. resemblance in appearance, and there may, also, be similar health benefits, Canada thistle, or Creeping thistle, is also NOT Milk Thistle; above and which is AGAIN pictured below.

Milk thistle (Silybum mirianum)

For many centuries in its native Europe extracts of milk thistle have been recognized as liver tonics and research into the biological activity of silymaria and its possible medicinal uses has been conducted in many  countries since the 1960s. Milk thistle has been reported to have protective effects on the liver and and to greatly improve its function. It is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and has also been found effective in reducing proteinuria in type 2 diabetes Other uses include:

1. Lowering bad cholesterol levels
2. Reducing insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes who also have cirrehosis.
3. Reducing the flow of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostrate cancer.
4. Milk thistle has also been widely used as food and almost all parts were consumed. The roots can be eaten raw or boiled and buttered, or par-boiled and then roasted. The young shoots in spring can be cut down to the root. The spring bracts on the flower head were eaten in the past like globe artichokes, and the stems (after peeling) can be soaked over night to remove any bitterness and then stewed. The leaves can be trimmed of prickles and boiled to make a good spinach substitute, or, they can also be added raw to salads.

©L Al (Alex-Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.