Wild Teasel

Teasel root as a "medicinal plant" is a firmly established part of traditional herbal medicine. It is especially popular in Asian regions such as China, Korea and Japan, although its origin lies in the Mediterranean region. In alternative medicine, teasel root is mainly used for Lyme disease-related complaints.

Scientific proof of its effectiveness is still lacking, yet it is used especially in cases where classic antibiotic therapy is not effective. Common English names for the plant include wild teasel, common teasel, fuller's teasel, card thistle and Venus' basin (German folk names: Hausdistel, Hirtenstab, Immerdurst, Kardel, Rotdistel, Weberdistel).

Appearance and Occurrence of Teasel

The Latin name Dipsacus of the wild teasel derives from the Greek word dipsa for thirst, since this plant genus, due to the funnel-shaped form of its stem leaves, often serves as a water basin for birds or insects.

Teasel is a herbaceous plant that can grow up to 150cm tall. It is completely covered with sharp spines, and the basal leaves are arranged in a rosette. The flower of the teasel is blue, grows 5-8 cm in size and has an egg-shaped, elongated form. Teasel blooms from July to September.

It can be found in warmer regions, such as floodplains and riverbanks, as well as in hilly terrain, between July and October.

Wild teasel originally comes from the Mediterranean region and can still be found in many areas, from Morocco and Algeria, through Spain to Romania, as well as in Turkey and as far as Lebanon.

Ingredients and Uses

The main components or active substances of teasel are terpenes, glycosides, bitter compounds, saponins and phenols. These already give a small indication of possible areas of use, which we know from other plants with the same ingredients. For instance, iridoids (monoterpenes) are a highly water-soluble group of substances found within medicinal plants, which, among other things, show antibacterial as well as antiviral effects.

Effects of Teasel as a Medicinal Plant

Wolf-Dieter Storl, an ethnobotanist specializing in natural medicine and phytotherapy, described teasel root as a highly effective medicinal plant in his book "Borreliose natürlich heilen" (Healing Lyme Disease Naturally). This statement is highly disputed among experts, since teasel's anti-Lyme disease effect has only been tested and confirmed in the laboratory (through animal testing). Due to the (still) lacking scientific evidence from human trials, teasel root is only used in the field of alternative medicine for humans. Its presumed effects are antibacterial, antiviral and cell-protective, as well as secretion-promoting and appetite-stimulating. In the Middle Ages, preparations made from teasel root were used externally for warts and superficial wounds, and internally to stimulate the liver, or for jaundice or stomach ailments.

Use of Teasel in Veterinary Medicine

In classical veterinary medicine, teasel root is rarely mentioned. Among animal naturopaths, the traditional knowledge of teasel's effects is well known, and it is therefore used for Lyme disease-related complaints, diarrhea, or to stimulate appetite. In cases of confirmed Lyme disease, teasel is often used following the classic 4-week antibiotic therapy. For horses, Ewalia offers its own Teasel Liquid in its product range.

Important Note on Feeding to Animals

Due to the lack of studies, we recommend not feeding teasel to pregnant or lactating animals!  

Author: Bianca Becker-Slovacek on 24.03.2020

Our products are not medicinal products. They are therefore not intended for the treatment of pathological conditions or associated symptoms. Feed products as well as care products serve exclusively to support and care for your healthy horse. For the treatment of an illness or other therapy recommendations, only your veterinarian or animal naturopath is responsible.