Early Christians believed that the Virgin Mary once fell upon this thistle resulting in its milky white resin to run and the nickname of Our Lady's Thistle was born. The leaves were also sometimes baked into pies. The seeds can be ground and added to dishes.
Whole seeds are a favorite snack of goldfinches.
The flower heads were also once prepared and served in a similar manner as the artichoke. The presence of silybin protects the liver from deathcap mushroom poisoning, jaundice, hepatitis and cirrhosis.