Although the leaves, stems and roots are edible and can be used cooked as a vegetable or fresh in salads, it is almost not worth the effort. The spines need to be removed, and after this tedious process very little remains to be used. The flowers resemble tiny artichokes, but are even more of an effort to clean and then produce a very bland heart.

A mixture of the soaked leaves and roots of the Cirsium vulgare is used as a medicine to heal a stiff neck, seizures, as well as nervous disorders.

The boiled leaves can act as an effective diuretic and mildly drains the liver, as well as provides comfort when fevers are caused by an overworked liver.

The boiled mixture of the whole plant is used traditionally to treat rheumatic joint pains and also to heal bleeding piles. The boiled roots mixture of the plant is used as a poultice to treat aching jaws.

The roots are also reported to be effective in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and also reduce blood pressure. Roots are also used for muscular inflammation.

The oil from the seeds extracted by means of cold press, is used for cooking and as a lamp oil.