Artichoke - Benefits, Uses and Side Effects

Botanical Name of Artichoke: Cynara scolymus L.

Other Common Names:
Globe artichoke, garden artichoke, ætiþistill (Icelandic), artischoke (German), artichaut (French), chao xian ji (Chinese), kronärtskocka (Swedish).

Habitat:
The artichoke plant as it is know it today is a cultivated form that is probably derived from the artichoke thistle or the cardoon (Cynara cardunculus). Artichokes where known by the Ancient Romans and Greeks and have been cultivated as food crops in southern parts of Europe for centuries. It is believed that both the cardoon and the artichoke originated in Morocco or the Canary Islands. Today the artichoke is an important vegetable and is grown on a large scale in many areas of the world with temperate or subtropical climate, particularly in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and California in the United States. The artichoke plant prefers a well-fertilized, humus rich and moist soil. The plants are propagated by seeds, or preferably with cuttings from the rootstock.

Description:
Artichoke is a perennial plant of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) that can grow up to 2 meters (6.6 ft) in height. The stems are rough, wrinkled and branching and the leaves are relatively large and are arranged alternately up the stem. The leaves are dark green on top and gray below, with thorns along the edges. The large flower heads are a collection of small, blue-violet flowers. The fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts and the base of the buds is the edible part known as the "artichoke heart". The plant flowers normally in July.

Plant Parts Used:
It is mostly the artichoke leaves that are used in herbal medicine both in dried or fresh form. The artichoke hearts are mainly used as food.

Artichoke Flower
(Cynara scolymus)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution:J.J. Harrison

Artichoke Supplements

Organic Artichoke Leaf by Starwest Botanicals Artichoke Extract by Herb Pharm

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Artichoke

• The artichoke leaves contain a number phenolic acids, flavonoids (rutin, luteolin), cynarin and sesquiterpenes (especially caryophyllene and beta-selinene). It also contains tannins, sugar substances, inulin, mucus substances, phytosterols (taraxasterol), essential oil, provitamin A and several enzymes.

The Herb Artichoke
(Cynara scolymus)
• Artichoke is used internally as a tea or in tablet or capsule form to treat liver and gallbladder diseases such as liver damage, cirrhosis, hepatitis and jaundice. The bile driving and liver protective properties of artichoke are associated with substances cynarin and the chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids found in the plant. These substances are believed to protect the liver cells from damage caused by free radicals, heavy alcohol consumption and other toxins.
• Artichokes can also help prevent gallstones, and the German Commission E. recommends the use of artichoke in prevention of recurrent gallstone problems.
• It has also been used as an herbal remedy for indigestion, loss of appetite and dyspepsia with bloated feeling, intestinal gas, belching, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, high cholesterol, obesity and gout.
• Clinical studies have shown that artichoke can lower the values of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood, which explains why the herb is commonly used to treat atherosclerosis. Scientific studies also prove that artichoke prevents the oxidation of harmful LDL cholesterol, which is believed to play an important role in the development of arteriosclerosis.
• Several clinical trials have shown that artichoke extract can lower the amount of serum cholesterol and triglycerides, and some recent studies suggest that the herb may help improve relations between good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol.
• Artichoke strengthens the absorption of nutrients from food and digestion of fat, and can be used for constipation caused by poor liver function.
• In addition artichoke has a weak diuretic property and may lower elevated uric acid in the blood. Therefore it could be a helpful medicinal herb in treating rheumatic disorders such as osteoarthritis.
• Artichoke has been considered a good herbal remedy for diabetes, as the herb may have a significant blood glucose lowering effect.

Dosage and Administration

Artichoke is used medically in the form of herbal tea, tincture, tablets and capsules.

As a tea: One tablespoon of the dried crushed leaves in one cup of boiling water. The tea is then steeped for 10 minutes before it is strained. Drinking a cup a half hour before each meal is often recommended.
As a tincture: 1:5 tincture (1 part herb for every 5 parts alcohol). 15-30 drops in some water half an hour before meals three times daily.
As capsules: 320 mg capsules three times daily, or follow the manufactures dosage instructions.

Potential Side Effects and Interactions of Artichoke

Artichoke is considered a safe herb to use as an herbal medicine and there are no reports of serious side effects when used in recommended doses. There are no warnings against the use of the herb for pregnant and breastfeeding women. But it is always better to consult a professional health care provider before using herbs as medicine.

Supporting References

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"Life is like eating artichokes, you have got to go through so much to get so little."

Thomas Aloysius Dorgan