Artichoke Extract:-Eliminating toxins from the Body

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Artichoke Extract(Cynara scolymus)

http://www.herb-pharm.com/Education/articles.html#artichoke

 

Herb Pharm introduced Artichoke extract as a new single extract in

March. The young, unopened flowers of Artichoke are a tasty

vegetable, popular throughout the Mediterranean and the Americas.

The plant has a long history of use as a medicinal herb dating back

to the early Greeks. In earlier times, the common medicinal use was

to take Artichoke juice in wine as a diuretic (urinary stimulant).

In America,

Eclectic physicians used Artichoke as a diuretic but it

has never been a tremendously popular herb outside of its native

region. Recent studies, expanding its role in traditional healing,

are bringing Artichoke out of the American kitchen and into the

spotlight as a valuable medicinal herb.

 

The massive flower heads are seldom seen in full bloom as they are

picked when immature, and eaten.

 

The flower head, like all Asteraceous plants, is actually a

collection of numerous tiny flowers appearing as one larger flower.

The part eaten as a vegetable is the pre-blooming flowerhead,

consisting of two parts. The receptacle or `heart' of the choke is

the disc-like structure that the flowers, and later the seeds, are

borne upon. Lining the sides of the receptacle are modified leaves,

called bracts, which serve to protect the flowers by closing around

them on cold nights. These are the leaf-like structures that are

eaten on the choke.

 

In addition to their diuretic properties, the true leaves and flower

buds of Artichoke are bitter, stimulating digestive fluids. In

particular, Artichoke is a choleretic herb, stimulating bile

secretion by the liver.

 

Bile acts as an emulsifying agent to make

materials that are normally soluble in fat, more water-soluble. This

facilitates the digestion of fats and uptake of fat-soluble vitamins

by the body. Normal bowel function is dependant upon bile, which

helps maintain proper water content or softness of waste. Bile is a

route for eliminating toxins from the body that have been

neutralized by the liver, making Artichoke an

excellent `detoxifying' herb. Bile is also a route for eliminating

cholesterol from the body, as bile acids are constructed in the

liver using cholesterol as a starting material. Low bile levels may

trigger a signal to the liver to produce more cholesterol, even when

an adequate level already exists, thereby increasing serum

cholesterol levels.

 

Along with eliminating cholesterol through bile, Artichoke reduces

endogenous (produced in the body) cholesterol produced by the liver.

These two actions contribute to Artichoke's ability to reduce total

serum or blood cholesterol levels. Along with a reduction in total

cholesterol, one German study shows that LDL-cholesterol (often

known as `bad' cholesterol) levels were significantly lowered in

relation to HDL (a.k.a. `good' cholesterol) levels with Artichoke

treatment. Herb Pharm's Artichoke extract carries the following

structure function statement: " Helps maintain a healthy cholesterol

level. "

 

Artichoke positively treats sluggish liver and gallbladder function,

jaundice and liver related skin and digestive disorders. Related

digestive disorders include poor digestion, dyspepsia, flatulence,

sensation of fullness, loss of appetite, nausea and symptoms of

irritable bowel syndrome. The choleretic action makes it an

effective treatment in the condition of diminished bile output

called cholestasis. Cholestasis can be associated with gallstones,

certain hereditary disorders, viral hepatitis and use of certain

drugs including alcohol and steroidal hormones, such as oral

contraceptives. Symptoms of cholestasis include poor digestion of

fats, flatulence, bloating after eating and constipation or

diarrhea. Artichoke is an important hepatoprotectant or liver

protecting herb and a liver detoxifier. Lastly, in a recent Spanish

study, Artichoke demonstrated anti-oxidant activity in human

leukocytes (white blood cells).

 

Artichoke has a long history of use as a food and is a very safe

herb. Like all choleretics however, use should be avoided in cases

of complete blockage of the gallbladder or bile duct.