Artichoke cut leaves - organic

What are artichoke leaves?

Artichoke leaves are medicinal and yield a bitter herbal tea used mainly in the symptomatic treatment of difficult digestion, but with much broader properties.
Artichoke leaf (tea) facilitates the secretion of bile in the intestine and the functions of renal and digestive elimination, has a hepatoprotective and cholesterol-lowering action , regulates blood lipids and is prebiotic (useful for healthy intestinal and immune system function). It helps reconstitute liver cells (hence its use for jaundice and cirrhosis), may also have a protective effect against breast and intestinal cancer, and prevents ageing through a tissue rejuvenation effect.
Artichokes contain a variety of healthy substances, the effects of which have been studied mainly for extracts from the large, toothed, bitter-tasting leaves (growing on their stems), and less for the delicious artichoke hearts, artichoke bottoms or fleshy bracts eaten as a vegetable.

How do I use it?

As an herbal tea: bring 200ml of water to the boil, then remove from heat and add around 2g of artichoke leaves. Leave to infuse for around ten minutes to obtain sufficient active substances. 1 cup 3 times a day, preferably before meals.
As a decoction (hypercholesterolemia, liver and biliary disorders, certain forms of pruritus, urticaria or eczema): put a good 5g of artichoke leaves in 250 ml of cold water, heat and keep boiling for 7 minutes before filtering. 1 cup 2 times a day, preferably before meals.

What are its properties?

• stimulates bile secretion (choleretic) and improves bile evacuation, especially of the bile ducts (cholagogue)
• hepatoprotection and -reconstitution
• diuretic, laxative, depurative, tonic effect
• tissue rejuvenation
• counteracts excess cholesterol

Precautions for use

Store away from heat, moisture and light.
Contraindication: allergy to compounds or artichokes, pregnancy and breast-feeding. In case of obstruction of the bile ducts (stimulating bile production could then cause serious problems) or if you are taking medication, ask your therapist for advice.

Some characteristics :

Some of the leaves' active ingredients: cynarin, which gives an astringent taste, cynaropicrin (lactone), which gives a bitter taste, enzymes, flavonoids, tannins and sugars (including linulin).
Linulin, for example, a non-digestible sugar belonging to the fructan family, is said to be prebiotic because it is not digested or absorbed by the small intestine, but fermented by the intestinal bacterial flora, whose beneficial bacteria (including bifidobacteria) can use inulin to develop and perform more efficiently their task of contributing to intestinal health and function (e.g. synthesis or absorption of several nutrients) and the immune system. According to studies, inulin also has a beneficial effect on blood lipid regulation, particularly in the case of hyperlipidemia, and, although this remains to be confirmed, on glycemic control. Finally, inulin could have a protective effect against the risk of colon, breast and intestinal cancer in humans and animals.

Traditional indications :

• hepato-renal disorders, hepatic (liver) or renal insufficiency, jaundice, cirrhosis
• dyspepsia (digestive problems), bloating, stomach ache, nausea
• plethoric conditions, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, atherosclerosis
• gallstones, urinary lithiasis
• excessive cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), blood urea
• water retention

Ingredients

finely chopped artichoke leaves* from controlled organic cultivation

Origin

Poland