朝鮮薊茶非常適合您的肝臟和心臟
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artichoke herb
The Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus), is one of the oldest medicinal plants used as a remedy, dating back to 4th century B.C. Ancient Greeks and Romans utilized the artichoke primarily as a digestive aid. In the 16th century, medicinal use of the artichoke was documented for liver problems and jaundice. In 1850, a French physician successfully treated a young boy sick with jaundice for one month using artichoke leaf extract with positive results. This brought attention to artichoke leaf extract as having medicinal value. In Germany, artichoke leaf extract became known in the 17th century, but did not become a popular food item and a promising pharmaceutical plant until the beginning of the 20th century. More recently, artichoke is growing in southern Europe, as well as South America.
Medicinally, the extract is manufactured from the long, deeply serrated basal leaves utilizing highly standardized procedures. The artichoke is a large, thistle-like plant native to the regions of southern Europe, North Africa and the Canary Islands. It is reported that the Globe Artichoke is actually a member of the sunflower family whose use originates in Southern Europe (around the Mediterranean), the flowers of which develop in a large edible bud. The main producers are now France, Italy and Spain where they are eaten in varying ways from deep frying and barbecuing to pizza toppings, but for some reason they have never caught on the UK. The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) is one of the oldest known cultivated vegetables, originating from Ethiopia, with Italy currently being the world’s largest producer. It was valued in ancient Greece and Rome as a digestive aid, available only to the wealthy due to its scarcity. It was the French and Spanish explorers who first brought artichokes to the shores of the United States, and today virtually all of the globe artichokes grown in the US are produced in Castroville, California.
Plant and its ingredients
Artichoke is rich in carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The medicinal properties of artichoke come from its cynarin, an active chemical that causes an increased bile flow. The roots and the flower heads may also contain beneficial compounds, however, the leaves contain the higher concentration of these compounds. The leaves of the artichoke contain a high content of pharmacologically active ingredients, including three essential groups consisting of caffeeolyquinic acid (CCS), flavonoids and bitter substances. Within these groups are constituents such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cynarin (1,5-dicaffeolyquinic acid), luteolin, and the glycosides scolymoside and cynaroside. Among the most important of the CCS are the 1,3-Di-O-CCS, chlorogenic acid and the non-genuine Cynarin, which was the first constituent to be extracted. Cynarin was originally thought to be the single active component in artichoke leaf extract and was often used as a monosubstance. However, further research observes that other active ingredients play a significant role in the effectiveness of artichoke leaf extract antioxidant. It was found that the whole complex of compounds are considered just as active and aid in the many beneficial results.
Artichoke contains bitter principles, cynarin and sesquiterpene-lactones. Scientific studies show that these compounds inhibit cholesterol synthesis and increase its excretion in the bile and thus; have overall cholesterol reduction in the blood. Fresh artichoke is an excellent source of the vitamin folic acid; provide about 68 µg per 100 g (17% of recommended daily allowance). Folic acid acts as a co-factor for enzymes involved in the synthesis of DNA. Scientific studies have proven that adequate levels of folates in the diet during pre-conception period, and during early pregnancy, help prevent neural tube defects in the newborn baby. Fresh globes also contain good amounts of anti-oxidant vitamin; vitamin-C (Provides about 20% of recommended levels per 100 g). Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body. It is one of the vegetable sources for vitamin K; provide about 12% of DRI. Vitamin K has potential role bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has established its role in the treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Artichoke is also a good source of antioxidants such as silymarin, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, which help the body protect from harmful free-radical agents. It is also rich in B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid that are essential for optimum cellular metabolic functions. Further, artichoke is rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is required for red blood cell formation. Additionally, it contains small amounts of antioxidant flavonoid compounds like carotene-beta, lutein, and zea-xanthin.
Health Benefits of Artichoke Tea
Artichoke is a powerful player for our health because it is high in fiber and rich in antioxidants. Artichoke can be made into an herbal tea, which affords some of the quality of the whole vegetable. The drink acts as a diuretic and improves liver function. This herbal tea has become more and more favorite around the world thanks to its magnificent health benefits. Although being called tea, this artichoke drink contains no caffeine. Prepared from the roots and flower buds of the artichoke, this herbal tea is tasty, refreshing and nutritious. Drinking artichoke tea regularly is highly recommended to improve the health of tissues. Artichoke tea can help stimulate the immune system, prevent the risk of inflammation and intensify the resistance of the body against illnesses. Now, artichoke tea is not only cleansing and nourishing to the liver and digestive tract, but it can also rid constipation when sipped on daily, can ease IBS symptoms safely, and help keep the hair, nails and skin looking beautiful. The artichoke tea is an infusion of bitter flavor, with diuretics and depurative properties, which contribute to the good hepatobiliary system functioning, to lose weight and to lower the cholesterol, among other benefits for the health.
The Artichoke tea has properties that can help you to reduce the levels of cholesterol, they help to attack the cancer due to the antioxidant capacity that it has. It has also an effect of small weight loss that many people enjoy. Numerous studies have shown that there are many health benefits involving artichoke leaf extracts. Such studies have already proven hepato-protective effects. Artichoke extract has been shown to provide valuable preventative health benefits and protection. In 1997, it was discovered that chlorogenic acid and cynarin were the primary constituents which contributed to the strong antioxidative effect of artichoke leaf extract. These findings documented that artichoke leaf extract prevented oxidative damage to hepatocyte membranes, and suggested that cell protection should not be limited to the hepatocytes. Laboratory investigations are ongoing all over the world regarding the clinical applications of artichoke leaf extract. These investigations include such areas as HIV, cancer and diabetes, and studies so far have been promising. Further investigations continue to find and support the use of artichoke leaf extract as a herbal remedy.
The artichoke tea is rich in folic acid, vitamin A1, vitamin B1, vitamin C as well as in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and dietetic fibers. Artichoke leaf extract has been used as a herbal medicine for many years. Traditional use, as well as recent clinical studies continue to verify the multi-beneficial health benefits of the artichoke leaf extract including lipid-lowering, antioxidant, hepato-protective, choleretic, as well as aiding dyspepsia, and abdominal pain where the stomach, gallbladder, liver and pancreas are primarily affected. Further studies suggest artichoke leaf extract as beneficial in such areas as HIV, cancer, IBS and diabetes. Many constituents of artichoke leaf extract have been identified, and ongoing clinical studies report the medical benefit at different therapeutic levels. The artichoke leaf extract has choleretic, lipid-lowering, antioxidant and hepato-protective effects. It has also been shown to help alleviate abdominal pain. Current research also verifies antiemetic effects of the leaf extract confirming its indication for dyspeptic syndrome. With these clinical and experimental results, it has been determined that artichoke leaf extract is suitable for treating chronic gastrointestinal and specific liver/gallbladder conditions with elevated blood fat values. Artichoke extract is one of the few herbal remedies where the clinical and experimental trials have complemented each other. Both experimental and clinical effects have been verified through extensive biomedical herbal remedy research. Specifically, antioxidant, choleretic, hepatoprotective, bile-enhancing and lipid-lowering effects have been demonstrated, which correspond with its historical use.
Enhances Liver Function and digestion
Artichoke extract has been shown to improve digestion, liver function, and help lower high ldl cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease and artherosclerosis. Artichoke has been shown to be a natural remedy which improves various digestive health disorders, shown to significantly lower blood ldl cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis – plaque problems, enhance detoxification reactions, as well as protect the liver from damage. This combination of benefits is very important to healthy liver function. During detoxification of the liver, the toxic substance is often initially converted to an even more toxic form. Without adequate protection, every time the liver neutralizes a toxin, it is damaged in this process. The beneficial health side effects of artichoke leaf extract are due to the promotion of bile flow in the body. The increased bile flow promotes the digestion of fat and contributes to the protection of intestinal mucosa, which is sensitive to acids since the bile fluid contains a considerable amount of bicarbonate. Larger quantities of bile acids entering the duodenum stimulate intestinal peristalsis resulting in better digestion. As the human body consumes toxins in many different forms through food, water, and the air we breathe, these toxins constantly bombard the liver.
Bile serves as a carrier, moving these toxins from the liver on to the intestine for further elimination. When bile excretion is inhibited (cholestasis), these toxins and cholesterol may remain in the liver and have damaging effects. Bile flow inhibition may manifest itself as bile duct obstruction or gallstones. Other reasons that may factor into bile inhibition are excess alcohol ingestion, viral hepatitis, and certain chemicals and drugs. Early stages of liver disease and dysfunction often go undiagnosed because such tests as serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, LDH, and GGTP levels remain normal. German researchers confirmed bile promotion by artichoke leaf extract with a double blind clinical study. This study proves that high-dose extracts of artichoke leaves increased bile flow into the duodenum of healthy participants compared to placebo recipients. Bile secretion was measured with special techniques at specific times after participants were given either a single dose of artichoke leaf extract or a placebo. Those who received the artichoke leaf extract showed a significantly higher bile secretion than those who received the placebo. This occurs due to margarine binding with bile salts. Therefore, margarine is not as beneficial in reducing cholesterol as it may seem. It is recommended to drink artichoke tea during the hepatitis treatment period to accelerate the healing of the liver. Artichoke leaf extract protects the liver from the damaging effects of toxins similar to the effect of milk thistle. Like Milk Thistle, artichoke leaf extract stimulates liver tissue regeneration.
For Heart Ailments
It is estimated that in America today, approximately 100 million people have high or borderline high levels of serum LDL cholesterol, with an estimated 1,100,000 new cases of recurrent coronary heart attacks per year. One third of these cases will lead to death. We have foods made with hydrogenated oils, saturated fats, high amounts of processed sugar, and fruits lacking important nutrients. Instead of butter, physicians often recommend margarine which can actually increase blood fat values. Over-consumption of these products contribute greatly to high levels of LDL cholesterol and interfere with cholesterol metabolism. Total cholesterol measurements include LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). Oxidized LDL is damaging to the arteries, and causes the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in humans, whereas HDL is beneficial. LDL cholesterol levels should be under 130 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol levels should be above 35 mg/dl with total cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dl according to the American Heart Association. Serum cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dl or above are a major risk factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) which is the single leading cause of death in America today. Two thirds of these 100 million adults also do not receive any form of therapy according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. There are numerous varieties of cholesterol lowering pharmaceutical drugs available, which are the primary choice of therapy for many adults. Unfortunately, many of these drugs can have very serious side effects prompting further therapeutic treatment. Standardized pharmaceutical grade artichoke leaf extract has been proven as a safe, non-toxic, natural way to prevent and treat high cholesterol.
It accomplishes this in two different ways. Artichoke leaf extract increases the breakdown of cholesterol to bile salts, thus increasing bile production and flow, and regulates the internal production of cholesterol in the liver. In one very interesting study done on rat hepatocytes, a high concentration-dependent inhibition of cholesterol synthesis was found. The 1997 study indicates that artichoke leaf extract reduces the formation of cholesterol and continues to persist for hours after ingestion. This study also indicates that artichoke leaf extract may work through indirect inhibition of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase similar to “statins” effect. This finding was supported by the fact that artichoke leaf extract blocked insulin-dependent stimulation of HMG-CoA reductase without affecting insulin in general. HMG-CoA reductase is a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis and generally reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Gebhardt’s study also demonstrated that the extract did not interfere with other pathways leading to cholesterol synthesis, which is why adverse effects due to sterol precursor accumulation are not to be expected. In addition to the findings from the animal experiments, numerous studies were also conducted on isolated human hepatocytes. In 1995, Fintelmann published a report on a multicenter structured investigation of 557 patients treated with a special extract from artichoke leaf. Over a period of 43.5 days, the average daily dose given was 1.5 g extract. On an average, serum cholesterol was reduced by 11.5%, and serum triglyceride concentrations decreased 12.5% in patients whose cholesterol values were routinely determined.
For Dyspeptic Syndrome
Another major benefit of artichoke leaf extract is the discovery of its role in dyspeptic syndrome (irritable stomach, nervous gastropathy, meteorism and flatulence, irritable colon functional biliary tract disease). As more and more clinical studies are conducted, the benefits of artichoke leaf extract in the treatment of dyspeptic syndrome confirms its antioxidant health benefits. Artichoke tea may offer relief from common digestive complaints including heartburn, nausea and vomiting. It may also normalize bowel function and relieve constipation, diarrhea and bloating. Artichoke leaves appear to affect the production of bile, which could explain why these related conditions improve. A recent post-marketing surveillance study was conducted with 553 patients over a longer period of time. Notable in this study was that symptoms improved dramatically within 6 weeks of treatment; 98% of these patients believed that artichoke leaf extract was considerably better, somewhat better, or equal to that achieved during previous treatment with other drugs.
Preparation of Artichoke Tea
Making artichoke tea at home is simple, and does not require a lot of time and effort. All you need is some water and a few artichokes to start with. You can make use of any of the three quick and easy methods given below to make this herbal tea at home. Method 1: When cooking artichokes, people often tend to discard its thorny leaves. However, these leaves are in fact full of nutrition. To make use of these discarded leaves, boil 2 cups of water and add 12-15 of them, and let it boil for 5 minutes. Strain the liquid in a cup and drink it twice a day to stay fit and healthy. Method 2: Mash an artichoke and boil it with 2 cups of water for 20 minutes or so. Strain the liquid to separate the remnants, let it cool a bit, and enjoy with a hint of honey in it. This tea has a sweet taste of its own. So adjust the sweetness of the beverage as per choice. Method 3: Separate the leaves, stalk, and roots, and wash them properly. Add about 100 grams of this in 1 liter of water and bring it to a boil. Once it starts boiling, put off the flame and let it stand for 10 minutes. Strain and store the light-green liquid in another container. Drink 2-3 times a day, or as and when required. For those who do not want to take the effort of making tea at home, tea bags of artichokes are available in the market. Tea bags must be dipped in a cup of hot water for about 5 minutes to get the beverage ready to drink. Markets are flooded with several brands of artichoke tea. It is always better to buy one of good quality in order to reap all its benefits.
Side Effects
Artichoke tea and leaf extract are well tolerated and no side effects are known. Artichoke supplementation has been proven to be a safe and natural way to improve and maintain general health due to its many general supportive effects of essential physiological functions. However, before using artichoke tea for cleansing, nourishing and even healing the body it is best to talk to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to use. It is also wise to keep in mind that there have been allergic reactions to using this herb. Typically, if you are allergic to purple coneflowers and chamomile it is most likely you will be allergic to artichokes as well and it would be wise too not use this as a medicinal tea for the liver and digestive tract. Others who should stay away from this medicinal tea are those suffering from gallstones, kidney disease or are pregnant. Overall, artichokes are safe to use for eating and making medicinal teas when used properly and in moderation. Artichoke leaf extract should not be taken in the presence of gallstones or other bile duct occlusion, due to its bile stimulating effects. Those who are pregnant or nursing a baby should consult their physician before using artichoke leaf extract. Artichoke leaf extract is well tolerated in 95% of cases, with few side effects noted when used in recommended doses. More importantly, numerous studies report absence of adverse side effects using standardized extract compared to placebo. In one large study, 1 in 100 participants reported a transient increase in flatulence. As with other composite flowers (daisies, thistle, Echinacea, chrysanthemums), local a topic reactions have been reported after skin contact with fresh plant or its dried parts. Individuals allergic to dandelion or chamomile have high chances of being allergic to artichoke as well.
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