Artichoke - Discover The Healing Qualities Of The Plant (Part 1)

Artichoke is a perennial with a stem growing to a height of 2 meters. The stem has few branches. Tube-shaped violet blossoms are arranged in composite inflorescence with an average diameter of 7-25 centimeters. The base of the inflorescence is juicy and eatable. The plant blooms starting from the second year. You can see artichoke blossoms in July and August. Gray-black fruits are 6-7 millimeters long.

There are various artichoke species, including cardoon or wild artichoke, globe artichoke, Cynara Cornigera, Cynara Humilis and many more. Artichoke is a plant native to Asia Minor, South Europe, Mediterranean area (especially - Italy and France), Africa, Asia and America. The plant is used for medical purposes and in food. It is also cultivated as an ornamental and feed crop. You can use the base of the inflorescence and juicy covering leaves in food. In addition, artichoke leaves can be consumed, as well.

In terms of medical use, you should collect artichoke leaves when the covering leaves begin to open, but before the flowering of the plant. Before drying the herb, you should remove the central vein of each leaf. Sometimes, root and fresh leaves are used to make herbal remedies.

1. Artichoke leaves contain cynarin and bitter cynaropikrin (0.5 - 6.5 percent). Root is rich in cynarin, polysaccharide, inulin, tannins, ascorbic acid and other biologically active substances. The base of the inflorescence and covering leaves contain 2.5 - 3 percent proteins, 7 - 15 percent carbohydrates, ascorbic acid, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, inulin, cynaropikrin, aromatic substance responsible for the aroma and taste of the plant, and other biologically active substances.
2. Cynarin and cynaropikrin the plant contains protect liver parenchyma against toxic substances, stimulate the secretion of bile and have diuretic action. Active substances have a positive effect on nitrogen and lipid metabolism, and reduce cholesterol and carbamide level in blood.
3. Mix the juice with water (or with vine like in Mediterranean countries) to get a great remedy to tone up your liver. The juice can be mixed with radish juice and cress juice, as well. In fact, the mixture is very commonly used remedy.
4. Artichoke infusion should be made by infusing fresh or dried leaves (1 part) with boiling water (10 parts). You can make a decoction, as well. Drink a cup of the infusion or decoction 3 times a day as bile-moving remedy in case of gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, bile duct inflammation, acute and chronic nephritis, atherosclerosis and rheumatism.

Arta enjoys writing articles on diverse topics related to the health, beauty, exercises. Her website contains consumer reviews on Anita nursing bra [http://www.anitanursingbra.com/]. In addition, it describes various designs of cotton nursing bra to help to choose the right bra. Find your nursing bra at [http://www.anitanursingbra.com/].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arta_Marta