November - Artichoke

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson explains why artichoke can be good for your digestion.

Artichokes are thought to have originated in North Africa, where they are still grow wild. There are also references to them being grown in Sicily and Italy from about 300 BC. In the 9th century they were cultivated in southern Spain, but they weren’t referred to in the UK until Tudor times. Apparently Henry V11, a keen gardener and herbalist, grew them in his garden in Newhall.

We can only speculate how Henry used his artichokes, but he probably had them prepared and served at special feasts, where their unusual appearance would have added status and importance to the occasion. Tudor recipes talk of artichoke served with orange juice and sugar or in pies with gooseberries. 

The artichoke still evokes a sense of occasion when it is served in restaurants today, and Cynara scolymus, to give its Latin name, is a great example of that cross over between a food and a medicine.

Artichoke has a slightly bitter flavour, which encourages the body to release bile and digestive enzymes. Bitter foods are often used at the start and end of a meal as a digestive aid.  The bitter ingredient is Cynarin, which is thought to cause the bitter sensitive taste buds to trigger a neurological path, which leads to the stomach wall releasing a hormone gastrin, which in turn causes a number of physiological actions, including release of bile, increase of digestive juices and regulation of insulin secretion.

Bitter herbs are important medicinally, and artichoke has a long history of use as a digestive tonic. I find it especially useful for reducing dyspepsia and wind and helping to regulate the digestive process as well as regulating bowel movements. Taken regularly, it can also help to ease irritation in the gastric lining.

LIVER PROTECTOR

One of the main uses of artichoke in my practice is as a liver herb. I use it to support patients with serious liver problems, either as a tea or in capsules, usually in combination with other herbs.  As well as using artichoke as part of a complex herbal prescription, it can also be used occasionally to help with liver detoxification.  It can help to speed up recovery from a hangover, ease discomfort after over eating and calm mild stomach upsets.

JOINT HELPER

I also often use artichoke in blends for inflammatory joint problems such as arthritis and rheumatism. Arthritis sufferers are often constipated and conventional anti inflammatories  can make this worse. Artichoke, however, helps the body’s elimination processes, as well as supporting the kidneys with a mild diuretic action.

As with many plants that are both food and medicine, including artichokes in your diet can help to keep you healthy. As a medicine, I tend to use 2-3 grams of dried leaf as a tea, drunk a few times a day or capsules at a dose of 400mg twice daily.

Dee Atkinson MCPP, Medical Herbalist, Napiers the Herbalists.

Artichoke is found in DigestHerb.