Botanical Index No. 56

Artichoke

cynara cardunculus subsp. cardunculus

Medicinal Actions

Antiaggregant, Antiatherosclerotic, Antiemetic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Carminative, Cholagogue, Cholekinetic, Choleretic, Deodorant, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotonic, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, Laxative, Lipolytic, Nephrotonic, Tonic, Uricosuric, High Triglyceride

Primary Conditions Treated

Aperitif Aphrodisiac Bitter Albuminuria Anemia Anorexia Arsenic-Poisoning Arthrosis Ascites Atherosclerosis Bloating Body Odor Cancer Cardiopathy Catarrh Cholecystosis Cholestasis Constipation Cramp Dermatosis Diabetes Dropsy Dyspepsia Edema Flatulence Frigidity Gallbladder Gallstone Gas Gout Hepatosis High Cholesterol Hyperglycemia Impotence Inflammation Itch Jaundice Nausea Nephrosclerosis Obesity Oliguria Pain Renosis Rheumatism Snakebite Stone Thick Blood Tumor Uremia Vomiting Water Retention

General Dosage

Food farmacy; 2–3 capsule StX for 15 mg each caffeoylquinic acids; 1–4 g leaf 3 ×/day; 1.5–9 g dry leaf/day; 1–4 g root 3 ×/day; 1–4 g stem 3 ×/day; 3–8 ml fluid extract; 500 mg dry extract.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered.“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports contraindications of hypersensitivity to artichoke and other Asteraceae; biliary obstruction or gallstones. None expected. Sesquiterpene lactones are allergenic and may cause dermatosis.

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