ARTICHOKE

ALCACHOFRA (Cynara Scolymus) Família: Asteraceae
Botanical synonyms: Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) FioriL.
Common Portuguese name: Alcachofra
Harvest period: VI-IX and dried immediately.
Used parts: the complete developed leaves (Folium Cynarae), with 30-35 cm, the bracts (head), the root.

Benefits and advantages of using
Few plants exist in the world flora with such an intensely beneficial action on the liver and gallbladder as the artichoke. Clinical studies have shown that the artichoke determines the reconstitution of normal liver structure and the regeneration of liver cells. It is useful both to the sick and to healthy people who want to maintain their health by periodically purifying the body with the support of this plant.

Therapeutic Properties
Internal: good hepatic anti-infective, choleretic and very strong cholagogue, medium renal decongestant, strong depurative (stimulates urates specifically), medium intensity diuretic, good hepatic drainage, favors liver cell regeneration, efficiently normalizes cholesterol values, stimulates the liver in order to fulfill its anti-toxic function, stimulates the gastric and intestinal peristaltic, strong bitter tonic, good digestive tonic.

Preparation
Powder: a dry plant ground in fine powder, then spread over a very thin net, take a teaspoon 4 times a day, in fasting. The powder is retained sublingually for 10-15 minutes, then swallowed with water. The powder should not be stored more than 7 days, after this interval its properties begin to deteriorate.

Combined infusion: 1 teaspoon of dry and crushed aerial parts. Place it in on a ½ of cup (125 ml) with spring water and let it macerate for 8 hours. The liquid is then stored and the remaining plant is scalded to ½ cup of water and infused for ½ hour, filtered and let it cool down. At the end, the macerate liquid is mixed with the infusion liquid. Drink 2-3 cups / day, with empty stomach.

Popular Medicine
INTERN USE:

Hepatitis A, B and C, biliary dyskinesia, post-hepatic sequelae, liver cirrhosis, liver lesions: powder, in cures of at least 3 months.

Atonic constipation, digestive atony: gunpowder, 15 minutes before each meal, sublingual.

Slow digestion, anorexia: powder, sublingual, 10 minutes before meals.

Eczema, skin diseases of various etiologies (psoriasis, acne, contact dermatitis): combined infusion, 3-6 months.

Diabetes (low blood glucose), high cholesterol levels: combined infusion, 1-2 cups / day

Kidney infections, renal insufficiency: combined infusion, adjuvant.

Cardiac ischemia or hypertension associated with high cholesterol values: powder, sublingual, in fasting, in cures at least 3 months.

Contraindications / Precautions:
-The plant is extremely bitter and quite difficult to bear when given for prolonged periods in the form of gunpowder or combined infusion. For this reason, the use of the diluted dye in water is more indicated in the prolonged treatments.

– Infants (cinaropicrin and kinase promote milk coagulation) and in cases of intestinal fermentation.

Side effects: not found in the consulted literature.

Other recipes

• Decoction: of the leaves 5%, boil 10-12 minutes. Two or three cups of tea per day (for immediate use, prepare each dose separately);
• Infusion: chopped leaves (2 tablespoons) in 1 liter of water. Take 1 cup (tea) 3 times a day, after meals (for immediate use, prepare each dose separately);
• Hydroalcoholic extract: 0.5 to 1 g / day;
• Dry extract: 100 to 150 mg / dose. Take 3 times a day after main meals;
• Tincture: 5 to 25 ml / day;
• Medicinal wine: macerate 20 g of fresh leaves in a liter of white wine for five days. Filter and take two small glasses a day;
• Decoction of 20 g of roots in a liter of water for five minutes. After lukewarm, filter and sweeten the liquid. Take three cups a day;
• Flowers and the bottom of the artichoke cooked or roasted;
• The artichoke core as an ingredient in pies and pizzas;
• Artichoke juice, mixed with lemon juice: asthma;
• Artichoke juice, mixed with onion juice: recovery of hemophiliacs;
• Capsules or tablets: Adults: two, three times a day; Children: one, three times a day.

Other popular names: cachofra, artichoke-hortense, comum artichoke, cultivated artichoke, artichoke of eating, pink artichoke, artischocke (German), alcachofa (Spanish), artichaut (French), carciofo (Italian).

Phytochemical composition: cinnarine (1,5-dicetheylquinic acids from 0.02 to 0.03%), mineral salts (phosphorus, iron, potassium, chlorine, calcium, sulfur, sodium, magnesium and silicon – 12-15%), chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, mucilage, pectin, tannin, organic acids: malic, glyceric and glycolic, glycoside A and glycoside B, glycosylated flavonoid components (cinaroside, scolymoside, cosmoside), cinaropicrin, enzymes (kinase, oxidase, ascorbinase, catalase, peroxidase), vitamins (pro-vitamin A, B1, B2, C).