The artichoke is a perennial herb cultivated in warm countries as a vegetable. As a rule, unopened flower baskets and leaves, which taste like a walnut, are used for food. Due to their beneficial properties, artichokes are used in the diet as a dietary and medicinal product.
The benefits of artichokes
Artichokes are rich in carbohydrates, iron, calcium and quite rare organic acids - cinchona, caffeic, glycolic, glyceric and others. In addition, their chemical composition includes a variety of vitamins - C, B1, B2, B3, R. Artichokes contain a phenolic compound of cynarin, which, in combination with other phenolic acids, makes it possible to use this plant as a choleretic and hepatoprotective agent. Thanks to these properties, a useful drug is made from artichoke that promotes the elimination of urea and heavy metal salts from the body.
For additional therapy, artichoke medicine is indicated for diseases such as biliary dyskinesia, chronic hepatitis, cholecystitis, chronic renal failure and urolithiasis. Artichokes are also used to lower blood cholesterol levels and normalize metabolism. Also, with the help of it, you can cleanse the body of toxins during chronic intoxication with a variety of substances - nitro compounds, heavy metal salts and alkaloids.
Using artichokes
To improve the regeneration of liver cells, get rid of joint diseases, gout, migraines, improve appetite, normalize digestion, and also stimulate the formation and outflow of bile, it is necessary to take a decoction of artichoke inflorescences. To prepare it, pour 40 grams of inflorescences with 1 liter of boiling water and let it brew for 1 hour. Drink the broth 3 times a day before meals, 1 glass. This remedy has anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities.
In addition to inflorescences, you can use the leaves and petioles of the plant to prepare the broth.
Artichokes tend to stimulate hair growth. They have been used since ancient times to strengthen hair follicles with progressive baldness. To do this, rub fresh juice into the hair roots and rinse off after 2 hours.
Artichokes are also widely used in cooking. Small buds are great as a snack and go well with rice dishes.
Artichokes are useful for people with high acidity of gastric juice.
It is not recommended to eat artichokes for hypertension and gastritis with low acidity. A contraindication to the use of artichokes is the presence of diseases of the liver, biliary tract and kidneys in an acute form.
