Plant artichoke known people for more than 5 thousand years. Even in ancient times, the inhabitants of Egypt and Greece used it as a medicine that helped cure the most serious diseases. And the Romans used this plant to cleanse the blood, with diseases of the liver and gall bladder. Today artichoke is also popular in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments.
Artichoke application
Artichoke belongs to the heat-loving perennial plants of the family Compositae. The first to use it inhabitants of the countries of the North and South America, a little later the artichoke planted in France, Italy, Russia and Ukraine.
The therapeutic properties of artichoke are manifested in the treatment of rheumatic inflammations. Its extract relieves pain even with severe pain. Artichoke is also used to stimulate the excretion of urine and as a choleretic agent.
Preparations, which in the Middle Ages were made from artichoke, were very expensive and not everyone could afford to buy them. They were used in heart diseases, as a diaphoretic and an appetite stimulant. Thanks to the substances contained in this plant, in nontraditional medicine artichoke and for today is recommended for:
- lowering of blood sugar level;
- improvement of digestion;
- elimination of toxins and excess fluid from the body;
- cell regeneration;
- prevention of cirrhosis.
Artichoke for weight loss
Studies conducted by European nutritionists have shown that for losing weight artichoke is an excellent and effective tool, so this type of plant is increasingly included in a variety of diets.
In addition, the artichoke is also used in mesotherapy - the course of treatment of fat deposits and the formation of cellulite. During this course, injections with an artichoke-based drug are injected into the areas that hit the "orange peel" to a depth. This procedure is absolutely safe and effective, however, quite expensive.
Artichoke in Cooking
Also, thanks to the useful properties of artichoke, it is often used in cooking by those who adhere to the rules of healthy eating. Experts advise the use of artichoke for people who abuse alcohol to protect liver cells, lovers of spicy and fatty foods, as well as for poor and malnutrition as a food additive to preserve the necessary trace elements.
Artichoke tincture
Recently, many specialists of alternative medicine advise people who have problems with the liver to take the artichoke tincture. Its composition is rich in:
- cinarin;
- flavonoids;
- vitamins;
- inulin;
- enzymes;
- tannins;
- various minerals.
Thanks to this richness of biological components, this tincture has a beneficial effect on the liver and is involved in its recovery.
Apply it and for the treatment of other diseases of the nervous system, cholecystitis, insomnia and neuroses. In addition, tincture of artichoke helps digest proteins and fats, reduce gas formation in the intestine.
Contraindications to artichoke use
In the Middle Ages, residents of many modern countries believed that the use of artichoke is priceless and there is no harm from it. However, like any medicine, the artichoke has both beneficial properties and contraindications, therefore, before using it for food or as a medicine, it is necessary to consult a doctor in charge.
You can not use this plant for children who are not yet twelve years old, and also for women during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, despite the fact that the plant is used to treat the liver, contraindications to artichoke include blockage of the biliary tract and liver failure of severe form.