Components:

• Acids: Caffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylquinic, caffeic, linoleic, oleic, panthotenic...(Flower) ferulic (plant.)
• Vitamins: B (Niacin, Riboflavin,Thiamin, B6)
• Pigments : Flavonoids.
• Mucilage
• Inuline
• Minerals: iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium

Medicinal properties:

Internal use

- Liver and bile : It protects the liver and it is and aid to its recovery in case of hepatic disease. It favors the biliary function . - The acids ( caffeic, linoleic and oleic) take part in their hepato-protector power and caffeoyl-quinic-acid acid is the one that contributes to its coleretic value, it is to say the power of bile stimulation .(Infusion of two spoonfuls of dry leaves by liter of water. Take three times a day before the meals.) (A preparation of juice of the mixed green leaves with wine can be used for the same purpose)

Cynarin, an acid present in leaves and seeds of artichoke, is one of the most beneficial ingredients to protect the liver and help heal any condition that might affect it: liver insufficiency, hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc. (Infusion of artichoke leaves. Take a couple of cups a day. You can also use cynarin supplements that can be bought in pharmacies or herbalists).

Cynarin stimulates bile production, easing digestion, protects the body against microorganisms, and is also responsible to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, to lower blood sugar and protect the kidneys. Because of its diuretic properties, it enters in many preparation aimed to diminish obesity or to get rid of fluids retention

- Cholesterol, hypertension, arteriosclerosis : Its main virtue is in the capacity that their acids provide to reduce the cholesterol level in blood, to diminish hypertension , and also to prevent arteriosclerosis , with which it diminishes the risk of vascular disease or aids to the recovery after some accident of this type, like myocardial infarction , angina pectoris ... etc. (Anyone of the previous preparations can serve to obtain these effects)

- Diabetes: It reduces the level of sugar in the blood and prevents or aids to fight diabetes (Juice of the leaves mixed with wine) (Decoction of leaves until reducing the liquid to a half. Take a glass every day) (Eating raw or stewed artichokes )

- Diuretic: It favors the elimination of liquid in the body, reason why it is interesting not only in case of obesity , also in that assembly of ailments that improve with the water elimination and the consequent toxin elimination and specially the uric acid : circulatory, hepatic diseases, drop , arthritis , etc. (Decoction of 60 gr. of dry roots by liter of water, until reducing the liquid to half. Drink 2 glasses a day)

- Anti-cancerigenic: Recent studies have demonstrated the influence that have acids caffeic , panthoteic flavonoids have in the prevention or improvement of the cancerous processes.

Other uses

Edible:

• Artichokes are a very advisable food by all the properties previously mentioned . They should be eaten crude, in salad t take take advantage of all their properties. If they are boiled, it is interesting to drink the resulting broth to profit all their values. The artichokes either in the oven or in the live coal in olive oil, are highly delicious and medicinal by the high content that oil and artichokes have in oleic acid.

Toxicity: Although in no case it is toxic, it is not advised its use in the suckling mothers, because its use entails the diminution of the production of milk.

Picking -up and storing: The artichokes must be harvested r in spring, when they are tender. The leaves can be collected during all their production. They will have to be dried and to keep in fabric bags in a fresh and protected place from the dust

More information about natural medicine in the listing above.