Using this "cooling" product incorrectly also causes the body's organs, especially the liver and gallbladder, to work harder, which can unintentionally cause harm...

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Artichoke (scientific name Cynara scolymus) is a perennial thorny plant native to Southern Europe (around the Mediterranean) that was cultivated by the Ancient Greeks and Romans for its edible flowers. Artichokes can grow up to 1.5 to 2 meters tall, with leaves 50 to 80 cm long.

Nowadays, people grow artichokes not only for eating bracts and flower bases but also for medicine. Artichokes have the effect of lowering cholesterol and urea in the blood, creating bile, increasing bile secretion, and are diuretics. They are often used as a medicine to clear bile, clear urine, and treat liver and kidney diseases. Although cynarine has been synthesized, people still use preparations from fresh artichoke leaf extract. In the world, the drug Chophytol of Rosa Company (France) is the most popular.

Artichoke is a medicinal plant originating from the Mediterranean, which was introduced by the French to Vietnam hundreds of years ago in temperate climates such as Da Lat (Lam Dong), Sapa (Lao Cai), Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc). Up to now, Artichoke has been developed and grown in many places, including in the plains like Hai Duong, where the plant still grows well.

The inflorescence and bracts have a lean base, often used as vegetables and medicine. The leaves are picked when the plant is about to flower or has just flowered, used as medicine. Artichoke leaves are picked in the first year of the growing period or at the end of the flowering season. When the plant flowers, the active ingredient content decreases, so the leaves are usually picked before the plant flowers. Some documents state that young leaves should be picked when the plant has not yet flowered. In Da Lat, people pick the leaves one month before the Lunar New Year.

On pharmacological effects

Scientists from France, the former Soviet Union, Japan and Switzerland have proven the specific effects of Artichoke: Intravenous injection of Artichoke solution after 2-3 hours, the amount of bile secreted is 4 times higher. Oral or injecting Artichoke solution lowers cholesterol and urea in the blood. Increases urine volume, increases urea content in urine. Artichoke flowers have anti-inflammatory effects, lowers cholesterol in the blood. Artichoke is non-toxic. Artichol injection and pills are refined products of Artichoke.

After 30 years on the French market *, the pharmacological and clinical effects have been re-examined and found to be not as effective as the previously tested Artichoke total solution. (Therefore, France has stopped producing Artichol).

Uses

Artichoke flowers and bracts are used as vegetables. Cooking soup or stewing with pork bones or cooked with pork liver is very nutritious. For diabetic patients, it has the effect of lowering blood sugar, in addition, it also has the effect of nourishing the liver, laxative, diuretic, detoxifying. Artichoke leaves (and whole extracts such as liquid extract, concentrated extract, dry Artichoke extract) have the effect of diuretic, increasing bile secretion, clearing bile, lowering blood cholesterol. Protecting the liver against toxins (due to the presence of 6 substances in the polyphenol group and 10 substances in the alcohol acid group and flavonoids).

However, when using it as a medicine, it is necessary to have a dosage and not abuse it. Because even when we eat too much rice, it will cause overeating or eating a meal that is too luxurious can easily lead to acute pancreatitis. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention when using it properly, otherwise it is very likely that there will be risks such as: Eating less, even loss of appetite. When stopping use, everything returns to normal, eating is more delicious. There are cases where the stomach is always bloated and very uncomfortable. At mealtimes, you do not want to touch anything while your eyes are still craving, these are cases of frequent and prolonged abuse of drinking Artichoke tea. Because it will cause spasms of the entire smooth muscle of the digestive tract. This is the cause of bloating and flatulence if you use too much artichoke.

Using this "cooling" product incorrectly also causes the body's organs, especially the liver and gallbladder, to work harder, which inadvertently causes harm instead of curing the disease. In addition, artichokes are cold in nature, so they are not suitable for people with indigestion or digestive problems.

On the other hand, artichoke has the function of clearing bile, diuretic, nourishing the liver and kidneys, sedative, reducing cholesterol in the blood, so it is often used to treat diseases caused by liver dysfunction such as jaundice, nephritis, atherosclerosis... However, if you abuse artichoke, it will cause spasms of the entire smooth muscle of the digestive tract. And this is the cause of bloating and flatulence. When you drink too much and the body cannot absorb it all, the liver and kidneys have to work harder to eliminate the excess. "So, you think drinking a lot is good for the liver, but in fact it is harmful."

On the other hand, artichoke tea contains a lot of iron but lacks other minerals such as zinc, chromium, etc. Therefore, overusing artichoke can lead to loss of appetite and loss of appetite. Although artichoke is not toxic, it has a bitter taste. According to Oriental medicine, the spleen and stomach like sweet taste and not bitter taste, so if used for a long time or in large quantities, it can damage the stomach. Studies show that allergic reactions to artichokes are very rare, but frequent contact with artichokes sometimes causes allergies. There have been cases of cross-sensitivity to chrysantheme, arnica and pyrethrum (active ingredients in artichokes). Therefore, using large quantities or using them regularly is not recommended.

However, no matter what kind of tea you drink, it must be metabolized by the liver to have the desired effect. The liver even has to work twice because any active ingredient, whether synthetic chemicals or natural derivatives, after taking effect, must be transformed by the liver again into a non-toxic form for the body before being excreted. Therefore, if we abuse artichoke, it will increase the burden on the liver.

Therefore, you should only use 10 - 20g boiled with water per day if using fresh, 5 - 10g if using dry. With packaged tea, drinking only 2 - 3 bags per day is enough.

According to Agriculture - NT