Artichoke
Cynara scolymus
Vegetables. Modern nutrition.
Also called Globe artichoke, Green artichoke, Artichoke hearts
Pinyin: Cháo Xiǎn Jì
Spanish: Alcachofa
The flower bud of a thistle-like plant, eaten as a vegetable, with the heart and leaf bases the parts most people eat.
Did you know? Artichokes are the flower buds of a thistle. If left alone, they open into large purple flowers.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Folk use for indigestion and bile flow is old. Human proof for the vegetable is weak.Traditional proof
- Cleansing & detox. Sold as a liver cleanse. No good evidence shows that eating artichokes removes toxins.Not supported
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ancient Greeks and Romans ate artichokes. Herbal use mostly centers on leaf extracts, which are a separate product from the vegetable.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Nutritive, Cholagogue. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Steam or boil the whole bud, then pull off the leaves and scrape the base with your teeth. The hearts are eaten in salads, pizzas and dips.
Food.
Where to get it
Grows in mild, warm coastal areas, such as the Mediterranean and coastal California. Sold fresh, canned, jarred in oil and frozen.
Be careful
Safe as food. Some people are allergic to artichokes, especially those allergic to ragweed or daisies, which are in the same plant family. Artichoke leaf extracts are a different product and can be unsafe if you have bile duct blockage or gallstones.
Avoid if: ragweed allergy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Lemon keeps cut artichokes from browning and adds flavor.
- Works well together
Garlic and olive oil are common with artichokes in Mediterranean cooking.
The honest take
Artichokes are a healthy food. Claims that they cleanse the liver are not proven. Artichoke leaf extract is a separate product with its own research, and it is not the same as eating the vegetable.