ARTICHOKE
Cynara scolymus
Common Names: Garden artichoke, globe artichoke.
Medicinal Parts: Flower heads, leaves, root.
Description: Artichoke is a perennial plant which grows in the Mediterranean area and the Canary Islands and is widely cultivated elsewhere as a food plant. Its tuberous root produces a stem from 3 to 5 feet high, with alternate, thistlelike leaves that are grayish-green above and a woolly white underneath. The blue flowers are enveloped in the familiar globular heads of purplish-green, spiny scales which terminate the main branches. Artichokes destined for the dinner table are flower heads that were picked before maturity. Flowering time varies from spring to mid-summer, depending on the warmth of the climate.
Properties and Uses: Cholagogue, diuretic. The flower heads are commonly eaten as a vegetable, but extracts of the leaves and root are said to be helpful in preventing arteriosclerosis and have also been used for jaundice, dyspepsia, liver insufficiency, chronic albuminuria, and postoperative anemia. In some countries, the artichoke is considered an aphrodisiac.
