Artichoke extract is a proven herbal remedy for a condition nearly everyone over the age of 50 has and nearly no one over the age of 50 has ever heard about, hypochlorhydria. Defined as a deficiency in stomach acid production, hypochlorhydria, ironically, can cause acid reflux.
Why Making More Stomach Acid Stops Acid Reflux
When stomach does not make enough acid to digest large pieces of food, especially those containing large amounts of protein and fat., the pressure of undigested food causes acid to rise into the throat. This results in severe pain, especially after eating a large meal.
Artichoke extract concentrates a bitter substance, the artichoke chemical cynarin. Bitter chemicals of any kind trigger a important protective reflex. They stimulate the release of acid from the lining of the stomach and bile from the liver. The evolutionary advantage of this reflex lies in the fact that many poisons in nature taste bitter. When bitter taste is sensed on the back of the tongue, the brain sends a message to the liver and stomach to release more fluids to make sure any potential poison is digested and passed out of the body quickly.
Artichoke Activates a Protective Reflex
Artichoke leaf extract does not contain any poisons, but it activates the reflex. The additional acid digests food and assists the stomach in ensuring that food travels down the digestive tract, not up. This is what makes artichoke extract one of the best home remedies for heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. Acid action also increases the release of vitamin B12, which is essential for preventing anemia and keeping down levels of a dangerous blood chemical called homocysteine.
The additional bile flowing from the liver through the gallbladder to the gut emulsifies fats, helping them blend with the other contents of the intestines. When digested fat is more completely mixed with the other watery products of digestion in the stomach, there is less "floating" fat left to cause diarrhea, flatulence, and bloat.
How and When to Take Artichoke
You can't eat enough artichoke leaves, even if you managed to chew them, to provide a sufficient dose of bitters to affect digestive function. It's necessary to take artichoke leaf tincture, preferably about 15 minutes before you start your meal. Mix 30 or 40 drops of artichoke tincture in a cup of water and drink. Or, for best results, place a dropperful of tincture on the back of your tongue.
It is especially important to take artichoke extract when you have to eat on the run, when you have only a short lunch hour, when you eat at a fast food restaurant, or when you are traveling. For best results, however, take time to chew your food completely and eat as slowly as possible to empower your digestive tract to keep up with your food.
Source:
Holtmann G, Adam B, Haag S, Collet W, Grunewald E, Windeck T. Efficacy of artichoke leaf extract in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia: a six-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Dec;18(11-12):1099-105.
Join the Conversation