Viewers of television's Dr. Oz Show are justifiably left with the impression that artichoke leaf extracts are something of a miracle cure for heartburn, but this safe and inexpensive herbal extract has an even longer history of use as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS.
How Artichoke Leaf Extract Relieves the Symptoms of IBS
The authoritative Complete German Commission E Monographs, published by the American Botanical Council, states that artichoke extract stimulates the liver to produce bile. The flow of bile out of the liver, through the bile duct and gallbladder and onward to the colon emulsifies digested fat. This helps keep digested food moving through the intestines, relieving gas, abdominal cramps, constipation, and diarrhea.
A Miracle Cure for IBS?
It would be an exaggeration, however, to state that artichoke leaf extract is a miracle cure for IBS symptoms. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine reported that men taking artichoke extract every day for two months experienced just 26 per cent fewer attacks of irritable bowel symptoms. That is not a total cure. In fact, the most recent science suggests that artichoke extract will be more useful for some IBS sufferers than others.
Scientists at the University of Münster in Germany have found that the plant chemicals cynarin and luteolin in artichoke leaf reduce the effects of serotonin on the lining of the colon. Serotonin is a chemical made by the brain that regulates mood, but it is also a chemical made by the lining of the digestive tract that regulates how fast food is digested.
Who Benefits Most from Artichoke Extract for IBS?
Certain foods contain actual serotonin. These include pecans, walnuts, bananas, and tomatoes. If you get symptoms of IBS after eating these foods, then artichoke extract may be an especially good choice for you.
Certain medications change the way the nerves in the brain and in the digestive tract use serotonin. If you get symptoms of IBS when you take antidepressants, artichoke extract may help.
Eating artichokes themselves will not settle your stomach. The helpful plant chemicals are concentrated in the leaves, which most of us throw away. It's best to take artichoke extract on an empty stomach, about 30 minutes before your meal, taking it "straight" or with only a small amount (1-2 teaspoons) of water.
Sources
- Bundy R, Walker AF, Middleton RW, Marakis G, Booth RG. Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improves quality of life in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering from concomitant dyspepsia: a subset analysis. J Altern Complement Med 2004 Aug; 10(4), 667-9.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
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