The trouble I have with most medications is that their primary purpose is not to promote healing, but rather to mask troublesome symptoms. They generally don’t address the cause of the problem and, frequently, they result in unintended adverse effects. But, to be fair, sometimes even the finest holistic physicians simply cannot pinpoint the root cause of an illness. In those instances, alternative health practitioners often resort to the use of natural medicines. This is often a more attractive option because alternative remedies are generally safer and sometimes provide considerable “side benefits”. Dyspepsia is essentially a medical term for “indigestion”. It’s a very common condition that includes symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, inappropriate fullness at meals and nausea . Most of these discomforts occur during or shortly after eating. The degree by which someone suffers from dyspepsic symptoms varies widely. For some, it’s only an occasional annoyance. In others, it’s the more severe incarnation of a condition known as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) . Artichoke leaf extract (ALE) may offer a viable alternative to conventional medications for those with dyspepsia and IBS. The evidence is clearly documented in the scientific literature of the past few decades. In addition, it appears that ALE frequently provokes other positive effects while improving digestive function , namely improved cholesterol levels and liver protection. ALE and Digestive Ills 208 patients with IBS used an artichoke leaf extract for a 2 month period. At the beginning and end of the study, a group of English scientists reviewed questionnaires filled out by the IBS participants and administered a test called the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) . Based on the collective results, they determined that there was a 26% reduction in self-reported IBS symptom incidence. There was a 41% decrease in the volunteers’ NDI scores. A 20% improvement in quality of life measures was also noted. A separate study found that patients assessed ALE’s benefits as being “very good” and the vast majority (96%) believed ALE to be equal to or better than any other treatment they had previously tried. ( 1 , 2 ) A trial conducted at the University of Essen in Germany investigated the effects of ALE on “functional dyspepsia”. In this experiment, 247 volunteers were treated with either ALE or a placebo over the course of 6 weeks. The dosage used was a 320 mg tablet taken twice daily. All of the patients self-reported their level of dyspepsic symptoms on a weekly basis and also took the NDI test prior to and post trial. The authors of the study concluded that, “the ALE preparation was significantly better than placebo in alleviating symptoms and improving the disease-specific quality of life in patients with functional

dyspepsia”. ( 3 ) Another ALE study, published in the journal Phytomedicine , included 516 patients with dyspepsia and reported a 40% reduction in “global dyspepsia score” ( 4 ) Two recent studies offer possible explanations for how ALE helps to improve digestion and reduce intestinal discomfort. The first trial noted an antispasmodic effect in a study conducted in guinea pigs. Antispasmodics help to prevent muscle spasms. ( 5 ) A second animal study reported increased bile flow in rats receiving ALE. This is significant because bile plays an important role in the digestion of dietary fats. ( 6 ) ALE and Cholesterol A study published in September 2008 found that ALE reduced cholesterol levels in a group of 75 participants with mild to moderately high cholesterol. The dosage used in this study was double the normal dose, 1,280 mg. A modest reduction in total cholesterol was found (4.2%). The authors speculate that the reduction might have been greater in those with higher cholesterol readings. ( 7 ) This theory is supported by at least two previous studies that observed a more significant cholesterol lowering effect (up to 23%) in those drinking juice made of artichoke leaves or taking ALE tablets. An improvement in endothelial function was also noted in the artichoke juice experiment. ( 8 , 9 ) In addition, several laboratory experiments offer mechanisms by which ALE could potentially lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a safer manner than conventionally prescribed medications. ( 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ) IBS Prevalence by Country     Source: Business Insights – 2001 It’s also reassuring to know that ALE consistently demonstrates protection against hepatotoxicity (liver damage) in various laboratory experiments. One of the greatest concerns about cholesterol lowering medications is the possibility of severe liver complications. It appears that a broad spectrum of antioxidants may be responsible for ALE’s ability to shield the liver. When scientists attempted to isolate individual components of ALE to see if they would similarly protect liver health , they failed to successfully do so. In this instance and in many others, the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. ( 14 , 15 , 16 ) Artichoke leaf extract isn’t one of the most popular supplements on the market. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to share this information today. Digestive dysfunction is very prevalent today, and I’m all for attempting to address its root cause. But if you’re unable to find a reason for it, perhaps you should consider ALE before resorting to the battery of over-the-counter and prescriptive medications on the market. Be well! JP No related posts.

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Artichoke Leaf for IBS and Indigestion