The Swiss naturopath, Alfred Vogel wrote: 'Since our present-day diet is so rich in fat, it is good to take a remedy which acts as artichoke does.'

Vogel knew that most of us are unlikely to make eating a large plate of artichoke a prerequisite of our weekly diet, so he created Cynara (Globe Artichoke) in tincture form which can be taken both as a remedy and in a maintenance dose long term.

Globe Artichoke, which is a robust perennial with a bitter taste, was prized by the ancient Egyptians and the Romans as a medication as well as a food. Later it fell into disuse. Globe Artichoke has a powerful effect on the production of bile and fat-digesting enzymes, stimulating liver functions and lowering cholesterol levels. Thanks to this positive effect on managing cholesterol, Globe Artichoke may be used to help prevent arteriosclerotic changes in the blood vessels - where fatty plaques build up inside the wall of the artery and reduce blood flow, pushing up blood pressure - thus protecting against heart disease.

Many people suffer from IBS, and Globe Artichoke may well help in this area too, when people find it hard to digest fatty foods. The improved bile secretion that Globe Artichoke promotes aids digestion, especially of fatty foods, and also increases bowel movement thus reducing constipation. Symptoms such as bloating and abdominal cramps were all alleviated with an extract of Artichoke leaf, in a clinical trial (A.F. Walker et al. Phytotherapy Research 2001; 15: 58-61). The Artichoke preparation was well-tolerated and over 80% of the patients improved.