Artichoke is a perennial herb native to Mediterranean southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Canary Islands. Its cultivation in Europe dates back to ancient Persia, Greece, and Rome. It is cultivated in North Africa as well as in other subtropical regions. The material of commerce comes as whole or cut dried leaves obtained mainly from southern Europe and northern Africa.
Artichoke leaf has been used as a choleretic and diuretic in ancient Persia, as well as traditional European medicine since Roman times. Traditional medicinal uses of artichoke pertain to liver function. Artichoke leaf is considered choleretic (bile increasing), hepato-protective, cholesterol-reducing, and diuretic. It is used as a choleretic, for its lipid-lowering, hepato-stimulating, and appetite-stimulating actions. In German pediatric medicine, herbs with a relatively low bitter value, such as artichoke leaf, are considered suitable for the treatment of appetite disorders.
Modern human studies have investigated its choleretic activity for treatment of digestive disorders. Statistically significant reductions of symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, and nausea) were reported for the surveillance studies.
As one can see, there is a direct correlation between such digestive orders, and conditions leading to Arthritis.