dyspeptic complaints were treated with a standardized artichoke leaf extract diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain The subjective complaints declined significantly within 6 weeks of treatment diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain Improvements were found for vomiting (88%) , nausea (83%) , abdominal pain (76%) , loss of appetite (72%) , severe constipation (71%) , flatulence (68%) , and fat intolerance intolerance (59%) , and 98% of the patients judged the effect of the extract to be considerably better, somewhat better, or equal to that achieved during previous treatment with other drugs diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain The dosage used in this study was 1 to 2 capsules 3 times daily of the preparation Hepar SL SL Forte diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain One capsule contains 320 mg of dry extract of artichoke leaves, standardized to provide 3% of caffeoylquinic acid diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain The study by Fintelmann (1996) not only confirmed the efficacy of the artichoke extract for dyspepsia, but also demonstrated a significant effect of the extract on fat (lipid) metabolism diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain metabolism diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain The researchers found a significant decline in both the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, which confirmed a discovery made as early as in the 1930s diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain Artichoke leaf extract is well tolerated and has few side effects in recommended dosages diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain The use of the artichoke plant plant as food in many countries over hundreds of years supports its safety diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain More important, however, is that several rigorous studies report the absence of adverse effects when using a standardized extract compared to the placebo diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain In a large safety study, only one out of 100 subjects reported mild mild side effects such as transient increases in flatulence diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain Local eczematous reactions have been reported after occupational exposure and skin contact with the fresh plant or its dried parts diverticulitis-diverticulitis-pain Such an allergy should be considered a contraindication for external use of the extract, although no reactions to orally ingested | 