Is Artichoke Leaf Extract a Natural Laxative?


Constipation can be caused by a variety of things, but the inadequate digestion of fat is often a major contributing factor and that is where artichoke leaf extract can be a natural laxative . When fat is not properly digested in the intestinal tract, it can lead to not only constipation, but also abdominal pain and flatulence as the undigested food moves through your system.


Chlorogenic acid and cynarin to aid in digestion and constipation relief

Artichoke Leaf poses a possible solution to this issue because of its high levels of chlorogenic acid and cynarin. These substances serve two functions:

  • Flow of bile - they improve the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder,
  • Gallbladder - they help the gallbladder to contract and supply the intestines with the bile needed for digestion.


      • The liver is the organ that produces bile, an alkaline substance that emulsifies fats and prepares them for absorption by your body. The liver is connected to the small intestines via the common bile duct and can transport bile directly into intestines this way. When you eat a meal with larger amounts of fat, your body might not have enough bile on hand from the liver to properly digest the food which can lead to chronic constipation. To deal with this situation, the body stores a small amount of bile in the gallbladder.


      Artichoke leaf is one of few constipation remedies that works by providing the chlorogenic acid that helps not only contract the common bile duct, but also the gallbladder. As a result, the bile which is stored in the gallbladder (which is much stronger than the bile in your liver because it is concentrated) is pushed into your small intestines where it can provide natural laxative effect. Chronic deficiencies in the functioning of the gallbladder can lead to gallstones as the bile solidifies in the gallbladder after not being released in a timely fashion.


      Studies with artichoke leaf extract

      What evidence is there to support this idea of artichoke leaf as a constipation remedy? A study in 1996 of 553 patients with digestive disorders (including constipation) took artichoke leaf extract for an average of 44 days. 71% of the patients experiencing problems with constipation experienced improvements during that time. In 2004, another study of 208 IBS patients found a 26% reduction in incidence of IBS and a 41% decrease in overall symptoms. It should be noted that the dosages of the later study were lower, indicating that the amount of artichoke leaf extract could make a difference in its effectiveness. It is also important to note that artichoke leaf extract may take 6 weeks to be fully effective.


      Holistic Constipation Remedy

      While many herbal laxatives claim to naturally relieve chronic constipation, one problem is that these products often use stimulant laxatives, which may be detrimental to the long-term health of your colon. There are holistic constipation remedies, however. StayRegular is a natural laxative that approaches chronic constipation treatment in a 4 pronged approach. It provides your body with the nutrients it needs (like chlorogenic acid & vitamin B5) to avoid chronic constipation, it flushes water into the colon to soften stools, provides a prebiotic fiber to help move food through your system, and rebalances your intestinal tract with probiotics. If you are looking for a natural laxative that deals with the underlying causes of constipation, then StayRegular might be the solution you’ve been looking for.