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Digestive

Biliary colic / dyspepsia (adjunct)

Right-upper-quadrant colic after a fatty meal with a positive ultrasound is a surgeon, not dandelion. Artichoke leaf extract has human data in functional dyspepsia with bloating — people borrow it for 'sluggish bile.' Bile-duct obstruction is a hard stop for choleretics. Ginger may help associated nausea. Peppermint can worsen coincident reflux.

Primary plants

  1. Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
    1
    ArtichokeHuman data

    Cynara scolymus

    Leaf extract: functional-dyspepsia/bloating human data and a choleretic tradition. Not a stone-dissolver.

    Typical. Leaf extract ~640 mg/day divided in several FD trials.

    Safety. Bile-duct obstruction, acute cholecystitis: stop.

Supportive plants3
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
    GingerHuman data
    Zingiber officinale

    Nausea adjunct. Not a biliary spasmolytic of record.

    Typical. 1–2 g dried rhizome/day.

    Safety. Extract bleeding. Gallbladder caution is the point of this page.

  • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
    DandelionStrong traditional
    Taraxacum officinale

    Root as a traditional bitter/choleretic. Human file thin. Leaf is a potassium-losing diuretic — different object.

    Typical. Root tea/extract as labeled if used at all, and never in obstruction.

    Safety. Obstruction/cholangitis: no. Leaf: diuretic.

  • Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
    PeppermintStrong traditional
    Mentha × piperita

    Skip if reflux or sphincter-of-Oddi folklore is the worry. Enteric oil is an IBS object.

    Typical. Usually skip here.

    Safety. GERD. Infants: no oil.

Clinical notes

  • Fever, jaundice, or a palpable gallbladder is cholangitis/cholecystitis until proven otherwise.

When this is not enough

  • RUQ peritonitis, fever + jaundice, ascending cholangitis, pancreatitis, pregnancy with colic

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All digestive diagnoses