Helianthus tuberosus

"Sunflower Artichoke" "Jerusalem Artichoke"

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae

Active Constituents: Luevulin gum, sugar, albuminoids, protein, vitamin A & C, minerals, and mucilage.

Habitat: Grows in shady or open ground, which is unsuitable for other vegetables. The largest tubers are produced from light, rich soil.

Origin: Native to the North American plains. Indigenous to the lake regions of Canada, west Saskatchewan, and south Georgia and Arkansas. Cultivated by North American Indians as food before the settlement of the Europeans.

Parts Used: Tuber, flowers, leaves, stalk, whole plant.

Uses: It is used in Native Medicine as a food and the roots were boiled and used as an aphrodisiac and semen promoter or as a coffee substitute. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this plant is a sweet herb, which nourishes and warms the body. Indications include any degenerative disease, weakened yin and to support nutrition of the body. It produces a beneficial effect on hormones, nerves, and muscles and is associated with the digestive organs, the pancreas, and the muscles. Studies indicate that inulin may be used as a sugar substitute for diabetics. Currently, rheumatism is the main indication. My flowers are eaten fresh to relieve complaints of rheumatic joint pain. My leaves and stalk are made into an infusion for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritic pain.

""My flowers are eaten fresh to relieve complaints of rheumatic joint pain. My leaves and stalk are made into an infusion for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritic pain.""

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