About Benefits of Chicory Herbs For Health Problems

Cichorium intybus Compositae/Asteraceae.

Valued by the ancient Romans who cultivated it as a vegetable,wild chicory is a common sight on waste ground and roadsides in Europe. Growing up to 1 m tall the hardy perennial has deeply indented leaves crowding around erect stems that are downy on the underside. Flowerheads appear between June and September. Most are bright blue) but can be pink or white.

PREPARATION AND DOSAGE

TO TREAT liver and kidney problems, bloating, belching, sluggish digestion, flatulence
DECOCTION Put a 15-30g mixture of root, leaves and flowers into 1 litre of water. Boil for 5 minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup before the midday and evening meals.

INSTANT DRINK PREPARATION Add 1 heaped teaspoon of instant chicory to a cup of boiling water. Add milk and sweeten to taste.

Parts used

Constituents

The entire chicory plant contains a milky sap, of which the main constituent - about 45-60 per cent is inulin. Phenol acid is also found in the flowers, and in the roots there are bitter sesquiterpene lactones.

Medicinal uses

For centuries it was known that chicory had anti-inflammatory and antiseptic powers, and it was applied in poultices to ease swelling. This is due to the phenol acid, which also acts as a diuretic, remedying any bloating caused by fluid retention. More recently, it has been shown tnat cn',cory wY\1 ease'm'i'\ammai.ion caused by rheumatism and gout.

The inulin encourages the growth of bacteria needed for the intestines to work properly. Chicory, therefore, can help to prevent and treat problems such as sluggish digestion, gastric ulcers and flatulence. It has also been shown that the inulin can lower levels of blood cholesterol.

Both inulin and the sesquiterpene lactones are bitter principles which stimulate the flow of digestive juices, including that of bile from the gall bladder. This allows the liver to work more efficiently; in 1998 scientists in India confirmed that the root had this protective effect.

Cultivation

Chicory grows easily in almost any type of soil, especially if it is rich and well drained. The plant prefers a sunny location.

CAUTIONS

People suffering from an intestinal blockage or inflammation of the intestines should consult a medical herbalist before using chicory.