Dorothy FarrarCommon chicory
In the Middle Ages, the common chicory was said to have magical powers. The roasted roots served as a coffee substitute in times of need. Today the daisy family is valued for its health-promoting properties.
Definition and Occurrence
The common chicory is a daisy family, which is also known as chicory. Furthermore, terms such as poor sinner flower, blue thistle or coffee herb have become common. The perennial plant can reach heights of growth of up to two meters. Characteristic of the common chicory is the taproot that extends far into the ground. The branched stems are hairy throughout. The leaves are saw-shaped like the dandelion , but also have bristles.
Chicory flowers between June and October. The eye-catching blue inflorescences only open for one day. The common chicory occurs in Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa. The plants have also become native to North and South America. The undemanding plant grows in fields, pastures or along the way. In the USA and China, the common chicory is deliberately cultivated and used as a fodder plant. The undemanding deep rooter prefers dry, nitrogen-rich soil. The common chicory occurs up to an altitude of 1,500 meters.
Ingredients, effect and dosage
The common chicory has a whole range of ingredients that make the plant interesting for medicine. These include bitter substances such as lactucopicrin and lactuin. Plants store inulin in their roots. Essential oils , tannins , cichoriin, potassium salts or scopoletin are also among the ingredients of chicory. The common chicory can be found in three subspecies in our latitudes. The wild common chicory is the most common representative.The crops coffee chicory and lettuce chicory are also common. While chicory is a popular winter vegetable, coffee chicory served as a substitute for the stimulating drink in times of need. The healing effects of the common chicory were already known in the Middle Ages. At that time, the plant was even said to have magical powers. This related to the love spell as well as being invulnerable in battle. To do this, the plants had to be dug up according to a precisely prescribed rite.
The future husband should appear in a dream to virgins if they put the common chicory under their pillow. Many historians also consider the common chicory to be the equivalent of the “blue flower”, the symbol of romanticism. The effect of the common chicory can be described as calming, strengthening, cleansing and anti-inflammatory . In medicine, the common chicory is therefore used for flatulence, gallstones, ulcers, hemorrhoids or diabetes and for blood purification.
The herb or the root is taken as a tea . A tea preparation is common here, which consists of dandelion and peppermint in addition to the common chicory . The herbs are divided into two teaspoons in a ratio of 2:2:1 and added to 250 ml of water. The drink should steep for three minutes and be drunk in small sips. The infusions can also be used externally to treat skin impurities. The average daily dose should be around three grams of the drug. In the case of gallstones, it is advisable to consult a doctor before using Chicory.
What does the common chicory help against?
importance to health
The importance of common chicory as a medicine dates back to the late Middle Ages. It is assumed that the common chicory was already mentioned in an ordinance of Charlemagne under the name “solsequium”. However, this cannot be clearly clarified, since the name designation at that time also referred to dandelion, marigold and St. John’s wort . Paracelsus recommended common chicory as an antiperspirant.
Sebastian Kneipp prescribed treatment with chicory for digestive problems and liver diseases. In herbal medicine, the main areas of application are in cleansing the skin and treating liver and gallbladder disorders. Chicory has always been used as a vegetable and salad in Calabria . The medicinal active ingredients are found in the leaves, stem, flowers and roots of the plant. The parts of the plant are collected in autumn and then dried.
The pharmaceutical term for chicory herb is Cichorii herba. The name Cichorii radix is common for the plant root. The quality requirements for the active ingredients contained are laid down in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia. The whole plant can be used to stimulate appetite . The common chicory is an approved medicine in Germany for loss of appetite and digestive problems.
The healing effect is based on the bitter substances it contains. Recent studies also support the calming properties of the plant. The common chicory is also known in the Indian healing theory Ayurveda . Here the plant, together with senna, yarrow and black pepper, is considered a liver remedy.The homeopathic remedy Cichorium intybus is obtained from the fresh, underground parts of the plant. In this context, the common chicory is used for liver and gallbladder problems.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.