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In the article we talk about chicory, discuss its beneficial properties and use in traditional medicine. You will learn how to use chicory for pressure, to normalize the digestive tract and in order to reduce weight.

Chicory (lat. Cichorium) is a genus of biennial or perennial plants of the Asteraceae family. Includes 2 cultivated species - lettuce chicory and common chicory. The latter is used for medicinal purposes, and we will talk about it in the article.

Among the people, common chicory has other names - roadside grass, blue flower, petr's batogs, shcherbak.

What does it look like

Chicory is a perennial plant, a widespread weed. It has a long tap root and lactifers in all organs.

Photo and description of the chicory plant: Appearance of chicory The stem of chicory is erect, rod-shaped, green or bluish-green in color. Branched, rough to the touch. It reaches a height of 15 to 150 cm. The branches of the plant strongly deviate from the stem and thicken towards the top. They may be naked or almost naked, bristly or curly-haired.

The basal leaves of chicory can be from prickly-pinnate to entire. The leaves are toothed along the edge, narrowing into a petiole at the base. Stem leaves are rare and small, lanceolate-ovate and lanceolate.

At the top of the side branches and in the axils of the upper and middle leaves, numerous single baskets are formed. Chicory flowers are reed, blue, white or Pink colour, have a corolla 15–25 mm long. Baskets open only in the morning or in cloudy weather.

The fruit of chicory is a three- to five-sided achene, light brown in color, oblong in shape, 2–3 mm long.

Where does it grow

Common chicory is most common in the temperate and tropical climates of Eurasia. It can be found in the territory from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, and from Britain to Eastern Siberia and India. The plant also grows in North and South Africa, North and South America, and New Zealand.

Chicory grows in meadows, forest clearings, grassy slopes, wastelands, near roads and near settlements.

Root and leaves of chicory

The roots and leaves of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.. Although chicory flowers and stems also have useful properties, their content of biologically active substances is much lower.

Chemical composition

Composition of chicory:

• polysaccharide inulin;
• protein substances;
• intibin glycoside;
• tannins;
• organic acids;
• coumarin glycosides;
• thiamine;
• riboflavin;
• carotene;
• vitamin C;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• sodium.

A popular question asked by users is, does chicory contain caffeine? There is no caffeine in chicory, this is one of the advantages of the plant and drinks based on it.

More about useful properties and contraindications of fresh and soluble chicory, we will talk further.

Medicinal properties

Use the roots and leaves of chicory Useful properties of chicory:

• antibacterial;
• antioxidant;
• anti-inflammatory;
• painkiller;
• tonic;
• soothing;
• anti-sclerotic;
• hypotensive;
• choleretic;
• laxative;
• decongestant;
• immunomodulatory.

Dried chicory roots are 40% composed of the polysaccharide inulin. Inulin is not digested in the stomach and acts as a prebiotic - it stimulates the growth and vital activity of the intestinal microflora. Read more about inulin in chicory here.

Thanks to inulin, chicory has a beneficial effect on the composition of the blood and its rheological properties. Means based on the plant reduce the level of glucose and cholesterol, normalize blood pressure and reduce blood clotting. Therefore, it is useful to take chicory in diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis, and for the same reason it is prohibited for use in varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Inulin in the composition of chicory improves digestion, relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, stimulates the motor function of the intestine and has a mild laxative effect. Chicory has a choleretic effect. Medicines based on it eliminate the stagnation of bile and contribute to the removal of small stones from the gallbladder. We talked about this in more detail in the articles: chicory from gastritis, from peptic ulcer and with a removed gallbladder.

Chicory is good for the nervous system. It has a calming effect, relaxes, eliminates anxiety. Chicory is recommended to drink with stress, increased excitability, cognitive impairment - memory loss, concentration, mental performance and others. Chicory helps with headaches and migraines. And its use in the morning tones up and gives a charge of vivacity.

What else is useful chicory? Plant-based products have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Chicory strengthens the heart, helps to normalize the rhythm. Often the drink is used as a prophylactic to prevent arrhythmias and other disorders. You can learn about the effect of chicory on blood pressure in this article.

Due to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of chicory, it is used to treat joint diseases - arthritis, myositis, gout. It stops inflammation in the tissues of the joint and reduces pain. You can read more about chicory for gout here.

The diuretic properties of chicory help to remove excess fluid from the body and eliminate edema.

Chicory also has an antibacterial effect on the pathogenic microflora of the oral cavity. Acts as an antiseptic and eliminates inflammatory processes. Increases immunity.

These properties are typical for the roots and leaves of chicory, which are collected according to certain rules and dried, as well as for preparations based on them. But is instant chicory good for the body?

The most common chicory powder that can be found on sale is crushed roots, which were initially dried at a temperature of 180-200 degrees or fried in order to give the drink a coffee taste. At this temperature, most of the nutrients disappear. However, if you buy organic freeze-dried chicory from a trusted manufacturer, you can be sure that the drink will be useful if consumed correctly.

You can also prepare chicory yourself at home, then we will tell you how to do it right.

How to collect

You already know where chicory grows. You can collect and cook its leaves from June to September, and the roots - in early spring or late autumn.

Chicory leaves and stems are harvested in dry weather. Lay out in a thin layer on a cloth or paper and dry in the shade under a canopy or in the attic. Periodically, the raw material is mixed so that it dries evenly. Drying can be considered complete when the stems break easily and the leaves crumble. Leaves and stems of chicory are stored in canvas bags or paper bags in a dry and dark place. Shelf life - 1 year.

Chicory roots are dug up, cleaned from the ground and quickly washed in cold water. First laid out for initial drying. Next, the roots are cut into pieces, laid out on cloth or paper and dried in a ventilated room under a canopy. Drying is stopped when the roots break easily, and at the same time they emit a characteristic crack. Chicory roots can also be dried in an oven with the door ajar at a temperature not exceeding 50 degrees or in a special electric dryer. Raw materials are stored in wooden boxes or paper bags in a dry and dark place. Shelf life - 3 years.

Now you know when to harvest and how to dry chicory. Next, we will talk about its use in traditional medicine.

How to apply

Soluble chicory is brewed like coffee. From the leaves and roots of chicory, decoctions, infusions, teas, as well as lotions and compresses for external use are made. You can also purchase chicory extract from a pharmacy or stores. In addition to the benefits, chicory can also cause harm, so consult your doctor before using it for medicinal purposes.

Usually chicory is drunk as tea or coffee. Below is a classic recipe - how to brew chicory.

Ingredients:

1. Chicory - 1 teaspoon.
2. Boiling water - 1 cup.

How to cook: Pour boiling water over chicory, put on low heat and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and infuse the drink for another 5-10 minutes. Strain.

How to use: Drink like tea.

Result: Improves the cardiovascular system, lowers blood sugar, calms the central nervous system, activates digestion.

It is even easier to brew instant chicory. How much it can be drunk per day - no more than 3-4 glasses. It is preferable to take a drink one hour after a meal. Do not pour soluble chicory with boiling water, use warm water.

For weight loss (with a diet)

Chicory effectively helps in the fight against excess weight. A drink based on the roots of the plant does not burn fat, but stimulates the intestines, improves digestion, lowers blood glucose levels, and removes toxins from the body. You can read more about this in the article chicory for the liver.

Ingredients:

1. Chopped chicory root - 1 teaspoon.
2. Water - 2 glasses.

How to cook: Pour water over chicory and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the drink before drinking.

How to use: Take half a glass 30 minutes before meals 3 times a day.

Result: Promotes weight loss without harm to health.

Chicory is also used for weight loss because a drink based on it is low-calorie. The calorie content of chicory is only 21 kcal per 100 grams, while the calorie content of coffee is 109 kcal per 100 grams.

Read more about chicory for weight loss in this article.

From pressure

To lower blood pressure and maintain its normal levels, you can drink chicory brewed according to classic recipe. Honey will help enhance its effect. Chicory with honey not only helps to normalize blood pressure, but also improves immunity.

Ingredients:

1. Chicory - 1 teaspoon.
2. Honey - 1 teaspoon.
3. Boiling water - 1 cup.

How to cook: Brew chicory. If using prepared raw materials, boil for 5-10 minutes over low heat. Soluble, just fill with warm water. Add honey to a warm drink. Chicory should not be hot, otherwise the beneficial substances contained in honey will be destroyed.

How to use: Drink the drink in the morning on an empty stomach.

Result: Chicory with honey helps lower blood pressure, has a tonic effect and improves immunity.

From diarrhea

Chicory improves intestinal motility, but when used properly, it has a fixing effect and helps with diarrhea. For the treatment of diarrhea, chicory is taken as an infusion or decoction, it can be taken by adults and children. The recipes are below.

Ingredients:

1. Boiled water - 1 cup of boiling water.

How to cook: Pour the chicory flowers into a thermos and pour boiling water over it. Insist 2 hours. Strain before drinking.

How to use: Drink the whole infusion during the day, dividing it into 5-6 equal parts. For children, give 5-6 times a day, 1 teaspoon.

Result: Eliminates diarrhea, normalizes digestion.

You can also prepare a decoction of chicory for diarrhea.

Ingredients:

1. Dried chicory flowers - 1 tablespoon
2. Boiling water - 1 cup.

How to cook: Fill the raw material with water and put on low heat. Boil for 5 minutes, do not allow a strong boil. Ready broth insist 1.5 hours. Strain before use.

How to use: Take 5-6 times a day, divided into equal parts. For children, give 1 teaspoon, the number of doses is 5-6 times a day.

Result: Normalizes stool and digestion.

With gallstone disease

The roots and grass of chicory are useful in gallstone disease. As a remedy with a choleretic effect, it is used together with dandelion roots, mint leaves, tripoli and agrimony.

Ingredients:

1. Chicory roots - 50 grams.
2. Dandelion roots - 50 grams.
3. Mint leaves - 50 grams.
4. Trifoli leaves - 50 grams.
5. Leaves agrimony - 50 grams.
6. Boiling water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Mix medicinal plants and take 2 tablespoons of raw materials. Pour boiling water, leave for 1-2 hours. Strain before drinking.

How to use: Take the decoction for 2 days, divided into equal portions.

Result: Relieves inflammation, promotes the outflow of bile, prevents the formation of stones in the gallbladder.

Read more about chicory for the gallbladder here. You can also learn about the use of the plant for pancreatitis and for the pancreas.

For joints

Chicory has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. As an external agent, it is used for diseases of the joints. The recipe is below.

Ingredients:

1. Dry herb chicory - 20 grams.
2. Dry chicory roots - 20 grams.
3. Boiling water - 2 cups.

How to cook: Fill the raw material with boiling water, leave for 10 minutes.

How to use: Use infusion of chicory as lotions and compresses for sore joints. Compresses can be fixed with a bandage and left overnight.

Result: Relieves pain in the joints, relieves inflammation.

Contraindications

Despite the benefits, chicory has serious contraindications and side effects. Before using it for medicinal purposes, be sure to consult your doctor.

Chicory contraindications:

• children's age up to 3 years;
• pregnancy and lactation (only after consultation with a doctor);
• gastritis and gastric ulcer in the acute stage;
• cholelithiasis with large stones in the gallbladder;
• varicose veins and hemorrhoids;
• serious diseases of the nervous system.

Chicory can cause allergies, which are manifested by itching and redness, impaired respiratory function, and pulmonary obstruction.

When chicory is consumed in large quantities, the drink increases blood pressure, causes heart rhythm disturbances, provokes headaches, nausea, heartburn, and an increase in the production of hydrochloric acid by the gastric mucosa.

Classification

Taxonomic position:

• department: Flowering;
• class: Dicotyledons;
• order: Astrocolor;
• family: Asteraceae;
• genus: Chicory;
• species: common chicory.

Varieties

The genus of chicory includes 10 species, in addition to common chicory, the most famous is salad chicory or Endive.

Other types of chicory:

• Cichorium alatum;
• Cichorium bottae Deflers;
• Cichorium callosum Pomel;
• Cichorium calvum;
• Cichorium dubium;
• Cichorium hybridum;
• Cichorium pumilum;
• Cichorium spinosum.

More about chicory:

What to remember

1. Chicory is a plant whose leaves, stems and roots are used in folk medicine and in cooking as a drink that replaces coffee.
2. Chicory lowers blood sugar levels, normalizes blood pressure, the functioning of the nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Take chicory with high cholesterol, diarrhea.
3. Chicory-based drinks have contraindications for use, read them. Before using chicory for medicinal purposes, consult your doctor.

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Chicory ordinary ( Cichorium intybus) is a perennial rhizomatous plant belonging to the Aster family, or Compositae. It is ubiquitous and grows as a weed along roadsides and in urban wastelands, meadows and pastures. However, there are several good reasons not only pay attention to it, but also plant it in your own.

The first reason is beauty

Chicory is beautiful

If you want to grow chicory not only for good, but also for beauty, choose a place for it in the background of a decorative garden bed or mixborder, or place it in the center if a two-sided view of the flower garden is expected. But keep in mind: when seed propagation this plant does not bloom in the first year, it forms only a rosette of basal leaves.

When choosing companions for chicory, consider how you intend to use it. If you plan to dig up the roots, you should not combine this plant with perennials, it is better to plant annual flowers or spicy, medicinal herbs nearby - for example,.

The second reason is taste.

To make a coffee drink, dry root pieces are roasted (usually in an oven) and then ground like coffee beans and brewed. When roasting, the natural polysaccharide inulin and fructose contained in the roots are partially caramelized - this will subsequently affect the color of the drink, giving it a resemblance to natural coffee; The “coffee” aroma is provided by the aldehyde hydroxymethylfurfural formed when sugars are heated. This substance, by the way, has an ambiguous "reputation" - in various sources you can find information about its high toxicity and harm to the body. However, it should be borne in mind that hydroxymethylfurfural is found in many food products, so it is hardly necessary to take such "horror stories" to heart.

Also note that the degree of roasting of the roots is reflected in the taste of the drink: if the raw material has acquired a dark brown color during processing, the “coffee” from it will be noticeably bitter.

In our catalog, which contains products from major online gardening stores, you can find ready-made chicory products - healthy coffee drinks, syrup, dried herb and chicory root. .

Chicory syrup, 230 g 216 rub
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Chicory with ginseng, 100 g 183 rubles
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Chicory with blueberries, 100 g 183 rubles
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Chicory with rose hips, 100 g 183 rubles
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Reason three - benefit

The entire plant serves as a medicinal raw material: the grass is harvested during flowering, cutting off strong stems with scissors, and the roots are dug up in autumn or early spring (when the basal leaves begin to grow).

Chicory roots are used to prepare decoctions and infusions used in the treatment of diseases of the liver and gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract, as well as with obesity, atherosclerosis, mineral metabolism disorders, joint diseases, mild diabetes, increased nervous excitability, general weakness of the body.

Chicory herb is used in the form of decoctions and infusions for constipation and digestive disorders, edema of cardiac origin; externally - in the form of lotions or baths - in the treatment of eczema, purulent wounds, persistent furunculosis.

How to grow chicory

The root of chicory is taproot, thickened, fleshy. For normal development, it needs light, fertile soil with a neutral reaction; The plant does best in a sunny area. Chicory is sown in early spring in grooves to a depth of 2.5 cm, leaving between the grooves from 45 to 60 cm. Seeds do not require additional processing and usually germinate after 7, maximum 10 days. The formation of large roots is facilitated by timely (in the phase of the third or fourth leaf) thinning; no more than 15 plants are left per 1 meter of row.

Chicory is unpretentious, it does not require special care, but if you want to get a high yield of medicinal raw materials, do not neglect weeding, periodic loosening of the soil, watering in dry weather. When growing chicory as a perennial crop, keep in mind that mice are willing to eat it, so plantings should be protected from pests.

In the first year, the plant does not bloom, forming only a rosette of leaves, but roots can be harvested already in the fall. Raw washed cold water, cut and dried; It is best to use a low-heated oven for this, but you can also use a conventional oven or vegetable dryer.

Of course, you don’t have to bother: chicory is by no means a curiosity, it is found everywhere. But often the places of its natural growth can hardly be called environmentally friendly, so it can be difficult to harvest wild chicory as a medicinal raw material. And this is probably another reason to grow it in the garden - here you will certainly be sure that you will benefit.

Cichorium intybus

Asteraceae - Asteraceae (Compositae).

The parts used are the aerial part and the root.

Common name - rat root, roadside grass, blue flower.

Pharmacy name - chicory root - Cichorii radix (formerly Radix Cichorii), chicory herb - Cichorii herba (formerly Herba Cichorii).

Botanical description

Common chicory - perennial (for wild species) or biennial (for cultivated species) herbaceous plant with a long spindle-shaped root, reaches a height of up to 1.5 m. The stem is rough, ribbed, hollow, twig-shaped, green or bluish-green, covered with coarse hairs, bends in different places and branches widely. Branches deviating, thickening towards the top, bristly or curly-haired, often bare or almost bare, seem almost leafless at the top, since the leaves here are small.

Basal pinnately lobed, serrated along the edge, as they move up the stem, they become more and more simple, the uppermost ones are lanceolate. Stem leaves few, small, lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate.Flowers - reed, petals with 5 teeth, blue (sometimes pink or white), located one by one or in small groups on the stem, they open only in the sun and fade very quickly. Faded flowers are immediately replaced by new ones. Blooms from July to September. Corolla up to 25mm long.
The fruit is a three- to five-sided achene, up to 3 mm long, light brown, oblong.Common chicory is very widespread as a weed plant, it is often found along ditches, roads, grassy slopes, in meadows, along the slopes of railway embankments, sometimes forming abundant thickets. It is found almost everywhere - in the Asian and European parts of Eurasia, in New Zealand, Africa, Australia, India, South America, Russia (Siberia, the Caucasus, the European part).

The whole plant contains bitter milky juice.

Collection and preparation

Flowering grass is harvested in July and then quickly and thoroughly air-dried. The roots are dug up in late autumn, cleaned, cut in half lengthwise and laid out to dry in a ventilated place.

Active ingredients

The roots and leaves contain a large amount of inulin polysaccharide, protein substances, intibin glycoside (which gives them a specific bitter taste), tannins, organic acids, vitamins. The flowers contain coumarin glycosides. Milky juice contains bitter substances. Seeds contain oil. In young leaves - carotene, ascorbic acid, inulin, potassium salts.

Healing action and application

Common chicory has stimulating, tonic, sedative, astringent, choleretic and diuretic, antimicrobial and antihelminthic, anti-inflammatory properties. Regulates metabolism, improves digestion, lowers blood levels, somewhat enhances cardiac activity.

A decoction of the roots - for diseases of the gallbladder and liver, kidneys (as a diuretic), gastritis, constipation, cystitis, enlarged spleen, helminthic invasion, diabetes, asthenia, anemia, itchy dermatoses, psoriasis and vitiligo, baldness, furunculosis, as well as to improve digestion and increase appetite. H externally in the form of baths, lotions, dressings - with itchy dermatoses, gout.

Infusion, decoction of the aerial part - for gastritis, cholelithiasis, diabetes mellitus, nephritis, neurasthenia, hysteria, insomnia, scurvy, as an appetite stimulant, improves digestion. Outwardly - in the form of washings - for wounds, ulcers, in the form of lotions - for boils, eczema. In the form of compresses - for pain in the abdomen, inflammation of the glands.

Juice - with anemia, as a calming agent for the central nervous system and tonic for the heart.

Outwardly - for the treatment of skin rashes, boils, purulent wounds, pustular skin diseases and eczema, with diathesis in children.

Delicious aromatic drinks are obtained from the roots, which increase appetite, reduce sweating, improve the functional state of the gastrointestinal tract, and have astringent and antimicrobial effects. Chicory is especially useful in diabetes.

Infusion, decoction of flowers - with neurasthenia, hysteria, flower juice - as a choleretic agent.

The root is used as a coffee substitute. Dried and roasted roots are added to natural coffee to improve its taste. Root syrup is used in the confectionery, canning and culinary industries. Chicory roots can be used in salads, they are stewed, boiled, used as a side dish for potato or meat dish- it gives the food a particularly spicy taste.

Recipes

- Chicory tea. Pour 1 teaspoon of herb or a mixture of herbs and roots with 1 cup of cold water, heat to a boil and boil for about 2-3 minutes. Strain and take 2-3 glasses a day.

- Infusion of chicory herb. Pour 1 hour spoonful of raw materials with 200 ml of boiling water, let it brew until cool, then strain. Take 0.5 cup 2-3 times a day before meals. For external use, insist 20 g of raw materials in 500 ml of boiling water.

- Chicory juice. Squeeze juice from young shoots (collected at the stage of budding, cutting off the tops 15-20 cm long). Rinse well, scald with boiling water and pass through a meat grinder. Squeeze through a dense cloth and boil for 1-2 minutes. At internal application- take 1 teaspoon with an equal amount of honey in 0.5 cup of warm milk 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-1.5 months.

Chicory ordinary
Cichorium intybus L.
Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae) - Compositae Giseke. (Asteraceae)

Description of chicory

Common chicory is a perennial herbaceous plant, in culture (var. radicosum) biennial, containing in all organs milky with orange thick milky juice, with a long, up to 1.5 m, rod, fleshy, many-headed, woody, in wild plants quite strongly branching, in cultivated forms unbranched, more fleshy and thickened, like garden roots, spindle-shaped root.
Chicory stem one or more, more or less splayed-branched in the upper part, 20-150 cm high, furrowed, rough-glandular-pubescent with sparse hairs or glabrous.
In the first year, the basal leaves of chicory form a rosette; they are short-petiolate, lyre-shaped, oblanceolate, long-elliptical, pinnately incised.
Stem leaves of chicory are alternate, sessile, semi-amplexive with a wide base, oblong or lanceolate in outline, from strugate pinnately incised to sharp-toothed, with auricles at the base; upper - lanceolate, whole; leaves shrink towards the top.
Chicory flowers are bisexual, large, all ligulate, corollas are blue, rarely pink, whitish, ligules of marginal flowers are larger than internal ones, collected in inflorescences - baskets 3-4 cm in diameter, sitting singly on short pedicels at the ends of branches, or collected in bunches of 2-3 in the axils of the leaves, the involucre is two-row, its leaves with glandular cilia along the edges; inflorescences open in the morning, at 4-5 o'clock, at noon, at 14-15, close, turn after the sun and only in rainy weather remain open longer than usual.
The fruit of chicory is a three- to five-sided, oblong achene, 2-3 mm long, light brown in color, with a fly of small fused films, resembling a “crown” of short hairs, and slight pubescence.
Blooms from June to October.
Chicory fruits ripen in August-September.
There are varieties: with a thick root (var. radicosum), leaf, or lettuce (var. foliosum), which is bred in winter in cellars or greenhouses in the sand without access to light to obtain fragile, slightly bitter, light yellow sprouts, in Italy, Switzerland for salad, "Cicoria di Treviso" is bred with decorative red leaves.

Growth area and ecology of chicory

Hemicryptophyte. Distributed in the European part of Russia, in the Caucasus, in Western and Eastern Siberia to Altai, Central Asia, Europe, North Africa.
Distributed as a weed in crops, vegetable gardens, along roads, near ditches, on grassy slopes, ravines along river banks, in shrubs, wastelands, weedy places, along steppe ditches, in dry meadows, almost absent in the mountains, in places forms sparse thickets , however, grows more often in small groups, especially on limestone, moist or moderately dry soils.

Raw materials from chicory

Chicory grass (flowering tops) - herba Cichorii, inflorescences, roots - radix Cichorii, inulin.
Chicory roots are harvested in September-October and early spring, digging with shovels or, in a denser state, plowing with a plow. They are selected with their hands, shake off the ground, cut off the aerial parts with knives and wash in cold water. Thick roots are cut lengthwise, and long ones across into pieces. Dry in the shade or dryers, ovens (oven) at a temperature of 50 ° C, spreading a thin layer (3-4 cm) on the grates. Raw material yield up to 25%. The raw material consists of whole and cut, strongly wrinkled roots, brownish-gray on the outside, white or yellowish on the inside.
There is no smell. The taste is bitter.
Packed in linen and paper bags.
Store in dry, cool, well-ventilated areas on pallets or racks.
Inulin serves as a raw material for the production of fructose.
The grass is harvested during the flowering period, cutting off the flowering tops of the stem 30 cm long. Air-dried in the shade or in well-ventilated areas, spreading in a thin layer or in dryers at temperatures up to 40 ° C. The yield of raw materials is up to 29%. The cut grass is stored in boxes lined with paper inside.
The whole plant with the root is also harvested during flowering.

The chemical composition of chicory

The milky juice of chicory contains: bitter substances - (sesquiterpene lactones lactucin, lactucopicrin) and others, also taraxasterol.
The root contains: up to 40% inulin (up to 65% in cultivated form), easily soluble in hot and hardly soluble in cold water, 2-3% sugars (fructose up to 9.5%, levulose up to 20%, pentosans up to 6.5 %), bitter taste intibin glycoside (up to 0.2%), up to 15.8 mg% ascorbic acid, thiamine, vitamin A, choline, bitterness, resins, 0.6% fat, potassium salts.
Leaves (grass) of chicory contain: lactones, triterpenes, inulin, ascorbic acid, chicory acid.
Chicory flowers contain: the coumarin glycoside chicorin, which, when hydrolyzed, breaks down into esculegin and glucose.
Chicory seeds contain inulin, fatty oil, catechol aldehyde.

The action and use of chicory

Inulin improves metabolism.
Bitterness improves appetite.
Infusion and decoction of chicory have a bitter taste, so they are usually sweetened before use.
A decoction or infusion of chicory root has a calming, metabolism-enhancing, appetite-enhancing, digestive, choleretic, antimicrobial, astringent, blood sugar and cholesterol-lowering, heart-improving effect; used for loss of strength, dyspepsia, gastritis, pain in the stomach, jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, gallstones, kidney disease as a diuretic, hysteria, hypochondria, diabetes, enlargement and swelling of the spleen, as a means of improving blood composition, constipation, gout , joint disease, muscle pain.
Outwardly - with eczema, chicken pox, tumors, chronic wounds in the form of rubdowns alcohol tincture and washing with a decoction of the root, for this, pieces of tissue are soaked in the decoction and eczema places are covered with them until a clean red place of the epidermis remains on the surface of the scab without inflammation.
An infusion of chicory flowers is used for neurosis as a sedative and for heart weakness.
An infusion of chicory herb is used for lotions for furunculosis, eczema, purulent wounds.
Juice and gruel from the aerial part of the plant are used in the treatment of dry and wet eczema, various skin rashes, acne, furunculosis.
Added to fees for the treatment of diseases of the spleen, pancreas.
In the treatment of diseases of the liver and biliary tract, it is used with immortelle, St. John's wort, shepherd's purse, corn stigmas, initial letter.

Recipes from chicory

1. Juice of fresh chicory leaves - 15 ml 3-4 times a day in a cup of milk for 4-6 weeks for anemia and scurvy.
2. With panaritium, 2 times a day, fresh leaves are applied to the affected areas.
3. 1 tablespoon of herbs is poured with 1 cup of boiling water, insisted for 30 minutes, filtered, taken ½ cup 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals to improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Infusion 1-2 teaspoons of herbs in 250 ml of boiling water - ½ cup 2-3 times a day 30 minutes before meals for gastritis.
5. For external use, take 3-4 tablespoons of herbs in 2 cups of boiling water.
6. An infusion of herbs at the rate of 1 tablespoon 1 per glass of water is used for lotions in some forms of eczema.
7. 20 g (2 tablespoons) of crushed roots are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of boiling water, boil for 30 minutes, filter, squeeze the remaining raw material. Take 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals to increase appetite and as a choleretic agent. Stored in the refrigerator.
8. 1 teaspoon of the roots is poured into 1 glass of water, heated to a boil, simmered for 10 minutes, insisted for 30 minutes, filtered, drunk ½ cup 2 times a day before meals.
9. 10% decoction of the root - 15 ml 3 times a day before meals, as an appetizing or 70-100 g 3 times a day, as a laxative.
10. 1 tablespoon of chicory root or 2 tablespoons of chicory herb is boiled in 400 ml of water - 100 ml 3 times a day before meals.
11. Root decoction (1 teaspoon per 2 cups of water) or herbal infusion (1 teaspoon per 1 cup of water) - ½ cup 2-3 times a day.
12. A decoction of 2 tablespoons of grass or 1 tablespoon of the root is boiled for 10 minutes in 0.5 liters of water, taken ½ cup 4 times a day before meals.
13. 20% tincture of herb and root in 40% ethanol is an external remedy.
14. Layers on eczematous plaques are well removed with a decoction: 1 dessert spoon of crushed roots is poured with 1 cup of boiling water, boiled for 10 minutes, insisted for an hour, filtered, drunk 1 tablespoon 3 times a day; used for dousing and removing layers with moistened wipes, which are applied to areas of eczema until they are cleansed.
15. 2 teaspoons of crushed roots to 1 cup of boiling water - for multiple grouped carbuncles.
16. A decoction of herbs with chicory root and pumpkin cuttings, 1-2 tablespoons each in 0.5 liters of water or more (⅓ cup 3 times a day) has a good diuretic effect in patients with heart defects complicated by ascites.
17. Chicory grass - 3 parts, St. then boil for 5 minutes, insist - ½ cup 4 times a day 1 hour after meals for chronic liver diseases.
18. Chicory and dandelion roots, trifoli leaves, mint, agrimony herbs - 50 g each: 1 tablespoon of the mixture is infused in 250 ml of boiling water - a daily dose for cholelithiasis.

Cooking from chicory

Young rosette leaves are of high taste quality, suitable for salads, mashed potatoes, and other dishes.
Young shoots are boiled, stewed, fried, baked in dough.
The roots can be used in salads (with sweet peppers, cucumbers and onions), vinaigrettes (with pickles, green peas, carrots, onions, eggs).
Chicory stewed in vegetable and butter, with egg-butter sauce is used as a side dish for a potato or meat dish; in any form, it gives the food a piquant taste.
Dried, roasted and then ground roots are added to coffee products to give them a specific taste - a pleasant sharp bitterness, and are also used for hypertension (do not contain: caffeine) as a coffee surrogate. When the roots are roasted, inulin turns into sugar, fructose, caramel, which gives it a dark brown color.
Tasty, fragrant drinks are obtained from the roots, which have antimicrobial, astringent, appetite-increasing properties, and improve the functional state of the digestive system.
Root syrup is used in confectionery and canning.
Inulin is eaten in the form of syrup or fruit sugar.
Salad of leaves and shoots of chicory. Young leaves and shoots of chicory are washed, cut and stewed with butter for 20 minutes. Served cold with dill and parsley: 200 g of chicory leaves and shoots, 1 tablespoon butter, dill and parsley, salt.
Puree from the leaves and shoots of chicory. The leaves and shoots of chicory are washed, passed through a meat grinder, salted. poured vegetable oil and are used to make soups and soups.
Chicory Root Coffee. Chicory roots are washed, cut into pieces, dried well in an oven at a temperature of 100 ° C, then roasted to the color of natural coffee and ground. Consume like coffee.

Other properties of chicory

Good honey plant, gives a lot of nectar and pollen.
Chicory roots are the raw material for the production of alcohol.

It is perhaps difficult to find a person on Earth who has never seen this plant in his life. True, not everyone knows that it is this blue flower that is called chicory. This perennial herb from the Astrov family is widely used in medicine, cooking and cosmetics.

What does it look like?

The stem of chicory is erect, resembling a green twig, from 20 to 130 cm high, depending on the soil, humidity and light. To the touch, the stem is rough, slightly branched. The basal leaves are quite large, with small teeth along the edges of the leaf, closer to the stem they taper, forming a stalk. The upper leaves on the stem are very small, oblong. Buds and flowers are located in the axils of the leaves and nodes at the branching of the stem. At the top of the stem there are from 1 to 5 flowers, and in just one plant, under favorable conditions, their number can reach 50.

Blooms from June to October. In late autumn it blue flowers often pleasing to the eye until the snow cover is established. Their size is 1.5-2.5 cm. They have a different color depending on the illumination, soil fertility and other conditions. In a sunny place they become blue-violet, in more shady places - light blue or blue, sometimes there are pink or very light flowers up to pure white.

The shape of the flower resembles an aster or chamomile, only in the center there is not a dense basket, like daisies, but sparse stamens of the same blue or blue color. The ends of the petals often have 5, less often 3, 7 or 9 cloves. Root length from 30 to 79 cm, slightly branched or straight, light brown, milky juice is released at the break. It also contains stems and leaves. Seeds are small, ripen in autumn, are in oblong brown boxes.

Where does it grow?

The area of ​​distribution of chicory is very extensive. It covers the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones on all continents except Antarctica. It grows in meadows and lawns, near buildings and in forest clearings, along roads, in wastelands and pastures. Often found in gardens and orchards as a weed. Some hobbyists grow chicory specifically for its medicinal properties. Breeders have also taken up it, and some are trying to breed varieties with decorative qualities, others - varieties used as vegetable crop. Leaf varieties are valued for leaves that can be used in vitamin salads, root - for cooking first and second courses and as a substitute for coffee.

In Belgium, this plant ranks second among the vegetables eaten, in Holland - the third, in France - the fourth. Among the largest producers of chicory are Italy, Spain, USA, China, Belarus and Ukraine. In Russia, the history of cultivation has two hundred years. There is even an old variety - Yaroslavsky, which is still found in the fields and gardens in the Yaroslavl, Novgorod and Ivanovo regions.

The history of the use of chicory goes back centuries. Hippocrates and Galen were aware of its beneficial properties, and in the Middle Ages, Avicenna wrote a whole treatise, which was called the Treatise on Chicory.

Useful and medicinal properties

Chicory roots contain a lot of inulin. This polysaccharide is broken down by the action of gastric juice, turning into fructose, which lowers blood sugar levels, which is important for diabetics. But the benefits of inulin are not limited to this. It improves immunity, removes “bad” cholesterol, cleanses the intestines of toxins and toxins, promotes the growth of bifidobacteria in the intestines, increases hemoglobin, strengthens bones, improves metabolism and protects the liver, promotes the absorption of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and copper from food.

Inulin can also be bought at a pharmacy, but in chicory it works in combination with other substances that enhance its effect.

Chicory has a choleretic, diuretic, sedative, vasodilating and antimicrobial effect.

It is used in medicine for a very impressive number of diseases, these are:

• hepatitis;
• gastritis;
• stomach ulcer;
• anemia;
• anorexia;
• exhaustion;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• diabetes;
• pancreatitis;
• cystitis;
• nephritis;
• urinary incontinence;
• enteritis.

In folk medicine, this list is supplemented by:

• insomnia;
• impotence;
• toothache;
• gout;
• heartburn;
• constipation;
• inflammatory eye diseases;
• myopia;
• farsightedness;
• pain in the joints;
• tuberculosis;
• hypertension;
• angina;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• toxicosis of pregnant women;
• allergy;
• psoriasis;
• eczema;
• diathesis;
• old wounds.

As the medicinal properties are studied and confirmed, folk experience gains scientific recognition.

Compound

According to the content of inulin, chicory is a champion. Its content in freshly harvested roots is 14-20%, and in dried ones - up to 70%. This is much more than in the roots of Jerusalem artichoke. The roots and leaves contain B vitamins, including choline, which helps the brain work. There are a lot of leaves folic acid(in 100 g more than half of the daily requirement), a significant amount of ascorbic acid, iron and potassium.

There are other minerals (calcium, magnesium and phosphorus), but their content is not so high. Of the trace elements, it should be noted the high content of zinc, copper, chromium and manganese in the leaves and roots of chicory, there are also selenium, nickel and zirconium.

The bitter taste is due to the glycoside intibin. The leaves contain up to 4% protein, as well as coumarins and flavonoids. The seeds can contain up to 28-30% fatty oil, and there is also caffeine in the inflorescence.

Harm and contraindications

Patients with varicose veins and hemorrhoids, as well as people with low blood pressure, should use chicory with caution. Contraindicated in high acidity of gastric juice and exacerbation of ulcers. It should also not be given to children under 3 years of age. The simultaneous use of chicory with antibiotics interferes with their absorption, so this combination is undesirable.

What parts of the plant are used?

For medicinal purposes, all parts of the plant are used: rhizomes, leaves, small stems, buds and flowers. Fresh leaves are suitable for salads. Dried roots are used instead of coffee or all kinds of medicinal decoctions and infusions are prepared from them. The aerial parts of the plant are also used to make medicines.

Collection and storage

The roots are harvested in late autumn, most often in October, when they have the most nutrients. Harvesting can also be carried out in early spring, but only at the very beginning of the regrowth of leaves, later the content of nutrients in the roots decreases sharply. It is better to do this after rains, it is much easier to dig out the roots from moist soil, since the rhizome is more elastic in wet weather. The roots are carefully dug in from all sides to the full depth and pulled out. Then they are cleaned from the ground, washed in running cold water, dried with a paper towel, small shoots are removed with a knife, leaving the main root and rather thick shoots. Long roots are cut across into small pieces, and thick ones also along.

Roots can be dried room conditions within 10-14 days. The criterion for readiness is that when bent, the roots break with a crack, but do not crumble. Can also be dried outdoors, while protecting them from rain, as well as from direct sun rays. Drying in natural conditions contributes to the maximum preservation of nutrients. With a lack of space or time, you can use the dried fruit dryers.

You can also dry chicory under an infrared lamp, if one is available, and if not, simply in the oven. In this case, the roots are laid out on baking sheets lined with paper. In this case, the door must be left open, and the temperature should not exceed 50-55 degrees. Drying time will be from 5 to 7 hours.

For medicinal purposes, the aerial part of chicory is also used. Cut off the upper part of the plant 30-35 cm long. It is better to collect plants in dry, clear weather, in the morning after the dew has dried. The collected grass is sorted out, the yellowed leaves are removed, the grass is cut into pieces 3-4 cm long or dried whole. This requires a dry, well-ventilated shaded area. An attic or dressing room will do. In the latter case, it should be ventilated more often. It is better to dry the crushed raw materials on sieves for better air exchange. If dried entirely, then pallets can be used, while not forgetting to stir daily. You can tie the grass into medium-sized bunches and hang it up. Drying is over when the stems break easily with a slight crackle.

Dried roots are best stored in dark glass jars. Shelf life is not more than 3 years. The roots can be ground in a coffee grinder and then lightly roasted. This product can replace coffee. Store such a product in a dark place in tightly closed glass jars for no more than 2 years.

Dry herb can be stored for up to a year in paper bags, glass jars, or linen bags. You can also dry the leaves of wild or cultivated lettuce chicory. They are laid out on baking sheets lined with clean paper. After drying, the leaves are crushed.

Application

In medicine

People's memory has preserved many ancient recipes for the treatment of many different diseases with chicory. There are also new recipes. The root is used most often in the form of a decoction or infusion. To prepare a decoction, 1 tsp. finely ground dried root in a coffee grinder should be poured with a glass of cold water and put on fire. Cook for 2-3 minutes and let it brew. Take one glass 3 times a day for exhaustion, anemia and loss of strength.

The infusion is prepared by taking 2 tsp. chicory to 1 cup boiling water. Stir, wrap or pour into a thermos, insist 2 hours. Take 2 tbsp. spoons before meals for diseases of the stomach, pancreas, liver and biliary tract. Infusion can rinse your mouth with toothache and stomatitis. For boils, dermatitis, eczema, take 100 g orally 3 times a day, and also apply externally in the form of baths and compresses. With paresis, the sore spots are rubbed with an alcohol tincture of chicory herb.

In cooking

Cultivated root or salad varieties of chicory are used for food, and in their absence, wild plants can also be taken. The bitter taste of chicory roots and leaves is much less pronounced if they are soaked before cooking, although some of the nutrients are lost. Crushed chicory roots are used as a flavoring agent in bakery, confectionery and cakes. They give baked goods a delicate nutty flavor.

Chicory can be brewed as tea by taking 1 tsp. powder in a glass of water. At the same time, it is kept on fire for 2 minutes. To improve the taste, sugar is added, and even better a teaspoon of honey. The coffee drink is made from roasted and crushed roots. The method of preparation is the same as for tea. Sugar and milk are added to the finished drink. Ground chicory makes a wonderful seasoning that gives meat, fish and vegetable dishes a unique taste. Cultivated root varieties form a medium-sized root vegetable that can be stewed and fried, and also added to soups.

Roots can be added to tyuryu - a dish of kvass, slices of rye bread, onions and horseradish. Instead of horseradish roots, you can put young leaves. However, kvass itself was often served with chicory in the old days. It turned out to be an invigorating and remarkably thirst-quenching drink. For 5 liters of water, add 1.5 tbsp. spoons of powder from the root. It’s good to add half a lemon there, which is crushed into gruel along with the skin, tied in a bag and dipped in kvass. When using dry kvass, prepare it as usual, adding 7 tbsp. spoons of dry kvass 1 tbsp. a spoonful of chicory root powder, a small pinch of raisins and a bunch of fresh mint.

You can add the plant to a tomato salad in the amount of 1-2 roots for 4-5 pcs. tomatoes. In the salad, also add half a lemon, a teaspoon of sugar and season with vegetable oil. The most commonly grown varieties of chicory as leafy varieties are witloof, endive, radicchio (or otherwise radicchio) and escariole.

Witloof is especially interesting. This delicacy forms a small white head appearance reminiscent of Beijing cabbage, only much smaller. It is wonderful both fresh in salads and fried in oil as a side dish for meat and fish dishes. In salads, it goes well with cheese, cheese, nuts, pears, apples and avocados.

In cosmetics

In medical cosmetics, ointments and tinctures with dried chicory powder are used. They are very effective for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and boils. With bags under the eyes, a cold compress is made from the infusion of roots or grass. Promotes chicory and collagen production and skin rejuvenation. It is also good for hair. Chicory is used in shampoos that strengthen hair and promote their rapid growth and recovery.

You can use infusions to pour over your hair after washing. And you can prepare a hair mask by making infusions of chicory roots, burdock and lovage, apply it to your hair along with thick, hold for 20-30 minutes and rinse with water.

About what is more useful - tea or chicory, see the next video.