Cichorium intybus plant
Family: Compositae
Chicory is also known as Blue Sailors, Garden Endive, Succory, Wild Succory and Hendibeh. The seeds, leaves and root have carminative and cordial properties and are useful as a brain tonic and for headache, asthma and bilious vomiting. It is an acclaimed hepatoprotective and, is used in hepatic enlargement, sluggishness, jaundice, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. Cleanses the urinary tract.
Chicory can lower pulse rate and reduce cholesterol levels. It has cholagogue and antiinflammatory properties and is useful in rheumatic condition and gout. Strengthens the liver and checks bilious enlargements of the spleen with general dropsy. Contains 45-60% inulin, which can lower levels of blood cholesterol.
Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may find that regular use of chicory root as a bitter and a liver tonic may assist in maintaining hormone balance and lessening the symptoms of PMS.
Chicory also supports the body’s ability to absorb calcium, a nutrient that helps build and maintain strong teeth and bones.
Parts used :Leaves - raw
or cooked. The leaves are rather bitter, especially when the plants are
flowering. The leaves are often blanched by excluding light, either by
removing all the leaves and then earthing up the new growth, or by
covering the plant with a bucket or something similar. Whilst this
greatly reduces any bitterness, there is also a corresponding loss of
vitamins and minerals. The blanched leaves are often used in winter
salads (they are known as chicons) and are also cooked. The unblanched
leaves are much less bitter in winter and make an excellent addition to
salads at this time of year. A nutritional analysis of the leaves is
available. Flowers - raw. An attractive addition to the salad bowl, but
rather bitter. Root - cooked like parsnip. The boiled young roots form a
very palatable vegetable. The root is said to be an ideal food for
diabetics because of its inulin content. Inulin is a starch that cannot
be digested by humans, it tends to pass straight through the digestive
system and is therefore unlikely to be of use to a diabetic. However,
the inulin can be used to make a sweetener that is suitable for
diabetics to use. Chicory-root is free of harmful ingredients, and is
essentially a concentrated combination of three sugars (pentose,
levulose and dextrose) along with taraxarcine (the bitter principle of
dandelion). It is especially important as source of levulose. Roots are
used in seasoning soups, sauces and gravies, and to impart a rich deep
colour. The roasted root is used as a caffeine-free coffee adulterant or
substitute. Young roots have a slightly bitter caramel flavour when
roasted, roots over 2 years old are much more bitter.
Other uses of the herb:
The roots have the potential to be used for the production of biomass
for industrial use. They are rich in the starch "inulin" which can
easily be converted to alcohol. A blue dye has been obtained from the
leaves. The flowers are an alternative ingredient of "QR" herbal compost
activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that
can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity
and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost.
Availablilty of parts
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More details:-
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