The scientific name of chicory is mentioned for the first time in the writings of Theophrastus and Dioscorides, Greek philosophers who named this plant Kichorion.
The Latin name intybus is translated from Greek as "incised" (due to the shape of the leaf), and from Latin as "tube" (due to the hollow stem). The name wegewarte (German) - "plantain", "road watchman" - emphasizes that this plant can be found near roads, along fields. At the same time, Ukrainians call it "petriv batig" for its woody strength. In this article, we will learn what kind of plant it is, as well as how to use chicory flowers.
Description
This is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Asteraceae family of gray-green color with a multi-headed thickened spindle-shaped root, reaching a length of 1.5 m. Moreover, all parts of this plant contain milky juice.
Stem erect, solitary, up to 150 cm high, covered with sparse hairs, branched.
The leaves are alternate, collected in a rosette, basal, pinnately cut, pubescent from the underside, narrowed towards the base into a petiole, while the stem leaves are sharp-toothed, alternate, sessile; upper - whole, lanceolate.
Chicory flowers are blue, sometimes white or pink, reed, collected in a variety of single and sitting in several pieces on small basket peduncles.
The fruit is an irregular wedge-shaped achene, prismatic, with a small tuft of films. One plant can produce about 25,000 seeds that remain viable for no more than 7 years. Chicory blooms all summer, the fruits ripen in early autumn.
Reproduction
Propagated vegetatively from roots and seeds. Distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Russia, excluding the northern regions.
Growth zones
Chicory grows on loamy and sandy loam fresh and dry soils along steep river banks, as well as along roadsides and slopes of ravines. Tolerates temporary lack of moisture and significant soil compaction.
Chicory flowers have long been considered medicinal. Avicenna, a well-known physician of the Middle Ages, widely used plant preparations in the treatment of a number of diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and inflammation of the eyes. He recommended that chicory be applied externally as a dressing for gout on sore joints. The plant was familiar to the ancient Romans and Greeks.
The first chicory plantations in Russia were established in 1880 in the vicinity of Yaroslavl.
Chemical composition
The roots of the plant contain lactucin, choline, pectin, lactucopicrin, intibin, which gives the leaves and roots a bitter taste, glycosides, cichoriin, inulin,tannins, silicic acid, taraxosterol, sugars, ascorbic acid, thiamine.
Chicory flowers contain a crystalline glycoside, young leaves - carotene, seeds - fatty oil. Inulin, ascorbic acid, and potassium s alts were also found in the plant.
Cultivation and cultivation
Chicory is propagated by seeds and from the root. After harvesting the plants that were in the selected area earlier, the main plowing and peeling are carried out to a depth of about 30 centimeters. The soil is harrowed in the spring and dug in before sowing. Sow in the spring, seedlings appear ten days later. Their care consists in weeding and cultivating row spacings.
Collection, drying and harvesting
As mentioned above, chicory is actively used for medicinal purposes. The flowers and leaves of the plant are harvested in the fall, after the rosette of basal leaves begins to fade. The roots are dug up, gently shaken off the adhering earth, the aerial parts are cut off with knives, they are washed very quickly in running cool water, the rotten damaged parts are removed and laid out for drying in the shade. Thick roots should be cut lengthwise, while long ones should be cut into several pieces across. Several developed specimens are left in the thickets to renew the stocks of this raw material. Dry in dryers or ovens at temperatures up to 60°C. The raw material has no smell, the taste is bitter.
Healing properties
So, what are the benefits of chicory flowers? They have astringent, sedative,diuretic, choleretic, antihelminthic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties, improve digestion, regulate metabolism, improve cardiac activity, lower blood sugar levels.
Medical use
The benefits of chicory flowers have long been known to healers. The decoction is taken orally for diseases of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, to increase appetite, improve digestion, for dyspepsia, gastritis, enlarged spleen, constipation, diabetes, helminthic invasion, anemia, asthenia, itchy dermatosis (neurodermatitis, eczema, pruritus, skin itching, seboroid dermatitis, urticaria), hysteria, vitiligo, psoriasis, furunculosis, baldness, acne vulgaris, as well as a diuretic, sedative, choleretic agent and for the regulation of all metabolic disorders.
Chicory flowers in folk medicine are used as a decoction, applied externally in the form of lotions, baths, dressings, used for gout, itchy dermatoses. In Bulgarian medicine - in the form of gruel for the treatment of furunculosis.
Also, the infusion is used as a digestive, appetite stimulant, choleretic, diuretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and astringent, with gastroenteritis, gastritis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis, nephritis, diabetes mellitus, hysteria, neurasthenia. In the form of washings for ulcers, wounds - decoction, infusion; with eczema, boils - in the form of lotions; with inflammation of the glands, pain in the abdomen - in the form of compresses.
With anemia - juice as a tonic for the heart and a calming agent for the nervous system; for the treatment of skin rashes, boils, acne, eczema and pustular skin diseases, purulent wounds, as well as for diathesis, they are used externally.
Chicory flowers in the form of decoction and infusion can also be used for hysteria, neurasthenia. As a choleretic agent, plant juice is relevant.
Medications
Chicory is not used in the production of pharmaceutical preparations. A drink made from this plant is popular - it is sold along with regular food.
Herbal decoction
To do this, you need to brew one spoonful of chopped fresh or dry herbs with a glass of boiling water, heat over low heat for 10 minutes, 15 minutes. insist, then strain. The decoction is used externally for washing, lotions, baths for the treatment of acne, to eliminate skin rashes, purulent wounds, boils, eczema, pustular diseases, diathesis.
Tincture
In order to get a tincture, you need to brew 40 grams of the plant with 1 liter of boiling water, insist in a warm place for three hours, strain. Use half a cup three times a day to remove bile in liver cirrhosis, jaundice, to cleanse the spleen and liver, with clogging of the stomach, tumors of the spleen, pain in the gastrointestinal tract. So, how many drops to drink tincture of chicory flowers? Daily for several days in the evening and before breakfast, one glass.
Root decoction
Brew a spoonful of root with a glass of boiling water, heat over low heat for 20 minutes, thenstrain. Consume a tablespoon several times a day or as a bulk tea.
Poultices
When severe inflammation or pain in the stomach, poultices are made from chicory leaves. First, they are poured with hot water, then wrapped in a clean cloth and applied to sore spots twice a day.
Using the plant in other areas
The roasted roots of the plant are a substitute for coffee. For example, in Latvia they are added to our usual coffee, and they also make a drink with apple juice, honey and lemon.
Chicory flower tea is also very popular. They are often flavored with fruit and berry drinks. The roots can serve as a source of fructose, inulin, and be used to make alcohol (from chicory, the yield of alcohol is greater than from potatoes, while its quality is better).
The plant is especially valued in dietary nutrition. It is actively used in the production of cakes and sweets in the food industry. Fresh leaves can be eaten, bred salad varieties contain a large amount of ascorbic acid. At the same time, salads are prepared from young stems, leaves and shoots. Young shoots are fried, boiled, baked. In Belgium, the plant is baked in wine with apples and cheese.
Witloof (leaf chicory) is grown in Europe. It is added to side dishes for steamed, fried, baked and stewed fish, salads, raw - in soup.
During the rains and in wet weather, the flowers emit a hugeamount of blue nectar. From 1 hectare plants receive up to 100 kilograms of honey.
Side effects of chicory and toxicology
Chicory roots are non-toxic and show no obvious side effects. But with prolonged use, they can increase the secretion of bile and gastric juice. Therefore, people with high acidity of gastric juice, chicory-based products should be used as carefully as possible.
The fried roots of the plant exhibit a pronounced choleretic effect. They can significantly increase diuresis. Therefore, long-term use of chicory coffee is undesirable for people with gallbladder and liver disease.
