Chicory ordinary

Cichorium intubus L.

Botanical characteristics. Family Compositae. Stem erect, rough, with a height of 120 cm. The basal leaves are pinnate-pinnately divided, the cauline leaves are regular, lanceolate. Flowers light blue, reed, collected in the axils of leaves in the inflorescence - single baskets. Blossoms from June to September. Before the beginning of flowering, the plant for several years consists only of the root rosette of the leaves. Has a fleshy long long root (up to 1.5 m). Seeds ripen in July-September.

Spread. Wild chicory grows on dry sunny places: on vacant lots, on hills, along roads and fields. Distributed in the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia and the Caucasus. Cultivated as a dietary and medicinal plant, distinguish between salad and medicinal varieties of cultural chicory.

Used parts of the plant. Roots, flowers and flowering tops of the plant.
The bitter substance of intibin (up to 0.20%), levulose (10-20%), fructose (4.5-9.5%), pentosans, inulin (up to 20%) and choline are found in the root of chicory.

Application. Chicory promotes normalization of metabolism, excretion of excess cholesterol from the body, stimulates the activity of the digestive glands, acts as choleretic, anti-inflammatory, desensitizing, astringent, sedative and cardiotonic.
It is used for atherosclerosis, obesity, violation of mineral metabolism, renal and cholelithiasis, gout, osteochondrosis, joint diseases. Chicory is added to the fees for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the pancreas, it is used as bitterness to improve appetite.
Preparations of chicory are indicated for neuroses, hysteria and asthenia. Chicory lowers the level of sugar in the blood and therefore it is used for mild forms of diabetes.
In folk medicine, the plant is generally known as "hepatic" grass. It is widely used for liver diseases, cholecystitis and dyskinesia of the gallbladder. In the treatment of diseases of the liver and biliary tract chicory, along with immortelle, St. John's Wort, shepherd's bag, corn stigmas and letters, is one of the main components of the treatment collection.
It is believed that the plant has an antitumor effect. Preparations from decoction or infusion of the root are used for gout, rheumatism and stings of bees, wasps, scorpions and snakes. Herbal lotions are used in the treatment of eczema, skin rashes, furunculosis.

Preparation. Infusion for internal use: 2 tablespoons of raw material is insisted with 2 cups of boiling water (daily intake dose).
Infusion for outdoor use: take 3-4 tablespoons of herbs for 2 cups of boiling water.