Chicory - medicinal properties and contraindications

Few people know that the frequently occurring beautiful, small wildflower Cichórium, sky blue, hardly breaking through the dense soil of roadsides, is related to a tasty and healthy drink chicory.

The history of this plant is interesting and overgrown with legends. “Cichórium” is an Egyptian word that has been adopted and is used for definition in all European countries. The healing properties of the Asteraceae plant were discovered 5000 years ago. The inhabitants of Egypt purposefully raised it for healing. In ancient Rome and Greece, chicory was added to the salad in the form of greens. Poets Publius Virgil, Quintus Horace, Publius Ovid, encyclopedist Pliny, mentioned chicory in their writings. The Roman medical surgeon Claudius Galen defined him as a "friend of the liver."

Despite the bitter taste, the grass has found its application in all countries of the world. Earlier in Northern Europe, whole fields were sown for livestock feed, and Belgians still use young shoots as food for pleasure.

The French tasted the taste of a coffee substitute forcibly when they found themselves in a blockade in 1808. The lack of the usual drink forced them to seek a replacement. After the situation improved, the habit of adding chicory to coffee was firmly entrenched. And Louisiana and New Orleans made this drink traditional for themselves. Despite the variety of coffee varieties, this is their taste preference, enshrined in centuries.

In Russia, the "golden root" began to gain popularity in the 19th century. It was grown to make a drink and as an additive to coffee. This was a profitable investment, since the demand for it was all year round.

Collection and storage of chicory

The habitat is wide enough, because by its nature this plant is not whimsical and does not require fertile soil. His favorite habitats are rocky, sandy slopes and hills, steppe zones and beams. Large areas can be found in the European part of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Caucasus, Crimea.

Harvesting chicory falls in the autumn. This time, when the flowering was over, the leaves and flowers showered. Gently dig out the root, thoroughly clean from unsuitable parts and small roots, wash and dry in a spread out form under sunlight for 5 days. Roots dried by all rules can be stored in paper bags for up to three years.

To understand what the benefits and harms of chicory were, the composition of the plant, which included:

1. Essential oil.
2. Thiamine - takes care of the nervous system and supports the work of the heart at the proper level.
3. Inulin is a polymer of fructose that takes part in metabolic processes in the body. Part of the unsplit substance takes with itself and naturally brings out cholesterol and toxins, and the part that has undergone transformation and penetrated into the blood cleanses the body of toxins inside. It can be called useful fiber.
4. Carotene is a powerful antioxidant. It takes care of skin elasticity and youth. Great immunomodulator.
5. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) - useful for reproductive organs, important for the functioning of the thyroid gland, and also supports the health of hair, skin, nails.
6. Intibin glycoside is widely used in pharmaceuticals. Able to dilate blood vessels, eliminates tachycardia, reduces the amount of bad cholesterol. Smoothes cardiovascular disorders.
7. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) - supports the immune system, a good antioxidant, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes muscle tone.
8. Beauty vitamins of groups A, E, PP (nicotinic acid).
9. Tannins - help the digestive tract, remove radionuclides, toxins and salts of heavy metals from the body. They help the absorption of beneficial substances into the intestinal wall.
10. Bitter and tarry substances.
11. Pectin - gives a feeling of satiety.
12. Choline is a unique natural medicine of nootropic action. Regulates brain metabolism. Establishes cerebral (cerebral) blood flow.
13. Trace elements. Potassium, iron, manganese, sodium, phosphorus.
14. Fats, proteins, salts.
15. Intibin - is used in traditional medicine as a sedative, balancing the nervous system. It fights tachycardia and is a vasodilator.

The benefits of chicory for the human body

• It is characterized by astringent properties due to the presence of tannins and bitterness in the composition.
• Decreased blood sugar. Monitors and normalizes its level.
• Sedative action. It contains many components that are invaluable for the functioning of the nervous system.
• Immunomodulating, due to the rich composition of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants.
• Wound healing.
• Choleretic. An excellent stimulator of liver function. Removes toxins from it.
• Diuretic.
• Gives a good boost to the digestive system.
• Good antiseptic. May relieve inflammation.
• Stimulates bone growth.
• Promotes the absorption of calcium.
• With colds, it can serve as an antipyretic and diaphoretic.
• Intensively expels slags, radionuclides and salts of heavy metals of their body.
• Normalizes heart function and heart rate.
• Improves the resistance of the bronchial tree, ureters.

The list of diseases that chicory can do:

• Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure.
• Neurosis.
• Insomnia
• Hyperacid gastritis. Chronic inflammation of the stomach. Increased acidity.
• Kidney disease (jade).
• Anemia (anemia).
• Lack of vitamins, leading to loosening of the gums (scurvy).
• Inflammation of the small intestine (enteritis).
• Disturbance of microflora in the intestines (dysbiosis)
• Chronic constipation
• Weakness, breakdown.
• Intense sweating.
• Inflammation in the bladder (cystitis).
• Formation in the gallbladder and ducts of stones.
• Used for spleen disease.
• Chronic liver disease of a destructive nature - cirrhosis.
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• Joint inflammation (arthritis).
• Inflammation in the colon (colitis).
• Inflammation of the gallbladder wall (cholecystitis).

The above diseases can be treated using a variety of dosage forms (decoctions, drinks, tinctures).

It is also effective to apply chicory externally (lotions, rubbing, poultices, baths, dressings):

• Purulent wounds, ulcers.
• Pruritus, rash (eczema).
• Painful purulent inflammation (boils).
• Food allergies in children (diathesis).
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes.

A wide range of actions will not disregard any body system. It will support and strengthen the heart, liver, kidneys, blood.

A valuable factor is the ability to use this healing root for people suffering from diabetes. The polysaccharide fully, naturally replaces sugar.

Pregnant women chicory is useful and necessary. It is rich in vitamins, minerals. It takes care of the safety of calcium in the body. Perfectly tones, removes excess fluid. Helps to cope with nausea and heartburn. Great antioxidant.

Beauty and health of hair and skin

Nerves, stresses, a polluted atmosphere, leave an imprint of fatigue on the skin and give a painful look to the hair.In cosmetology, shampoos, conditioners, masks often include extracts from the roots. With increased hair loss, seborrhea, at home, decoctions from the collection are used to rinse the hair and remove inflammation from the skin.

Chicory juice can be added to cream and face masks - this will speed up the healing process of pustular rashes, acne.

Nutritionists recommend!

Caloric content of chicory per 100 g - 21 kcal. To get rid of extra pounds, you must adhere to certain rules:

• Take on an empty stomach, without additives in the form of milk and sugar.
• Take 2-3 times during the day.
• End the day with a cup of chicory.
• Reduce the consumption of excessively high-calorie foods.

Inulin is a prebiotic. Its benefits are tested and confirmed by microbiologists. Long-term use is completely safe. For people who want to reduce the size of their clothes by a couple of sizes, he is a good helper, as he creates a favorable environment for intestinal microflora, and also regulates lipid metabolism. An important point is the ability to regulate appetite, create a feeling of fullness. Regulates carbohydrate metabolism.

In what cases is the use of chicory not recommended

• Neurosis.
• Bronchitis.
• Gastritis.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Hemorrhoids.
• Individual non-perception.
• Children under 3 years old.
• Vitamin C is an allergen. Allergy sufferers are at risk.
• Varicose veins.

It is not recommended for lactating mothers, since chicory can stimulate the nervous system of the baby through the mother’s milk and also cause allergies.

Note to the hostess: recipes for all occasions

1. We make tea. Chicory root is washed and dried. Fried. Grind into dust. 1 teaspoon of the powder is poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled for another 5 minutes. Let it brew a little and you can enjoy tea with the addition of milk and honey to taste.
2. Chicory juice. Squeezed from fresh leaves of plants. Mix with milk and drink 15 ml three times a day for a month and a half.
3. The collection recommended for stones in the gallbladder and ducts. The roots of dandelion and chicory are taken in equal proportions. They are composed of a leaf of mint, peppermint, tripoli (all components of 50 g). Of the total amount, take 2 tbsp. collection spoons, pour 0.5 l of boiling water. Insist a few hours. Distribute the reception for two days.
4. The broth is external. Dilute 20 g of dry collection of grass and roots with 2 cups of boiled water. Insist 10 minutes Use for instillation of eyes affected by conjunctivitis, and poultice - to relieve pain in the joints.
5. Tincture for the treatment of wound surfaces. Pour 10 g of roots with alcohol (40 ml). A week insist in a dark place. Used to wipe the surface of the skin.
6. Anti-cellulite therapy. Ground root 2 tbsp. tablespoons are mixed with 1 cup boiling water. About an hour brew in a thermos. The contents are poured into the bath and immersed for 25 minutes. Repeat every other day for 21 days.
7. Decoction for the intensity of hair growth. Grass and roots are poured with boiling water. For 30 g add 4 cups. Cook for 30 minutes. Insist 6 hours. Squeeze through gauze. The finished medicine is rubbed into the roots of the hair. Allow to soak for 10 minutes and rinse off under running water.

Video: the benefits and harms of chicory