Chicory is another name. Where in Russia chicory is grown on an industrial scale

Chicory ordinary(lat. Cichorium intybus) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family ( Asteraceae).

Description

Botanical illustration from the book by O. V. Tome "Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz", 1885

Inflorescence

Perennial herbaceous plant, green or bluish-green in color, with a thickened (in the upper part 3-4 cm in diameter) multi-headed fusiform fleshy root up to 1.5 m long. All parts of the plant contain milky juice. Stem solitary erect, 15-150 cm high, covered with sparse bristly or curly hairs, often naked or almost naked, often with branches strongly deviated to the sides and somewhat thickening towards the top.

The leaves are alternate, usually pubescent on the underside, curly-hairy on the upper side. Basal leaves are collected in a rosette, pinnately cut, serrated along the edge, gradually narrowed to the base into a winged petiole, usually preserved during the flowering of the plant; stem (except the lowest, similar to basal) - relatively few, alternate, sharp-toothed, sessile, upper leaves lanceolate, entire.

Baskets on short peduncles, solitary or crowded, located several at the tops of the stem, its lateral branches and in the axils of the upper and middle stem leaves. Wrappers 8-14 mm long; their inner leaflets are linear, usually hairy or ciliate; external - ovate-lanceolate, sharp, 1.5-2 times shorter than internal, of unequal length and shape, ciliated along the edges, outside also often with simple or glandular hairs, often completely naked. Flower corollas 15-25 mm long, flowers reed, bisexual, light blue, pink-blue or blue, rarely white, usually longer than involucre.

The fruit is a prismatic, irregularly wedge-shaped achene, 2-3 mm long, with a short tuft, 0.2-0.3 mm long.

Chemical composition

The roots contain choline, bitterness lactucin, lactucopicrin, pectin, glycosides cichoriin, intibin (which gives roots and leaves a bitter taste), inulin (up to 49%, in culture up to 60-65%), silicic acid, tannins, taraxosterol, sugars (predominant fructose), thiamine, ascorbic acid. In flowers - chicory crystalline glycoside; in seeds - up to 28% fatty oil; in young leaves - carotene (up to 80 mg%), ascorbic acid, inulin, potassium salts.

Spreading

General distribution: almost all of Europe (with the exception of the northern regions), North Africa, Western and Central Asia, Iran, the western provinces of China; as an alien plant - in South Africa, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. In Russia - in the European part, in the Caucasus and in Siberia.

It is common in all natural and administrative regions of the Saratov Right Bank. It is found everywhere in the Rtishchevsky region.

It was noted by Boris Alexandrovich Keller in the summer of 1901 during his botanical and geographical research in the Serdobsky district on a fallow field near the Rtishchevo station of the Russian Railways, away from it to the village of Ivanovka on a young deposit and on the slope of a ravine between Rtishchevo and Ivanovka.

Features of biology and ecology

It grows on sandy and loamy dry and fresh soils, in meadows, forest clearings, grassy slopes and along the slopes of ravines, among shrubs, along ditches, often as a weed plant on roadsides, in fields, near settlements; in the mountains to the middle mountain belt. Tolerates significant soil compaction and temporary lack of moisture.

Blooms in June - August. The fruits ripen in August - September. One plant produces from 3,000 to 25,000 seeds, which remain viable for up to 7 years. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively from the tap root.

Economic importance and application

In medicine

Since ancient times, chicory has been a medicinal plant. The famous scientist and physician of the Middle Ages, Avicenna, widely used chicory preparations in the treatment of a number of diseases and disorders. gastrointestinal tract, eye inflammation. Outwardly, he recommended applying in the form of a bandage to sore joints with gout. Medics ancient egypt and Rima used chicory for rashes and furunculosis, for urinary disorders, as well as for blood diseases.

The whole plant serves as a medicinal raw material. The roots are harvested in autumn (September - October), when the rosette of basal leaves begins to fade, the aerial part - during flowering.

Common chicory is mainly used in traditional medicine. Chicory preparations have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, sedative, diuretic, astringent and appetite-stimulating effects. They have a regulating effect on metabolism, slightly increase cardiac activity and reduce sweating. Chicory won the greatest recognition in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. A decoction is prescribed for inflammatory diseases of the mucous membrane of the stomach, small and large intestines, liver, gallbladder and kidneys, as well as for cholelithiasis and kidney stones.

Chicory improves digestion, eliminates discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract, liver and spleen, increases appetite, reduces sugar in the urine, and reduces increased nervous excitability. Chicory preparations are used as a general tonic and for edema of cardiac origin. With anemia, fresh juice of the plant is prescribed. Powder from the aerial part of the plant is included in the complex preparation LIV-52.

In other areas

Chicory (root) soluble powder

Common chicory was introduced into cultivation in the Mediterranean, grown back in Ancient Rome. In Russia, the first plantations of chicory were planted in the vicinity of Yaroslavl in the year. In the USSR, chicory culture was widespread in Belarus, the Baltic republics, Ukraine and the Yaroslavl region of the RSFSR.

The roasted roots of the cultivated form of this species are widely used to make a coffee surrogate ("chicory"). In Latvia, the root is added to coffee, a cold drink is prepared from it with honey, apple juice and lemon, in Estonia - egg coffee. Chicory is also used in the production of natural coffee, coffee and tea drinks, giving them a specific taste, aroma and color. The roots can be a source of inulin, fructose, used to obtain sugar and alcohol (the yield of alcohol from chicory is higher than from potatoes, and its quality is better). Chicory is especially valued in the diet of diabetics. Widely used in the food industry in the production of sweets and cakes.

The fresh leaves are edible and can be used as a salad. Salad varieties of chicory with a high content of ascorbic acid have been developed. Young shoots are boiled, fried, baked in dough. In European countries, leaf chicory (Witloof) is grown. It is added to salads, side dishes to fried, steamed, stewed and baked fish, to raw soup.

A good honey plant, in wet weather and during rains, the flowers secrete a lot of blue nectar. Up to 100 kg of honey is obtained from 1 ha of chicory.

Literature

• Botanical and geographical research in the Serdobsky district of the Saratov province B. Keller // Proceedings of the Society of Naturalists at the Imperial Kazan University. T. XXXVII, no. 1. From the area of ​​chernozem-feather grass steppes. - Kazan: Typo-lithography of the Imperial University, 1903. - S. 95-96, 117-120
• Vekhov V.N. and others. Cultivated plants of the USSR / Ed. ed. T. A. Rabotnov. - M.: Thought, 1978. - S. 321-322
• Glukhov M. M. Honey plants. Ed. 7th, revised. and additional - M.: Kolos, 1974. - S. 130
• Elenevsky A. G., Radygina V. I., Bulany Yu. I. Plants of the Saratov Right Bank (compendium of flora). - Saratov: Sarat Publishing House. pedin-ta, 2000. - ISBN 5-87077-047-5. - S. 74
• Pastushenkov L. V., Pastushenkov A. L., Pastushenkov V. L. Medicinal plants: Use in folk medicine and everyday life. - L.: Lenizdat, 1990. - 384 p.
• Universal encyclopedia of medicinal plants / Comp. I. Putyrsky, V. Prokhorov. - Minsk: Book House; M.: Makhaon, 2000. - S. 284-285
• Flora of Central Russia: Identifier Atlas / Kiseleva K. V., Maiorov S. R., Novikov V. S. Ed. prof. V. S. Novikov. - M.: CJSC "Fiton +", 2010. - S. 528-529
• Flora of the USSR. T. XXIX. / ed. E. G. Bobrov and N. N. Tsvelev. - M., L.: Nauka, 1964. - S. 16-17

Not everyone knows that the roadside plain blue flower is the famous chicory, which is used to make a coffee surrogate. And many healers and scientists of antiquity knew about the healing properties of this plant.

Chicory ordinary: description

It belongs to perennial herbaceous plants. Its root is spindle-shaped, very large and fleshy, secreting milky juice when cut.

Chicory ordinary has an erect stem with a ribbed surface, reaching a height of 120 centimeters, strongly branches.

The leaves of the plant are collected in rosettes, the leaves near the base of the flower have a notched, slightly lobed or pinnatipartite structure, tapering towards the base. The leaves are mid-stem, lanceolate, sessile, alternate with a wide base and sharp-toothed edges, and the upper leaves are lanceolate and more entire.

Bisexual flowers are located in baskets, always in the axils of the leaves and singly along the tops of the plant. They are blue in color, but there are also pinkish and white species, petals with 5 teeth, reed. The time of abundant flowering falls on the middle of summer. After flowering, an achene (carpel) appears, mostly pentagonal or triangular. Its length is small, 2-3 millimeters, it is slightly oblong and has a brown tint.

With gastritis

The stems and flowers of chicory must be carefully chopped, then take a couple of tablespoons of this composition. This amount of the mixture must be poured with a liter of hot water and boiled for fifteen minutes. Cool, strain, then drink three times a day for half a cup.

With arrhythmias

Chicory root must be thoroughly crushed, then take one spoonful, pour half a liter of clean water into it and boil. Remove from heat, close the container with a lid and leave for two hours. Then strain and add honey to the broth. The finished product should be taken half a cup three times a day before meals.

For the treatment of lung diseases, prevention of bronchitis and laryngitis

Grind the chicory root, add motherwort herb to it. Pour this mixture in the amount of 3 tablespoons with two glasses of boiling water and set aside for fifteen minutes to infuse. Drink throughout the day like regular tea.

Chicory is a plant whose action is considered similar to that of dandelion, therefore, it is recommended to mix these two plants. And if you add a little peppermint to the resulting composition, then you get a tea that is perfect for autumn and spring healing courses of treatment and recovery of the body. This tea has a therapeutic effect in rheumatic diseases, and also enhances the activity of the kidneys and liver, in other words, restores the normal state of health of a person.

Use in other areas

It is worth noting that the roasted roots of the plant are an excellent substitute for coffee. So, in Latvia, a root is added to ordinary coffee, and a cold drink with apple juice, honey and lemon is prepared from it. But in Estonia it is egg coffee. Fruit and berry tea is flavored with chicory. At the same time, the roots can serve as a source of fructose, inulin, and be used to make alcohol (at the same time, the yield of alcohol from it is greater than from the same potato, and the quality is much better). Especially chicory is valued in the diet of diabetics. It is also widely used in the production of cakes and sweets in the food industry.

Fresh leaves and grass of common chicory are edible, there are its salad varieties with a high content of ascorbic acid in them. So, salads are prepared from young stems, leaves and shoots. But the young shoots are fried, boiled. It is baked in Belgium in wine with apples and cheese. In European countries, leaf chicory is grown, which is added to salads, as well as side dishes for steamed, fried, baked and stewed fish, raw in soups. In addition, this is an excellent honey plant, during rains and in wet weather, the flowers emit a huge amount of blue-colored nectar. About 100 kilograms of honey are obtained from 1 hectare of chicory.

Contraindications

Chicory, the properties and contraindications of which have been known to mankind for a long time, has practically no side effects, and is also non-toxic.

Prolonged use of drugs from this plant can cause active secretion of gastric juice and diuresis. The use of herbal preparations from chicory is not recommended in the treatment of babies under two years of age. In addition, individual intolerance may be observed.

22.04.2018

Chicory is a popular substitute for instant coffee. It is also known for its beneficial properties. But in trying to find a worthy alternative to caffeine, are we doing ourselves more harm than good? Read more on Prapravkino.ru: what is soluble chicory, what is useful and harmful for the health of men and women, how much you can drink per day, and much more.

Chicory is the root of the chicory (endive) plant, which is roasted, ground and used as a cheap substitute or flavoring for instant coffee. It enhances its smell, gives a richer taste. Coffee with chicory has a more intense roasted aroma and slightly more bitterness.

The plant is grown in many parts of the world, the largest producers are in France, South Africa, the USA. In temperate climates, it grows like a weed.

In addition to the fact that the roasted chicory root is often used to make drinks, it is added to dishes as a seasoning, and the young leaves are put in salads.

What does chicory look like - photo

general description

Common chicory (Cichorium intybus var. Sativum) is a hardy perennial plant from the genus Cichorium of the Asteraceae family. Its leaves are used in salads, and the root is used to make a drink.

Scientific name: Cichorium intybus var. sativum. In another way, chicory is called Gorchanka, blue flower, roadside grass, Petrov batogs, Tatar color, king-root, shcherbak.

Life expectancy in nature is 2 years, but under optimal conditions it can grow up to 5 years.

The stem is rough, vertical, smooth or partially hairy, grows from 90 to 180 cm high. The whole is filled with bitter milky juice.

Flowers from 2 to 4 cm wide and usually bright, light blue, rarely white or pink. The petals are arranged in two rows: short on the outside and long on the inside. Blooms from July to October and only on sunny days. Each flower lives only one day.

Chicory flower - photo

Chicory develops two types of leaves: large, lobed (like a dandelion) at the base of the plant and smaller, oblong or lanceolate at the top of the stem.

Edible parts: leaves and root. The flower is very bitter.

The root is about 5 cm in diameter and 15-20 cm long, tapers like other root crops, and weighs 50-100 g.

How and from what they are made

Chicory is not coffee, it is obtained not from grains, but from the roots of the plant. They are usually dug up in the fall, in the second year of life.

Then they are thoroughly cleaned and cut into small cubes. Next, they are placed on a rack and slowly dried by artificial means at a temperature of 40 to 50 ° C.

Roast them until they are firm and dark brown. The roasted roots are then ground like coffee beans.

What smell and taste

Roasted chicory root smells like real coffee, but the drink does not contain caffeine. The taste is often described as slightly woody and nutty. It has a natural sweet taste, so you don't need to add sugar for cooking.

Most people like the aroma of chicory, although some complain about the bitterness of the drink. Some people add chicory to regular coffee grounds to improve the taste of both.

How to choose and where to buy

Fresh root in supermarkets is most often not found, except in specialized stores. healthy eating. If you are engaged in a garden, chicory can be grown independently on your site.

In ordinary stores, the root is sold only in processed form: powder, granules, flakes, etc. When buying, pay attention to the appearance of the product: it should look dry, without extraneous additives and lumps.

Soluble liquid chicory is also on sale - a thick dark extract with a rich bitter taste. It is sold in banks. The extract is easier to store and prepare than the powdered product.

Fillers are added to some varieties of chicory, for example, sea buckthorn, lemongrass, ginseng, cinnamon, blueberries, stevia. Natural additives enrich the taste, affect both the properties and the price of the product.

Sometimes manufacturers mix chicory with regular coffee, and some brands add sugar or artificial flavors and sweeteners. The healthiest option is pure roasted root powder.

How and how much to store

Store fresh powder and other forms of chicory in airtight containers out of direct sunlight. Use it as soon as possible to avoid loss of flavor and "smelling" the essential oils.

If moisture gets into the powder, it will become hard, unusable.

Chemical composition

Chicory root contains several health-promoting plant compounds, minerals and vitamins.

Nutritional value of 100 g of chicory root (Cichorium intybus var. Sativum)

Health benefits and harms of instant chicory

Chicory root is a caffeine-free herbal drink. It can be drunk by both children (over 1 year old) and adults, but taking into account contraindications and the recommended dosage.

The plant and its parts can cause hypersensitivity reactions, manifested as itching, allergic contact dermatitis, redness in the eyes, etc. This sometimes occurs in people who are allergic to ragweed, birch or chrysanthemum pollen, marigolds, chamomile and other plants of the plant family Asteraceae / Compositae.

If you experience any negative symptoms after drinking chicory coffee, stop use immediately and contact your doctor.

Too much chicory in the diet can lead to digestive problems due to its high inulin content.

Chicory is able to stimulate the uterus, which in turn leads to its contraction. It also contains a substance that promotes menstrual bleeding, which can lead to miscarriage when consumed in in large numbers. During pregnancy, women are contraindicated in any form of chicory. Be sure to read the ingredients on the coffee label before drinking. Chicory has not been extensively studied in pregnant women, but there is a risk of abortion.

There is little research on its safety in women who are breastfeeding. Ask your doctor if you can drink chicory while breastfeeding to avoid adverse symptoms.

Chicory can stimulate the production of bile. It may be harmful for people with gallstones. Do not use it without medical supervision if you have this problem.

How much can you drink per day

Traditionally for consumption as a daily drink - 3-5 g per day.

Even healthy adults should not get carried away and remember the measure: 2-3 cups of chicory coffee are enough per day.

Application in cooking

Chicory greens are an excellent cooking herb. Juicy leaves are added to salads, and young shoots are used in the preparation of marinades.

Young roots can be cooked like parsnips and served with sauces or in soups.

The roasted roots are used to add a bitter, mild flavor to coffee and tea, or as a coffee substitute.

Powdered chicory is often added to baked goods.

How to make delicious homemade kvass from chicory - video

Chicory has been linked to several health benefits and can be a good coffee replacement if you want to cut down on caffeine and have no contraindications. However, no studies so far have shown that chicory is better than regular coffee. But, if you like the taste of this drink, nothing prevents you from adding it to your diet and enjoying it.

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 chicory The stem of chicory is erect, twig-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 whole. 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, 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.

We will talk more about the beneficial properties and contraindications of fresh and soluble chicory later.

Medicinal properties

Use the roots and leaves of chicory Beneficial features 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 for 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 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 it 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 the 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 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 wiping with alcohol tincture and washing with a decoction of the root, for this, pieces of tissue are soaked in the decoction and cover eczema with them until a clean red place of the epidermis remains on the surface of the scab without inflammation phenomena.
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, and 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, and an 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 materials. 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 cup 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 pouring and when 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 with chronic diseases liver.
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. Serve cold with dill and parsley: 200 g of chicory leaves and shoots, 1 tablespoon of 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. Pour in vegetable oil and use for making cabbage soup 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.