Diseases and effects: chronic cholecystitis, inflammation of the lungs, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, sluggish digestion, cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice, swelling of the spleen, constipation, hysteria, toothache, gastritis, enterocolitis, colitis, kidney disease, scurvy, general fatigue, anemia, tumors of the lymph nodes.
Active substances: inulin, bitter glycoside intibin, glycoside chicoryin, bitter substances, lactucopicrin, lactucin.
Collection time: June – October
Asteraceae family (Compositae)\r
Botanical description
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Perennial herbaceous plant 30-150 cm high.\r
Rhizome thickened fusiform.\r
The stem is branched. \r
Leaves basal notched-pinnatipartite; stem leaves lanceolate, sharp-toothed, stalked, arranged alternately; apical leaves – whole.\r
Baskets are sessile, single or arranged in two or three.\r
The flowers are blue, less often white, even more rarely pink.\r
Blooms in June-September.\r
Spreading
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It grows along the edges of roads, at ditches, on borders, slopes. The plant is distributed throughout the CIS.\r
Procurement of raw materials
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For medicinal purposes, leaves and flowers are harvested during flowering, roots – in autumn or early spring.\r
Active ingredients
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In the underground parts of the plant there is a lot of inulin, bitter glycoside intibin and other substances. The glycoside chicoryin was found in the flowers.\r
The bitter substances contained in the stems and leaves are called lactucopicrin and lactucin (Makhlayuk, 1967).\r
Application
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Fresh leaves are used to make a salad for chronic cholecystitis, surrogate coffee is prepared from the roots – it acts as a choleretic agent and promotes digestion.\r
Used in the form of tea for pneumonia, for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for sluggish digestion, to increase appetite; and most importantly – with cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice; also with edema of the spleen, constipation, hysteria, with aches, toothache. For 1 glass of water, take 1 teaspoon of chicory root and leaves and boil for 10 minutes; take 1 glass 2 times every day in small sips.\r
An aqueous infusion of chicory flowers calms the central nervous system and increases the strength of heart contractions, acts as a diuretic for edema of cardiac origin.\r
A decoction of chicory is widely used for gastritis with increased secretory function, enterocolitis and colitis. 20 g of chicory root or herb per 1 glass of water, boil for no more than 2-3 minutes, leave for 15-20 minutes, take 2 tbsp. spoons 3 times every day.\r
In diseases of the kidneys, scurvy, general fatigue, anemia – fresh chicory juice is taken 1 tbsp. spoon to a glass of milk 3 times every day for 4-6 weeks, after a week break, the course is repeated.\r
With tumors of the lymph nodes, with pain in the abdomen due to an inflammatory process in the stomach, intestines, compresses are applied from a decoction or fresh leaves of the plant.\r
In case of severe muscle fatigue, rub the sore spots with an alcohol tincture of chicory (the ratio of raw materials to the base is 1: 10 in 70% alcohol, insist for 14 days in a dark, cool place).\r