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Chicory growing on the roadside
(Please consult a physician before using any type of herbal product.)
Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a bushy perennial herb with blue, lavender, or occasionally white flowers. In the United States, it grows as a wild plant on roadsides or in open fields. Some common names for chicory are blue sailors, succory, cornflower and coffeeweed. The cultivated forms of chicory are grown for their leaves or for the roots, which are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and additive. Some beer brewers also use roasted chicory to add flavor to their stouts (beer making).
Chicory leaves also has medicinal properties and is used as a tonic and appetite stimulant, and as a treatment for gallstones, gastro-enteritis, sinus problems and cuts and bruises.
Chicory roots contain volatile oils which are effective at eliminating intestinal worms. All parts of the plant contain these volatile oils, with the majority of the toxic components concentrated in the plant's root. Studies have shown that ingestion of chicory by farm animals results in reduction of worm burdens, which has prompted its widespread use as a forage supplement. Chicory root extract is high in inulin (a type of fiber) and used as a high-fiber dietary supplement.
The root of the chicory plant is long and thick, like the taproot of the dandelion (it is part of the dandelion family). When dried, roasted and ground, it makes an excellent substitute for coffee. In the United States chicory root has long been used as a substitute for coffee in prisons. There is no caffeine in chicory, and it produces a more “roasted” flavor than coffee does. Many coffee producers offer blends with up to 30% chicory, which cuts down on the caffeine content of your cup.
The young leaves can be used in salads, although they need to be blanched to remove some of the bitter flavor. Just drop the leaves into a pot of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes and then transfer to ice water to stop the cooking process. The root can also be boiled and eaten like a vegetable – it is related to endive and radicchio.
Although I am not a coffee drinker, I have used a chicory tonic in the past to help alleviate gallbladder pain. Drinking 30 to 60 ml of tonic daily helps promote the secretion of bile and quiets gallbladder dysfunctions.
Chicory is rich in vitamin A, which can be very helpful for the eyes. Drinking a mixture chicory juice with carrot, celery and parsley juice can nourish the optic nerves and help correct minor eye defects. There has also been research done which shows drinking a half a liter to one liter daily can correct eye troubles within a few months. Chicory leaves are a good source of vitamins B and B complex, K, E, and C, as well as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and magnesium.
When to harvest chicory: Collect the very young leaves in March, and again in November, when new leaves emerge. In between they’re too bitter. Dig the roots in the fall and early spring.
Coffee: To make a caffeine-free coffee-like beverage from the roots - scrub, chop, and toast them in a 350ºF oven 1 hour, or until dark brown, brittle, and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Grind to the size of coffee in a spice grinder or blender, and use like regular coffee—1½ tsp per cup of water.
Tonic: You can make a decoction of chicory root by slicing it, then simmering it in water in a covered saucepan for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain out the herb, and drink it hot – I find this extremely bitter, so adding some honey or sugar improves the taste. Herbalists use the tea as a blood purifier (detoxifier), tonic, and decongestant of the internal organs. (Please consult a physician before using any type of herbal product.)
Other uses: A strong tea of the boiled roots, flowers, and leaves is reputed to be a good wash for skin irritations, including athlete’s foot. You can apply a compress of the boiled leaves and flowers, wrapped in a clean cotton cloth, to swellings, boils, and mild inflammations. The tea can also be dipped on a cotton ball for a refreshing and soothing eyewash.
Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may find that regular use of chicory root as a bitter tonic may assist in maintaining hormone balance and lessening the symptoms of PMS. I have never tried this, but I have friends who swear it works.
Cultivation: Chicory is a hardy perennial and will grow in almost any soil. Although it grows well on roadsides and open fields, I have never had much luck getting chicory to grow where I want it, so I’m usually happy with letting it grow where it will. To attempt growing your own, sow the seed in May or June about 1 inch deep, about 12 inches apart, and thin out the young plants to 6 or 8 inches apart in the rows; when well up, water in very dry weather.
Potential Side Effects of Chicory: Potential adverse effects of chicory include sedation, lower heart rate (not proven in human trials), contact dermatitis, and toxic allergic reaction.
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