✵The article gives records of the herb Chicory, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Cichorium intybus L., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Chicory, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Chicory(Succory).
English Name: Chicory.
Latin Name: Cichorium intybus L.
Common Names: Blue sailor's succory, Succory, Wild succory, Chicory Herb, Common Chicory, Hendibeh.
Property and flavor: cold in nature, tastes bitter.
Brief introduction: Cichorium intybus is a tall perennial member of the daisy family, many varieties of the chicory are cultivated, and grow freely as a weed in many parts of the world, it was introduced into North America in the late 19th century.
Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Chicory as the dried root and herb of the species (1). Cichorium intybus L. It is a plant species of the Cichorium genus, the Asteraceae family (Compositae, daisy family). The dried root and herb are used medicinally. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Cichorium intybus L.
Botanical description: Cichorium intybus is a perennial plant, it grows up to 20~150 cm high, sometimes up to 2 meters high. The root is hypertrophic and thick, hardy, and 10 to 30 cm long. Stems are rigidly upright, angular, hollow, with oblique branches and thick apex, with sparse coarse hairs or silk hairs, rarely glabrous. The basal leaves are pinnately divided or undivided, but toothed, 6~20 cm long, with larger lobes at the apex, triangular lateral lobes, and tapering at the base into winged petioles; Cauline leaves are gradually smaller, with a few, lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate, upper leaves are small, entire, and the back surface of all leaves is sparsely piliferous or sericeous.
The flower heads grow solitary on stems and branches, or 2~3 clusters in the axils of the middle and upper parts, 3 to 4 cm in diameter. The involucre is cylindrical, 8~14 mm long; The outer involucral bracts are different in length and shape, the lower part is a soft leather with cilia, and the outer part is glabrous or piliferous; All the flowers are ligulate, and the corolla is blue. Achene apex is truncated, crown hair is short, 0.2~0.8 cm long, scaly, the apex is denticulate, it has no hair tuft and is ovate and straw yellow to blackish. Its flowering period is in summer.
Ecological environment: Cichorium intybus grows in sparse forest, grass, or cultivated on the hillside. The plant is native to the Mediterranean area and northwest Asia, it is widely spread in Asia, America, Europe, Oceania, and North and South Africa, the Middle East. Cichorium intybus grows in the coastal wasteland, sparse forest, grass, riverside, ditch, or cultivated on the hillside.
Growth characteristics: Cichorium intybus prefers friable and loose soil, and the easy-to-grow plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil, though it withstands a wide variety of soil types.
Characters of herbs: The herb is harvested in spring and summer, cut into segments and dry in sun. The medicinal parts of the plant are the dried leaves and roots, the whole plant is collected and dried in the flowering season.
Pharmacological actions: ①.mild bile stimulation and stimulate gastric juices; ②.coffeelike aroma; ③.cardio-vascular effect; ④.anti-inflammatory; ⑤.anti-bacteria; ⑥.mild laxative effect; etc.
The herb chicory has mild bile stimulation and stimulates gastric juices, but these actions lack support in applications with humans. Chicory has a distinctive aroma and taste for its rich content of inulin about 60%, it is a polysaccharide that exudes a coffeelike aroma upon roasting. Chicory slow the rate and amplitude of the heartbeat in toad hearts. The herb has anti-inflammatory effects in rats, etc. The herb chicory flower infusion has antibacterial effects, the chicory root ethanol extract has an antibacterial effect, and attributed to its component sesquiterpene, the root has a mild laxative effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Traditionally, chicory root was used as a coffee substitute or additive. The herb was used in the folk medicine of America and Europe as a digestive aid, bile stimulant, boost appetite, mild laxative, diuretic, liver and heart remedy, cancer, and mildly sedating. Poultice prepared of bruised leaves is used externally for skin inflammations and swellings.
In Europe, the chicory herb has been approved for loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints, in folk medicine it is used as a laxative for children, for loss of appetite, and dyspepsia, etc.
In TCM works, the herb is recorded to function clear heat and detoxification, promote urine and eliminate edema. It is indicated for jaundice with the damp-heat pathogen, nephritis, edema, swelling pain in the stomach, poor appetite, etc.
Administration of Chicory (Succory):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Chicory (Succory)
Herbal classic books:
The bruised leaves are applied as a poultice. The roasted root is substituted for coffee beans. An infusion is prepared by scalding 2 to 4 grams of herb with boiling water, allowing it to stand for 10 minutes, then straining. A tea is prepared by brewing 2 to 4 grams of the whole herb with 150 to 250 ml boiling water and then straining it after 10 minutes. 3 grams of the comminuted herb is recommended as a daily dosage, a single dose is 2 to 4 grams of the whole herb for an infusion. In TCM works, the herb is recommended internally as water decoction, 3~9 grams, externally proper amount, wash with water decoction.
Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Chicory has been used by millions of people over the years without any reports of serious harm, rare allergic reactions have occurred from handling and ingesting the plant. The herb chicory should be avoided if you are allergic to it or other members of the daisy family. For its possible bile-stimulating property, chicory preparations should be used cautiously for those with gallstones.
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References:
1.Introduction of Chicory:Succory or Wild succory.
✵The article gives records of the herb Chicory, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Cichorium intybus L., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Chicory, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
English Name: Chicory.
Botanical description: Cichorium intybus is a perennial plant, it grows up to 20~150 cm high, sometimes up to 2 meters high. The root is hypertrophic and thick, hardy, and 10 to 30 cm long. Stems are rigidly upright, angular, hollow, with oblique branches and thick apex, with sparse coarse hairs or silk hairs, rarely glabrous. The basal leaves are pinnately divided or undivided, but toothed, 6~20 cm long, with larger lobes at the apex, triangular lateral lobes, and tapering at the base into winged petioles; Cauline leaves are gradually smaller, with a few, lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate, upper leaves are small, entire, and the back surface of all leaves is sparsely piliferous or sericeous.
Ecological environment: Cichorium intybus grows in sparse forest, grass, or cultivated on the hillside. The plant is native to the Mediterranean area and northwest Asia, it is widely spread in Asia, America, Europe, Oceania, and North and South Africa, the Middle East. Cichorium intybus grows in the coastal wasteland, sparse forest, grass, riverside, ditch, or cultivated on the hillside.
Characters of herbs: The herb is harvested in spring and summer, cut into segments and dry in sun. The medicinal parts of the plant are the dried leaves and roots, the whole plant is collected and dried in the flowering season.
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