The word cichorium is originated from the words cio, indicating to go, and chorion, suggesting field. It is assumed that this name was provided to explain the place where the plant expands. There are additionally those who declare that the word is of Arabic beginning. Because of the shape of its leaves, the Greek words intybus or entomos, suggesting notched, are of beginning. It is additionally recommended that words in (inside) and also tubus (pipeline) stem from the truth that it is written as Intubus and its branches are hollow.
Words Hindiba is Arabic. Its Persian is turkeybite. Wild chicory grows in all of Europe, southern of the Scandinavian peninsula to the Mediterranean coastline, from the Atlantic Sea to the west of the Caspian Sea, in Asia Minor, west of Iran, in the mountainous region of West Pakistan, on the coasts of Lake Baikal as well as periodically in North Africa. It has actually likewise been taken to East Asia, Australia, New Zealand as well as South Africa.
Research study has actually disclosed that the Egyptians knew the plant 6 thousand years back, grew it as a veggie, and used its water versus eye illness and also toxin. Plinius composed that wild-grown chicory had an essential area in Egypt. Dioscorides divided the plant into two as defined and also wild, and also recommended it as anti-inflammatory, astringent, appealing, versus diarrhea, gout, snakebite as well as scorpion stings. Paracelsus wrote that it was diaphoretic and protective against leprosy. Matthiolus commended the plant as a very good liver and also tummy representative and used it against looseness of the bowels, high temperature, anorexia, boils, gout arthritis, skin rashes as well as frustrations. Kneipp used the plant versus illness of the tummy, gallbladder, liver, spleen, as well as kidney, while Leclerc used it as a stomach-strengthening, gallbladder and also blood purifier.
Initially, Pliny offered location to the magical power of the plant. In Europe in the 15th and even the 17th century, the plant was thought to be magical. Specifically the rare white flower was believed to have even more enchanting power. It was believed that if the root powder was covertly blended right into the man’s food, he would not rip off on his wife.
Medicinal Properties: It is anti-nausea, appetizer, blood purifier, antipyretic, diuretic and gallbladder, strengthening.
Uses: Spring cure, loss of appetite, anemia, liver diseases, constipation, jaundice, sugar.
Botany: It grows on roadsides and empty fields up to an altitude of approximately 1400-1500 m in every region of our country. It likes sandy, loamy and not very moist soils and warm places.
It is perennial and herbaceous. Its length varies between 40-100 cm. The root is long and spindle-like, yellow inside and white outside. The upright stem is very even and hard, hollow, with coarse hard hairs on the top. The lower leaves are large, the edges are coarsely cut, fragmented, the tips are pointed. The leaves that rise to the top are less cut, lance-shaped. Inside the whole plant there is a bitter, milky liquid. The striking beautiful flowers are mostly light blue. Infrequently, pink and white ones are also encountered. The flowers are mostly solitary or 2-3 flowers together, at the ends of the stems or branches emerging from the leaf axils, in sunny weather from July to the end of September. New ones bloom in a short time instead of fading flowers.
The vegetable, which is a wild chicory culture sold under the name of chioro in European markets, was grown in 1845 by the head gardener of the Brussels botanical garden.
Today chicor’ee is an important export item for Belgian vegetable growers. This plant is called witioof in its homeland. Witloof or chicor’ee is grown in loose soil and in the dark. Its color is very light yellowish pale white. Even too little light causes the plant to produce chlorophyll, green leaves and bitter taste.
What It Can Benefit From: The root and flowering plant are used.
Collection and Storage: The flowering plant collected in July is dried very well in the shade and in places with air flow. Roots are removed from the soil towards the end of autumn and thoroughly cleaned. It is divided into two lengthwise in the middle, strung on a rope or laid out, dried in places with abundant air flow or artificially at 30-40°C. It is very sensitive to humidity, it should be stored in a way that is protected from moisture.
Smell and Taste: The taste is very bitter. It has little to no scent.
Side Effects: There is no side effect as long as it is used within the recommended measures.
Usage Methods: It is applied internally and externally.
Methods of Benefiting from Herb: Tea: 1 teaspoon of root, flowering plant or mixture is put into 300 ml of cold water, boiled over low heat and filtered. Or 1 teaspoon of root, flowering plant or mixture is infused in 1 tea cup of cold water for 48 hours and filtered. The pulp is mixed by pressing.
Tincture: The mixture of chopped roots and flowering plants is placed in a dark bottle with 100 ml of alcohol at 50-70°C, left to rest for 10-15 days by occasional shaking and filtered. The pulp is added by pressing. It can also be made by mixing 1 teaspoon of water with 100 ml of 60° alcohol.
Water: It is obtained by pressing the fresh plant and root.
Some Substances In It: Bitter substances (sichorin in flowers, lactin in stems and leaves, intibin in roots), rubber, inulin, glycosides, oil, albumin, mineral powders, vitamins B, C, P, K, amino acids, carbohydrates, carotinoids, phenol acid.
Carotinoids and phenol acid destroy free radicals, strengthen the immune system. Bitter substances stimulate the liver and gall bladder, intibin activates metabolism and digestion.
Benefits of Blue Chicory
- For anemia, drink 1 coffee spoon of wild chicory juice at lunch and dinner or just after. The water should be pressed fresh every day.
- In the joint areas, especially in the knees, the joints are rubbed with wild chicory tincture 1-3 times a day in cases of fatigue and weakness.
- Salad is made by mixing it with other herbs that have the same properties as a blood purifier. A 3-4 week cure is done by drinking 6 teacups of tea a day.
- Its tea and water are used in liver blockages, jaundice and spleen diseases.
- When the fresh plant is pressed and drunk, the inulin in it reduces the sugar level in the blood. The meal made from the root is especially recommended for diabetics.
- It is useful to eat the salad for a long time or mix it into salads in cases of weakness, exhaustion and similar situations. Salad also removes the toughness.