**************************************************************************** Chicory (Cichorium intybus) **************************************************************************** Plant Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family) Visual Description: Tall, wiry stems with bright blue flowers and ragged, dandelion-like leaves. Typically grows wild along roadsides and in poor soil. Edibility: Roots (roasted or boiled), young leaves (raw or cooked). Flowers edible but mildly bitter. The Roots when roasted and ground make an excellent substitute for coffee. Toxicity Notes: Avoid if severely allergic to ragweed family. No toxic lookalikes, but do not harvest roadside plants due to contamination from car exhaut and pollution absorbed from the soil into the plants themselves. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ *********************************************** ||____________HEAL THYSELF__________________|| *********************************************** +-----------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+ | Ailment / When to Use | Part Used | Preparation and Dose | Why It Works | Source | +=======================+====================+===================================================+===============================================+========+ | Sluggish digestion; | Roasted/dried root | Simmer 10 g root in 500 mL water for 20 minutes. | Root bitterness stimulates bile flow. | [1] | | bloating after meals | | Drink 1 cup before meals for 1 to 2 weeks. | This helps digestion and relieves gas. | | +-----------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+ | High blood sugar; | Cooked root or | Eat 1/2 cup boiled root with meals or drink 1 cup | Inulin slows glucose absorption and supports | [2] | | insulin resistance | decoction | decoction 30 minutes before eating. | insulin sensitivity through gut flora. | | +-----------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+ | Liver sluggishness; | Roasted root | Drink 1 cup of root tea daily for 2 to 3 weeks. | Bitters activate liver detox pathways and | [3] | | hormonal imbalance | decoction | Take a 1-week break before repeating. | help promote bile movement. | | +-----------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+ | PMS bloating; | Leaf infusion | Steep 1 tsp dried leaf in 250 mL water. Drink | Diuretic effect increases kidney filtration | [4] | | water retention | | up to 3 cups per day for 5 days. | and helps reduce swelling. | | +-----------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+ | Constipation; | Whole Plant | Eat raw or lightly cooked root daily. | Inulin feeds beneficial bacteria and | [5] | | poor gut flora | | | softens stool bulk. | | +-----------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+ *****LIST OF REFERENCED SOURCES***** _____________________________ [1] Bone, K. and Mills, S. (2013). Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), 1417-1435. [2] Nocerino, E., Amato, M., and Izzo, A. A. (2021). Chicory inulin: Health benefits and therapeutic potential. Phytotherapy Research, 35(2), 631-640. [3] Churchill Livingstone.Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press. [4] Yarnell, E. (2010). Botanical diuretics: nature's solution to fluid retention. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 16(2), 92-98. [5] Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), 1417-1435. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *********************************************** ||________ KEY CONSTITUENTS ___________|| *********************************************** +---------------------+-------------------------+------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+--------+ | Compound / Nutrient | Type | Function in Body | What It Helps With | Source | +=====================+=========================+====================================+===================================+========+ | Inulin | Prebiotic fiber | Feeds beneficial gut bacteria | Improves digestion; balances | [1] | | | | and supports bowel regularity | blood sugar; supports immunity | | +---------------------+-------------------------+------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+--------+ | Chicoric acid | Polyphenol antioxidant | Reduces oxidative stress; | Immune system health; | [2] | | | | supports immune modulation | anti-inflammatory support | | +---------------------+-------------------------+------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+--------+ | Lactucin and | Sesquiterpene lactones | Calming and Pain-relieving effects | Helps with mild pain and tension; | [3] | | Lactucopicrin | | via nervous system modulation | provides sleep support | | +---------------------+-------------------------+------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+--------+ | Manganese | Essential trace mineral | Cofactor in enzyme function | Supports metabolic health; | [4] | | | | and antioxidant defense | reduces oxidative damage | | +---------------------+-------------------------+------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+--------+ | Vitamin K | Fat-soluble vitamin | Plays a role in blood clotting | Supports healthy bones and | [5] | | (Potassium) | | and skeletal metabolic functions | strong cardiovascular function | | +---------------------+-------------------------+------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+--------+ *****LIST OF REFERENCED SOURCES***** _____________________________ [1] Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), 1417-1435. [2] Bais, H. P., et al. (2002). Chicoric acid production in plant cell cultures. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. [3] WesoĊ‚owska, A., et al. (2006). Sedative activity of Lactuca virosa and its active constituents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. [4] National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020). Manganese - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. [5] Booth, S. L. (2012). Roles for vitamin K beyond coagulation. Annual Review of Nutrition, 32, 415-435. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *********************************************** ||________ HEAL THY LAND & SOIL ___________|| *********************************************** +----------------------------+----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+--------+ | Land Issue | Plant Function | Part or Behavior | How to Use It | Environmental Benefit | Source | +============================+============================+==============================+========================================+========================================+========+ | Compacted or degraded soil | Breaks up hard soil layers | Deep taproot | Allow to grow through one full season, | Improves soil aeration and | [1] | | | | | then chop and drop in place. | increases water penetration | | +----------------------------+----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+--------+ | Low nutrient availability | Accumulates and mobilizes | Root and foliage | Leave biomass to decompose in place, | Returns calcium, magnesium, and | [2] | | | nutrients into topsoil | | or compost for reuse. | potassium to upper soil layers | | +----------------------------+----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+--------+ | Erosion-prone slopes | Soil stabilizer and | Ground-holding root system; | Seed on sloped or open soil in late | Reduces erosion; initiates succession | [3] | | or disturbed areas | a "pioneer" species | drought tolerance | fall or early spring. | for more complex plant communities | | +----------------------------+----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+--------+ | Lack of pollinators | Pollinator attractant | Flowering stalks | Let plants flower fully in open zones | Supports bee and hoverfly populations | [4] | | in recovery zones | | | near crops or forest edge | in degraded or recovering land zones | | +----------------------------+----------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+--------+ *****LIST OF REFERENCED SOURCES***** _____________________________ [1] Pattinson, D. (2001). Soil Compaction and Deep Rooting Species. Soil Science Journal. [2] Brinton, W. (2005). Compost Quality Standards and Nutrient Cycling in Sustainable Agriculture. Woods End Research Laboratory. [3] Sullivan, P. (2003). Soil Erosion and Cover Cropping. ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program. [4] Kremen, C. and Miles, A. (2012). Ecosystem Services in Biologically Diversified Farming Systems. Ecology Letters. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ****************************************************************************** See this plant entry on the JesterScribe website: https://jesterscribe.net/Weeds/Chicory *******************************************************************************