MEDICINAL PLANTS

Known plant which is found on many roadsides, easily recognizable by its typical bluish floral chapters. The entire plant can reach a height of nearly one meter. The leaves have a large amount of hair and have a serrated edge, the lower ones are divided, but not the upper, which are integer. In the seventeenth century began as a coffee substitute crop in many European countries, because the root of this plant and more specifically its crust-after proceed to roast, served for tea, like coffee.

FLOWERING

Flowering occurs in summer months, when it leads to some chapters flower color; is quite rare to find white or pink. The flowers on the ends have ligule. The fruits are very small, and even the pappus, which makes it useless to move the seeds by wind. The collection of leaves and flower heads are carried out in the flowering season, being the collection of the root after flowering. The root is quite thick in size, so it is appropriate one for drying longitudinal sections, which is achieved by extending the sample to the sun or artificially supplying heat.

APPLICATIONS

The latex is located some bitter principles that give the plant appetizer type properties, so it can be used in cases of anorexia. It also contains sesquiterpene lactones, iron and potassium. Acid found in leaves chicorésido responsible for its strong choleretic action, so that their use is appropriate in biliary dyskinesias. Can also be used in cases of constipation because it is slightly laxative and helps it to achieve a cleaning effect in the body. It is sometimes used as a diuretic, especially in cases of oliguria. Inulin found in the root, whose hypotensive action along with some bradycardia ago to be considered antiarrhythmic. Finally, chlorogenic acid and has isoclorogénico with antibiotic action.

ADMINISTRATION

Decoction. Five grams of dried root added to 250 milliliters of water, letting it boil for five minutes. The resulting liquid is taken after heavy meals thus facilitate digestion.
Syrup. Prepared by adding over one hundred milliliters of simple syrup made of water-and sugar-ten milliliters of fluid extract of leaves and roots of chicory. In this preparation can take five tablespoons daily as a mild laxative.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Composite ligulifloras
HABITAT: Roads
FLOWERING: Summer
PART USED: Root and leaves
CASTILIAN: Chicoria
CATALAN: Xicoria
BASQUE: Ostertxuri
GALICIAN: Chicória

USES

Diuretic Moderate, Mild laxative, Mild hypotensive.