Bright blue flowers of wild chicory can often be found in meadows, wastelands, along roads. Already in ancient times, chicory was used as a medicinal plant.. For one and a half thousand years BC, the Egyptians prepared from it a medicine for snake bites and poisonous insects.. The healing properties of chicory were used by ancient doctors and scientists, and the famous Avicenna prepared preparations from it for the treatment of diseases of the eyes, digestive organs and joints..

In ancient times, chicory root was also endowed with magical properties.. So, there was a belief that with its help you can become invisible, that it can protect you from damage, from a knife and a bullet while traveling.

At the end of the 18th century in Germany, a coffee substitute was made from the roots of the plant, and, despite the high cost, the popularity of this drink was very high..

Chicory has not lost its significance as a medicinal plant even today.. The healing properties of chicory are widely used in folk medicine (they use both roots, grass, and flowers of the plant), it is also part of some medicines..

Chicory contains substances that have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.. It contributes to the normalization of metabolism, acts as a choleretic, vasodilator and sedative, normalizes cardiac activity.. Chicory is used in the treatment of diabetes, diseases of the stomach, intestines, kidneys and liver.. In addition, chicory is used for baths for obesity and skin diseases..

Here are some chicory recipes:.

For gastritis, enterocolitis, gastric ulcer, and also as a diuretic Pour one tablespoon of crushed chicory roots with a glass of boiling water. Wrap and leave for 2 hours, then strain. Drink an infusion of a quarter cup 3-4 times a day before meals.

For hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Stir a teaspoon of fresh juice from the shoots during the formation of buds in half a glass of milk.. Drink this mixture 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is from one to one and a half months.

For diabetes One teaspoon of chopped chicory in a glass of boiling water. Warm over low heat for 10 minutes, strain and cool. Drink 50 ml 3 times a day.

One tablespoon of flowering tops of chicory and a tablespoon of crushed roots pour boiling water, cover, wrap for infusion for an hour, then strain. Infusion take a tablespoon 3 times a day before meals. Duration of the course - 10 days, then a break - 7 days and repeat the course again.

For the treatment of acne, boils, purulent wounds and eczema 2 tablespoons of crushed roots and 2 tablespoons of also crushed leaves and stems of chicory in a glass of boiling water. Boil for only 5 minutes, and then leave for 1 hour, then strain. Use externally in the form of lotions 3-4 times a day.

Chicory is also a food product. It is used in the manufacture of sweets, cakes, cookies, added to coffee drinks.. Since the chicory drink does not contain caffeine, it does not excite the nervous system.. There are no contraindications to its use..

Many salad varieties of chicory are now cultivated, used to prepare various dishes: witloof, endive, escariole, radicchio, radicchio. They are tasty, nutritious, but the healing properties of chicory salad varieties are lower than those of the wild species..

Witloof is very popular in Europe, which is grown for cabbages.. Root crops ripened in summer to get heads of cabbage are subjected to distillation in a dark room in winter. Therefore, sprouts are pale yellow (“witloof” in translation means “white leaf” or “white head”). The sprouts are small and weigh from 50 to 70 g. They are boiled, stewed, fried, or eaten raw..

Endive and escarole differ only in appearance. This is one of the main types of lettuce chicory..

They go well with any leafy salads and go well with fish, shrimp, meat..

Radicchio - originally from Italy, the leaves of this lettuce are purple in color with white veins. In Italy, radicchio is prepared in a variety of ways: it is fried, stewed, baked, put in soup, used when preparing risotto or pizza, as well as in salads with other vegetables..

The radicchio is valued for its magnificent juicy stem, which ranges from pink to dark red.. Use it the same way as radicchio.

lady. siteua. org.