Chicory
Botanical Description & Habitat
Cichorium Intybus
Family
Cichoriaceae (Compositae)
Common Names
Succory
Habitat
Found in waste places, roadsides, etc. in the United States and Europe. Widely cultivated.
Description
A perennial plant indigenous to Eurasia but introduced to the USA.
It has bright blue flowers that bloom from July to September.
Medicinal Parts
Rootstock, flowering herb
Historical Properties & Uses
Chicory, a member of the same family as dandelion, is used medicinally as a gentle digestive and glandular tonic. It is used to gradually dissolve gallstones and tone up the liver when jaundiced.
Many forms of gastrointestinal distress are treated with chicory, including gastritis, indigestion and lack of appetite. In addition, chicory is said to be a diuretic.
Cichorium intybus, var. sativum is the variety that is used as a flavoring in coffee.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for loss of appetite (see under appetite disorders) and dyspepsia.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Chicory contains bitter substances (intybin), fructose (10-20%), and inulin (20-50%). Animal experiments have confirmed a mild cholagogue action. In Europe, chicory is often combined with frangula, turmeric, mints, dandelion, and other carminative and choleretic agents.
Chicory may counteract the effects of caffeine
Chicory contains two bitter principles, lactucin and lactucopicrin, found many years ago to have a central sedative effect on the central nervous system of rabbits and mice. They were effective in antagonizing or at least inhibiting the stimulant properties of caffeine.
It is interesting, given the widespread of use of chicory in coffee, no one has bothered to replicate the original study. At any rate, the findings do lend some support to the idea shared by many coffee drinkers they get less of a buzz, suffer less nervousness and sleep better when drinking chicory-containing coffee instead of the usual coffee.
Chicory has cardiac effects
Another study on chicory showed it was effective in treating tachycardia through the action of some digitalis-like principle.
This study also needs to be replicated and extended. Interestingly the study was done in Egypt, where chicory is used on a folklore basis to reduce heartbeat and amplitude (tachycardia).
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
Any one or all of the following drugs may be imperfectly absorbed if this herb is being used on a daily basis: tetracycline derivatives, oral anticholinergics, phenothiazines, digoxin, isoniazid, phenytoin, warfarin.
The pressor effect of this sympathomimetic agent may be markedly potentiated by MAOIs and tricyclic antidepressants.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
In therapeutic dosages, no side effects are observed.
There may be contact dermatitits from touching the plant.
There may be an allergic toxicity to commercial chicory which has been contaminated with raw cashew shells.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Decoction
Use 1 tsp. rootstock or herb per 1/2 cup cold water, bring to a boil and strain. Take 1 to 1-1/2 cups per day, a mouthful at a time.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Average daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
3 g of herb.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
References
Balboa, S.I., Zaki, A.Y., et.al. Preliminary phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of the roots of different varieties of Chicorum intybus. Planta Medica, 24, 133-144, 1973.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Facts and Comparisons. The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Mar, 1996.
Forst, A.W. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie, 195, 1-25, 1940.
List, P.H. & Hooerhammer, L.H. Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutishcen praxis, Six volumes, Springer-verlag, Berlin.
Malten, KE: Chicory dermatitis from September to April. Contact Dermatitis. 1983, 9(3):232.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Tyler, V. The New Honest Herbal, Stickley, Philadelphia, 1987.
Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield Publishers, LTD, Beaconsfield, England, 1988.
Multimedia
Cichorium Intybus
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
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