CHICORY

Chicory is rich in iron, calcium, copper & contains Vitamins A, B, C, K & P.
Chicory is also a good source of folic acid & potassium.
The root & the leaves are appetizer, cholagogue, depurative, digestive, diuretic, hypoglycaemic, laxative & tonic.

Chicory can be used for upset stomach, appetite loss, constipation, disorders of the liver & gallbladder, cancer & rapid heartbeat.
It is also thought to kill parasites in the intestines, cleanse the blood.
Chicory has a mild laxative effect that is beneficial for digestive problems such as dyspepsia, indigestion & constipation & is especially suited for treated children affected by constipation & digestive difficulties.
It is also used to treat gallstones & liver stones by increasing the secretion of bile from the liver & gallbladder promoting urination & excretion of harmful substances.
Chicory is an excellent bitter agent that increases the secretion of bile which in turn stimulates the appetite & aids in digestion.
Chicory has mild diuretic properties & since it also promotes the excretion of uric acid it can be used for the treatment of rheumatic disorders, like arthritis & gout.
Chicory also lowers the levels of blood sugar.
The herb is helpful in treating an enlarged liver & protects against alcohol-induced hepatic damage.
Chicory is often helpful for jaundice & for spleen problems.
The juice of the leaves & a tea made from the flowering plant promote the production of bile, the release of gallstones & the elimination of excessive internal mucus.
They are also useful for gastritis.
Chicory is used to treat nervous disorders such as anxiety.

For external use, bruise fresh Chicory leaves & apply the poultice to areas affected by gout, skin eruptions, swellings, skin inflammations & rheumatism,cuts & wounds.
For painful inflammations, try applying the boiled leaves & flowers wrapped in a cloth.

A decoction of the root benefits in the treatment of jaundice, liver enlargement, gout & rheumatism & as prevention against liver damage.
Chicory root is also a mild laxative or aperient, urinary tonic, antidiabetic, nutritive tonic & blood builder.
Extract of the root have been shown to expand the walls of the blood vessels & could therefore have some antihypertensive properties.
Decoction of the rootstock is helpful to the glandular organs or the digestive system.

PRECAUTIONS:

The use of chicory is contraindicated in individuals with known allergies to plants belonging to the Asteraceae family.
Excessive & continued use may impair function of the retina.
Excessively large doses can cause digestive & vision problems.
Allergic skin reactions can occur in sensitive people. The substances responsible for these allergic reactions are believed to be the sesquiterpene lactones.

Chicory can promote the secretion of bile from the gallbladder. Use chicory with caution & only with medical supervision when patient is with gallstones.
Chicory can cause miscarriage.

RECIPES:

Chicory is used in salads.
The roots are steamed & eaten much like any vegetable.
The chicory root steamed or boiled may then be seasoned with some butter, other herbs & spices before it is eaten.
The roasted root of the chicory is used as an additive in coffee.

Infusion:
Pour 500 ml of boiling water over the 75g fresh or 30g dried leaves & let steep 5-10 minutes.
Drink same day.

Infusion for Rheumatism & Gout:
The roots are never used fresh, but are prepared first.
Slice the roots & roast at 180C until fully dried & lightly browned.
Pour 500 ml of boiling water over 30 g of the roasted root & let steep 5-10 minutes.

Decoction: use 1 tsp. of rootstock or herb per 1/2 cup of cold water,
bring to a boil & strain.
Take 1- 1 1/2 cups per day, a mouthful at a time.

Juice: take 1 tbsp in milk or water, 3 times per day.

Chicory Coffee:
After the roots are dug up they should be thoroughly cleaned & sliced into little cubes.
Place on a rack in a oven & slowly roast until they are hard & dark brown all the way through.
The roasted roots are then ground just like coffee beans.

MAGIC:

Carrying chicory helps one forget a lover.
The herb is also used in combination with cinquefoil & clove to make a vision incense.
Carrying Chicory is used to remove all obstacles that might crop up in your life.
Chicory can make its possessor invisible.
To open locked boxes & doors if held against the locks, chicory has to be gathered with a gold knife in perfect silence at noon or midnight on Midsummer.
If you anoint your body with chicory juice, you will obtain favors from great persons.
It is also carried to promote frugality.
Used as an incense to purify items of divination.
It is an herb of silence & secrecy,curse removal, strength, divination,good luck.
Chicory can be used in spells to speed up or slow down time during pathwalking, but be careful with this sort of thing. The safest "time shifting" use for it is to sprinkle it as part of a spell as you move from one world to another, willing the time gap on the two worlds to line up together. This may help the time distortion problem when the other world is strongly different from ours time-wise.