Botanical Index No. 243

Chicory

cichorium intybus l.

Medicinal Actions

Antibacterial, Antibilious, Antiexudative, Antiinflammatory, Antimutagenic, Antispermatogenic, Bifidogenic, Bradycardic, Cardiodepressant, Cardiotonic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Choleretic, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Hepatoprotective, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Laxative, Negative Chronotropic, Negative Inotropic, Peristaltic, Prebiotic, Sedative, Stomachic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Aperitif Bitter Demulcent Nervine Acne Adenopathy Anorexia Arrhythmia Asthma Bacteria Biliousness Cancer breast face gum liver mouth spleen stomach tongue uterus Cardiopathy Catarrh Chancre Cholecystosis Constipation Cramp Deafness Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Enterosis Fever Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis Gout Headache Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Hypercholesterolemia Hyperglycemia Induration Inflammation Insomnia Jaundice Lacrimosis Melancholy Nausea Nephrosis Nervousness Ophthalmia Pharyngosis Rash Respirosis Rheumatism Sclerosis Sore Sore Throat Splenomegaly Splenosis Stomatosis Swelling Tachycardia Tuberculosis Uterosis Vomiting Wart Water Retention

General Dosage

3 g root; 3–5 g powdered root; 2–4 g/150–250 ml water.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1.“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports contraindications of hypersensitivity to chicory and other Asteraceae and adverse effects of rare allergic skin reactions. Patients with bilestones or gallstones should first consult a physician. Cadot et al. report “a first case of occupational allergy to chicory in a vegetable wholesaler. Symptoms occurred after oral, cutaneous, or inhalatory exposure.” Reactions were also noted after ingestion of the botanically related endive and lettuce. The responsible protein

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