Chicory

Eastern Deciduous Forest, Tall Grass Prairie

Chicory 

Cichorium intybus

http://blog.oregonlive.com/homesandgardens/2009/07/small_chicory.jpg

Habitat: Roadsides, common sight wild, vacant lots, waste ground, and fields. Throughout United states and our area.

Seasons: June-October

Active Chemical Ingredient:

Inulin: C₆H₁₁O₅(C₆H₁₀O₅)_nOH http://www.newdruginfo.com/pharmacopeia/usp28/v28230/usp28nf23s0_m41020.htm  used to treat constipation

Parts Used: leaf extracts are weaker than root extracts. root, leaves, stem, flowers (when blooming)

Use of Specimen:

• Laxative (ounce of root in 1 pint of water (root tea))
• Treatment of fevers
• Treatment of dermatitis
• Treatment of swelling and inflammation (poultice of boiled leaves and flowers, leaf paste, or tonic)
• poison ivy and sunburn as sap from the stem
• blisters and rope burn (tea externally)
• anti-bacterial (root extracts)
• Significant wound-healing activity (root extracts)

Procedure:
Gather the rootstock from March to May.
Decoction: use 1 tsp. rootstock or herb per 1/2 cup of cold water; bring to a boil and strain. Take 1 to 1 1/2 cups per day, a mouthful at a time.
Juice: take 1 tbsp. in milk or water, 3 times per day.

Tea:1 teaspoon dried chicory root
1 cup of water
Remedy Recipe:
1. Simmer 1 tsp. of dried chicory root in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes.
2. Strain and drink 30 minutes before each meal

Resources:  
Foster, S., & Duke, J. (2014). A field guide to medicinal plants and herbs of eastern and central North America (3rd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 

Chicory. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/chicor61.html 

Chicory - Medicinal Herb Info. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Chicory.html