Can you tell me what the medical values of the Chicory Root are? What can it be used for other than flavoring for coffee? How is it used in foods? |
According to "Encyclopedia of Herbs and their Uses" by the American Herb Society, Cichorium intybus leaves and roots have different uses. There are 3 main types of leaf chicory: bitter, loose-leaved cultivars; narrow-leaved; and broad-leaved red chicory or radicchio types. Loose leaves are boiled to remove bitterness and served with cheese sauces. Narrow leaves and radiocchio types are eaten in salads or cooked as vegetables. The roots are roasted as a coffee substitute. Medicinally they are used for liver complaints, rhematism, gout, and hemorroids. In Ayurvedic medicine they are considered to be a cooling herb. Check with a medical professional for further information. |