Cichorium intybus, Kasani (Chicory)

Latin name: Cichorium intybus (Linn.) (Asteraceae)

Common names:  Kasani, Hinduba, Kasni, Chicory, कासनी, चिकोरी,

Ayurvadic Properties:

·        Rasa: Tikta

·        Guna: Laghu, Ruksha

·        Virya: Sheeta, (hence useful in disorders induced by kafa and pitta)

General information:

Historically, chicory was grown by the ancient Egyptians as a medicinal plant and it has had a long history of therapeutic use both in areas where it is indigenous and in areas where it has been introduced. The ancient Egyptians ate large amounts of chicory because it was believed that the plant could purify the blood and liver, while others have relied on the herb for its power to cure “passions of the heart.” The juice is said to be a folk remedy for cancer of the uterus and for tumors. In South Africa, although it is considered a widespread weed, leaves, stems, and roots are made into a tea for jaundice and chicory syrup is used as a tonic and purifying medicine for infants. In Turkey, an ointment is made from the leaves for wound healing. According to the European monograph, traditional use of chicory roots includes the relief of symptoms related to mild digestive disorders (such as feeling of abdominal fullness, flatulence, and slow digestion) and temporary loss of appetite. Prior to the wars in Afghanistan, folkloric reports described the use of aqueous root extracts as a light-sensitive plant remedy for malaria. The flowers of the chicory plant are used as a herbal treatment of everyday ailments such as a tonic and appetite stimulant and as a treatment of gallstones, gastroenteritis, sinus problems, cuts, and bruises. In Italy, the whorls are made into a decoction and used as a depurative. Chicory seeds are one of the main ingredients of Jigrine and Liv52, a commercial product of India used for the treatment of various diseases of the liver. Other plant parts are also used for liver disorders, namely, aerial parts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and roots in Serbia and India. Chicory continues to be a popular herbal remedy due to its healing effects on several ailments. Chicory is a Mediterranean herb that has been used as a coffee filler or substitute. It contains no caffeine and has a chocolate-like flavor. Added to coffee, Chicory root counteracts the effects of caffeine and helps digestion.

Health Benefits of Kasani/Chicory:

·        Best Recommended Uses: Kasani is recommended as a therapeutic as well as preventive supplement for liver diseases. It nourishes the liver in all aspects.

·        Most Effective: Indigestion, Jaundice, Liver Diseases

·        Highly Effective: Anaemia, Angina, Asthma, Cold, Eye Diseases, Gout, Hay Fever, Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, Hepatomegaly, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Spleen Enlargement, Tachycardia.

The sedative effect of Chicory is attributed to lactucopicrin. The sedative effect counteracts the stimulant effects of tea and coffee. It also contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and other nutrients like minerals, potassium, iron, calcium and phosphorus. The herb also contains insulin. The seeds were extracted successively with chloroform, methanol and water. All the extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical & hepatoprotective screenings in rats against CCl4 and paracetamol toxicity.

Kasani, Chicorum intybus; is the herb for natural cure of choice for liver problems. Cichorium intybus Powder is one of the best Ayurveda herb to nourish the liver. It works as a hepato-protective, liver stimulant and cholagouge. As liver is the main place for Pitta and it regulates the Pitta so Kasani works on all the disorders linked up with the different diseases, where liver is involved. Pitta diseases like menstrual disorders, burning sensations, cardiac diseases etc. are well cured naturally by the use of the Kasani. Best natural remedy for liver diseases.

Cichorium intybus Powder also nourishes the cardiac muscles and improve micro blood circulation; a good dietary supplement for heart diseases. As Cichorium intybus Powder works on the micro circulation; it is quite useful in urinary problems; recommended Ayurveda supplement for painful urination. Chicory contains volatile oils which is effective at eliminating intestinal worms. Chicory is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites Chicory (especially the flower), used as a folk medicine in Germany, is recorded in many books as an ancient German treatment for everyday ailments. It is variously used as atonic and as a treatment for gallstones, gastro-enteritis, sinus problems and cuts and bruises. Chicory contains inulin, which may help humans with weight loss, constipation, improving bowel function, and general health. In rats, it may increase calcium absorption and bone mineral density. Chicory has demonstrated antihepatotoxic potential in animal studies.

In Muslim traditional knowledge Kasni is known as “The Plant of Life.”

Kasni is known as Hindba in Arabic and popularly called Bazrullah.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas narrates that Rasool Allah says:

“There is Kasni for you, because no part of day passes without showering the drops of Paradise water on it.” (Abu Naim)

The same verse is stated by Mohammed Ahmed Zahbi with reference to Abu Naim as follows “Eat Kasni without shaking it, because no part of the day is passed without showering the paradise water on it.”

Mohammed Bin Abu Bakr Al-Qayyim quoted three Hadiths in relation to Hindba.

·        East Kasni and do not shake its leaves because no day is passed without showering on it the water of paradise.

·        One who ate Kasni and slept, the poison and evil spirit would not affect him.

·        None of the leaves of Kasni is there--which has not been showered by the paradise water drops.

The extract of Kasni leaves, if applied on scorpion bite, relieves pain and inflammation. It is useful in cataract if dropped in eyes. The aqueous extract of Kasni roots is a good remedy for eye troubles.

Kasni normalises the temperature, as it cools the hotness as well as removes the coldness by producing heat in the body. It relieves the GIT inflammations. It is very much useful for all digestive problems if taken in vinegar. Crushed leaves of Kasni, if applied on inflamed parts of the body, relieves the pain and inflammation. It removes the obstructions of liver and gall bladder. It is highly useful in jaundice and the effects are more fortified if given with dates and Razyanaj. If olive oil is mixed in the extract of the leaves of Kasni it is very much useful in all cases of poisoning.

The leaves of Kasni remove constipation and if chewed, it relieves mouth bleeding. It is useful in all types of coughs, indigestion and liver disorders. It relieves diarrhoea and dysentery, it becomes more effective if taken with saunf and tukhm-e-kasoos.

It relieves visceral inflammation, hence is very much effective in liver and kidney inflammations. Moreover, it cleans nasal passages and expels stones and removes the obstructions. The headache produced due to hot climate is quite relieved by the application of its leaves with vinegar and sandal on forehead. The same combination is effective in Urticaria and prickly heat.

The gargling with Kasni leaves decoction with salt is useful in sore throat and mouth ulcers. The decoction of Kasni seeds, sandal and sounf with sharbate banafsha is highly effective against insomnia.

The seeds are reported to be carminative and cordial, and used as a brain tonic. Due to the presence of compounds that are central nervous system stimulants, Chicory is used to treat nervous disorders such as anxiety. They are useful in headache, asthma and for checking bilious vomiting.

Therapeutic benefits:

The herb is helpful in treating an enlarged liver and protects against alcohol-induced hepatic damage.

The herb is known to lower blood sugar levels.

Cichorium intybus is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites. Studies indicate that ingestion of Cichorium intybus by farm animals results in reduction of worm burdens.

·        Antiallergic effects: Kasni - Cichorium intybus inhibits mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions in vivo and in vitro.

·        Antihyperlipidemic effects: Inulin decreases serum triglycerides by decreasing fatty acid synthesis and reducing production of low density lipoproteins (VLDL).

·        Anti-inflammatory effects: Cichorium intybus has been found to inhibit prostaglandin E and cyclooxygenase 2.

·        Antineoplastic effects: Cichorium intybus derived beta (2-1) fructans have been shown to exert cancer protective effects in animal models.

·        Hypoglycemic effect: One animal study concluded dietary inulin-type fructans extracted from Cichorium intybus root may modulate the production of peptides, such as incretins, by endocrine cells present in the intestinal mucosa. This effect may play a role in the management of obesity and diabetes through their capacity to promote secretion of endogenous gastrointestinal peptides involved in appetite regulation.

·        Immunostimulatory activity: Oligofructose and inulin, selective fermentable chicory fructans, have been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, which are regarded as beneficial strains in the colon.

1.                 Kasani leaves’ grounded paste is applied on swelling induced by pitta Dosha.

2.                 Kasani is best remedy for alleviate the stress level and anxiety Because of its calming action on the brain, sherbet made of seeds is used in insomnia.

3.                 Kasani being an appetizer, liver stimulant and cholagogue. It used in diseases which are caused due to impaired agni, liver disorders and obstructive jaundice.

4.                 Kasani root and seed are used in blood disorders and dysuria.

5.                 Kasani root is mainly used in dysmenorrhoea and other menstrual disorders.

6.                 Kasani is also useful in fever, pitta, disorders and burning sensation.

7.                 Kasani helpful in general debility.

8.                 Kasani is beneficial in all heart related problems.

9.                 Kasani reduce the high cholesterol level by decreasing fatty acid synthesis.

10.            Kasani is helpful for  diabetes and obese patients due to its hypoglycemic property.

11.            Kasani is beneficial in the treatment of jaundice, liver enlargement, gout and rheumatism

12.            The root and the leaves are appetizer, cholagogue, depurative, digestive, diuretic, hypoglycaemic, laxative and tonic.

13.            Chicory is used for loss of appetite, upset stomach, constipation, liver and gallbladder disorders, cancer, and rapid heartbeat.

14.            It is also used as a “tonic,” to increase urine production, to protect the liver, and to balance the stimulant effect of coffee.

15.            A paste of chicory leaves can directly applied to the skin for swelling and inflammation.

16.            Chicory is a rich source of beta-carotene.

Other Industrial uses of Chicory/Kasani:

The roots have the potential to be used for the production of biomass for industrial use. They are rich in the starch 'inulin' which can easily be converted to alcohol. A blue dye has been obtained from its leaves. The flowers are an alternative ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost.

Chicory greens (raw) or Kasani
Carbohydrate Factor: 3.57 Fat Factor: 8.37 Protein Factor: 2.44 Nitrogen to Protein Conversion Factor: 6.25
Refuse: 18% Refuse Description: Tough stems and damaged leaves
Nutrient (Proximates)	Unit	1Value per 100 g
Water	g	92
Energy	kcal	23
Protein	g	1.7
Total lipid (fat)	g	0.3
Ash	g	1.3
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	4.7
Fiber, total dietary	g	4
Sugars, total	g	0.7
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	100
Iron, Fe	mg	0.9
Magnesium, Mg	mg	30
Phosphorus, P	mg	47
Potassium, K	mg	420
Sodium, Na	mg	45
Zinc, Zn	mg	0.42
Copper, Cu	mg	0.295
Manganese, Mn	mg	0.429
Selenium, Se	µg	0.3
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	24
Thiamin	mg	0.06
Riboflavin	mg	0.1
Niacin	mg	0.5
Pantothenic acid	mg	1.159
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.105
Folate, total	µg	110
Folic acid	µg	0
Folate, food	µg	110
Folate, DFE	µg	110
Choline, total	mg	12.8
Vitamin B-12	µg	0
Vitamin B-12, added	µg	0
Vitamin A, RAE	µg	286
Retinol	µg	0
Carotene, beta	µg	3430
Carotene, alpha	µg	0
Cryptoxanthin, beta	µg	0
Vitamin A, IU	IU	5717
Lycopene	µg	0
Lutein + zeaxanthin	µg	10300
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	2.26
Vitamin E, added	mg	0
Vitamin D (D2 + D3)	µg	0
Vitamin D	IU	0
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	µg	297.6
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated	g	0.073
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	g	0.006
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	g	0.131
Cholesterol	mg	0
Amino Acids
Tryptophan	g	0.031
Threonine	g	0.047
Isoleucine	g	0.101
Leucine	g	0.074
Lysine	g	0.067
Methionine	g	0.01
Phenylalanine	g	0.041
Valine	g	0.077
Arginine	g	0.124
Histidine	g	0.029
Alcohol, ethyl	g	0
Caffeine	mg	0
Theobromine	mg	0
Flavonoids
Flavones	mg	2.9
Apigenin	mg	0.8
Luteolin	mg	2.1
Flavonols	mg	8.9
Kaempferol	mg	2.4
Myricetin	mg	0
Quercetin	mg	6.5
Isoflavones	mg	0
Daidzein	mg	0
Genistein	mg	0
Total isoflavones	mg	0

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Plants for a Future cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

·        Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking chicory by mouth in large amounts is POSSIBLY UNSAFE during pregnancy. Chicory might start menstruation and cause a miscarriage. During breast-feeding, stay on the safe side and avoid use.

·        Chicory allergy: If you are allergic to chicory, don’t take it by mouth or handle it.

·        Gallstones: Chicory can stimulate the production of bile. This could be a problem for people with gallstones. Don’t use chicory without medical supervision if you have gallstones.