Health benefits of kasini (Cichorium Intybus): A View BY Dr Izharul

Hasan
Health benefits of kasini (Cichorium Intybus)
Botanical ame : Cichorium Intybus
!amily ame : Asteraceae
Common ame : Chicory, Kasini, Endive, Succory.
"art #se$ : Kasini Flowers
Habitat : Cultivated through out india.
"ro$uct offere$ : Seeds
Descri%tion: Kasini (Cichorium intybus) is a herb and root that has been nown !or its
curative bene!its since the !irst century A.". It is a member o! the Asteraceae !amily. #he
genus Cichorium contains eight or nine s$ecies, all native to Eurasia. #he words Kasini,
chicory, succory, Cichorium, and intybus are all derived !rom %ree or &atin names !or
the herb. A scraggly $lant with blue !lower heads, asini !lourishes in the wild, as well as
in gardens all over the world. It may be !ound in Euro$e, the 'ear East, northern and
southern A!rica, Australia, 'ew (ealand, and 'orth and South America.#he dried leaves
and roots o! the Kasini $lant are collected in autumn !or medicinal $ur$oses. )hen
!lowering, the whole $lant is collected and dried. )ith a height that may reach u$ to * !t
(+.* m), asini can be recogni,ed by its oblong leaves that resemble a crosscut saw or slit,
with numerous sti!! hairs on the underside. Kasini, whose common names include
succory, Kasini root, Kasini herb, blue sailors, wild asini, or hendibeh, is well nown
!or its bitter taste and use as a co!!ee substitute.
"re%arations: )hile the medicinal uses o! asini are numerous, the $lant is o!ten used
as a !ood additive, as a !lavoring agent, and in meals. )ild and cultivated asini leaves
may be added to salads or saut-ed and served alone. .oreover, the roasted and ground
root o! the $lant is a common addition to co!!ee in Euro$e and in the /nited
States.Studies have shown that asini com$lements co!!ee when it is used as a
su$$lement due to its lactucin and lactuco$icrin. #hese two substances are res$onsible !or
the bitter taste o! asini, and may serve to counteract the stimulating e!!ects o! ca!!eine.
asini by itsel! actually has a sedative action on the central nervous system.
asini is available over the counter in bul as green leaves and dried roots. #o $re$are
the herb as a tea, also nown as an in!usion, !or home use0 stee$ + ts$ (* ml) rootstoc or
dried herb with 1.* cu$ (2 !l o,) water and strain a!ter +1 minutes. #o treat 3aundice,
s$leen $roblems, gallstones, or gastritis, drin 45+6 o, (66*57*1 ml) o! asini tea $er day.
As a dietary su$$lement, + ts$ (* ml) o! 3uice !rom asini stems may be s8uee,ed by hand
and taen in mil or water three times a day.
#ses & Benefits:
#he ancient %ree9Egy$tians ate large amounts o! asini because it was believed that the
$lant could $uri!y the blood and liver, while others have relied on the herb !or its $ower
to cure :$assions o! the heart.: Kasini continues to be a $o$ular herbal remedy due to its
healing e!!ects on several ailments. Kasini is taen internally !or the !ollowing disorders.
3aundice
s$leen $roblems
gallstones
rheumatism
gout
loss o! a$$etite
;ruised leaves o! asini are o!ten used !or the treatment o! in!lammations and can
be a$$lied over swellings. #hey are also used !or the treatment o! headaches and
$rovide relie! !rom arthritic $ains and swellings.
Kasini has demonstrated antihe$atoto<ic $otential in animal studies.
=egular and !re8uent use o! asini roots, in the !orm o! liver tonic, is !ound to be
bene!icial !or women su!!ering !rom $remenstrual syndrome (>.S). It hel$s by
maintaining a balance in the hormone level o! the body and alleviating the
sym$toms associated with the condition.
Consum$tion o! the herb, as a :bitter: salad consisting o! sorrel, asini and
dandelion, hel$s to im$rove the liver !unctions and is believed to discourage the
growth o! Candida.
?ne o! the ma3or !unctions o! asini is to increase the body@s ability to absorb
calcium. #his mineral is very essential to maintain strong teeth and healthy
seletal system.
=oot e<tracts have been used as a diuretic and la<ative, and to treat !evers and
3aundice. #he second5century $hysician %alen called Kasini a :!riend o! the
liver:, and it has since been shown to increase the !low o! bile, which could be
hel$!ul in cases o! gallstones.
#wo !ibers, ra!tilin inulin and ra!tilose oligo!ructose, $resent in the herb are
!ermented by the bacteria in the large intestine, increasing the body@s ability to
absorb calcium and certain other minerals.
#hera$eutically, the herb is very im$ortant !or the $ro$er !unctioning o! the
urinary system, as it hel$s to deto<i!y and cleanse the urinary tract.
Certain herbal remedies containing asini are also available !or treating disorders
lie gout and rheumatic $ains.
#he herb is also used as a mild la<ative agent and hel$s to treat children a!!ected
by consti$ation and other digestive conditions.
Su$$lements o! asini, when taen in the diet, also aid in the $ro$er metabolism
o! cholesterol in the body.
A$art !rom the e!!ects mentioned above, the herb is also taen internally, !or loss
o! a$$etite, 3aundice, gallstones, gout, and rheumatism.
Kasini root contains volatile oils similar to those !ound in $lants in the related
genus #anacetum which includes #ansy, and is similarly e!!ective at eliminating
intestinal worms. All $arts o! the $lant contain these volatile oils, with the
ma3ority o! the to<ic com$onents concentrated in the $lant@s root.
Kasini (es$ecially the !lower) was used as a treatment in %ermany, and is
recorded in many boos as an ancient %erman treatment !or everyday ailments. It
is variously used as a tonic and as a treatment !or gallstones, gastro5enteritis, sinus
$roblems and cuts and bruises.
'i$e effects:#here are no nown health ha,ards or side e!!ects when chicory is added to
the diet. #he only $ossible minor side e!!ect is sin irritation. I! the hands become
irritated a!ter handling chicory, it is best to cover them with gloves and treat the a!!ected
area as needed.
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