Galánosz, a gladiátorokat gyógyító orvos, az egyiptomiak, a kelták, a görögök és a rómaiak is felismerték a mezei katáng gyógyító tulajdonságait.

Field Catanja – Cichorium Intybus

Description of the Field Catanja:

Cichorium Intybus Asteraceae – Asteraceae Old or more familiar vernacular names: katan, chicory, wild chicory, yucca, cattail, cattail grass, coffeecake, sun-watcher, sun-walker, sun-walking grass, sun-following grass, bodice-grass, heavenly ladybird, sun-turning, sun-following. The Greeks, Romans and even the Egyptians used it, as did the physician who healed gladiators (Galenos) and the Celts. It detoxifies the liver, kidneys and bile, but is also effective against gout, rheumatism and arthritis. It improves the appetite, aids bowel function, has a mild laxative effect and is also drunk against high blood pressure. It is an excellent detoxifier, blood purifier and antipyretic. For indigestion, stomach weakness, intestinal acidity, high uric acid excretion, aids digestion. It is easily found in meadows, along roadsides, in fields and pastures almost all over the country. You can collect its roots from early spring to late autumn, and its flowering can last until the onset of winter.

Occurrence:

It is cultivated in uncultivated sandy soils, along roadsides and in fields as a wild plant, mainly in Asia and Europe, Australia, New Zealand (up to 1500 m). It is cultivated in Germany, Austria and here. In our country, it is found in pastures, along roadsides, almost all over the country.

It was used and cultivated by the Greeks and Romans. According to Pliny and Theophras, it was used as a spice. The Egyptians consumed it as a stomachic and kept it as a culinary herb, and the French have also grown it for centuries. Linnaeus also used it in his Swedish botanist’s flower clock, because the plant opens in the morning and closes at noon. In the past it was also believed to have magical powers, the flowers were soaked in water and used to see into the future. In Celtic myth, Freya, who waited endlessly for her lord along the road, was transformed into this plant by the goddess, becoming a symbol of loyalty, understanding and friendship. Galenos, the “physician to the gladiators”, considered her a “friend of the liver, and no less of the stomach”.

Collection of field catáng:

The roots, dug in early spring or late autumn, were cleaned of soil, possibly of the mud that clung to them, avoiding strong light/sun, or dried in an oven. The plant should preferably be mown or cut above ground with shears/pruners/scissors. Flowering may be prolonged into the winter, they open nicely in sunny weather and close later. They can grow from a quarter to a quarter of a metre. Perennial, stems stiff, branches spreading, rough. Basal leaves are rose-shaped, oval and coccurved. Stem leaves small, lanceolate, stalkless. Flowers with large tongues are sky blue, rarely white Collect with extra care, not allowed along busy roads (!), try to collect as many leafy plants as possible. The above ground parts should be shredded as soon as possible after picking. The spindle-shaped, barely branched root, which, when cut when fresh, exudes milky fluid and is fleshy, when dried it has a hard horn-like appearance. It is known commercially as radix cichorii. The root dries in a ratio of about 3:1, above ground parts in a ratio of 4-4,5:1. Its roots are best collected in spring and autumn around the new moon (cut into 15 cm pieces), while its seeds are best collected in early autumn during a drier period, and its leaves (before flowering and best from plants over 2 years old) and flowers can be collected continuously from spring to autumn.

Active substances:

Inulin (mainly in the root 20-60% – sugar-like substance), pectin, sugar, essential oil, gum, tannins and bitter substances, besides cichorin, chlorogenic acid, magnesium, copper, iron, calcium. Inulin is effective in lowering blood sugar, blood triglycerides and cholesterol (the latter weakly), sesquiterpene lactone, phenolic acids, vitamin C, carotene, lime, phosphorus, chicoric acid (above ground), cicoriin, and diterpenes. Root drug: contains 10-15% inulin, 0.1-0.2% intibin, 4.5-9.5% fructose, 4.7-6.5% pentosan, choline, lactucerol, gum and lactopicrin containing milk liquid. Weed drug: inulin, fructose, choline, resin, cyanidin derivatives, 0.1-0.2% cicoriin glycosidic bittering agent. The inulin in its root acts as a prebiotic, providing a favourable medium for the proper functioning of the intestines and the development of beneficial bacteria

Medicinal properties of field marigold:

It detoxifies and cleanses mainly the liver (against jaundice), bile and kidneys (similar to thousandths of aphids). It is an antidote for gout, rheumatism and arthritic diseases. Its appetite stimulating sesquiterpene lactone also aids intestinal function and is therefore an ingredient in consumable tea blends (sesquiterpene lactones have been used to treat stomach ulcers with good results). Diabetics consume it to relieve thirst and reduce sweating. It is also thought by some to relieve spleen complaints. It has a mild laxative effect and has been consumed for high blood pressure (cleanses the kidneys, thus relieving high blood pressure of renal origin). It is a powerful detoxifier, blood purifier and antipyretic. It is recommended for stomach weakness and indigestion. It is also used against flatulence, intestinal acidity and intestinal gas. It can also dissolve gallstones and increase bile production. Its above ground parts have a diuretic effect (due to phenolic acids) and excrete uric acid from the body. Its tea helps digestion after or during the consumption of fatty foods that are difficult to digest. It also does not cause health problems if consumed continuously (some have suggested that excessive consumption of chicory can lead to retinal damage) It loosens fats that have built up on the intestinal walls, accumulated intestinal contents, which can lead to blockages and bloating, and causes them to be expelled. (It can be consumed regularly to regulate bowel movements) It is a possible treatment for underactive pancreas and diabetes in the elderly (brings down blood sugar!). May help people with anaemia (anemia) or absorption problems, increases digestive enzymes, stomach acid, which is involved in breaking down nutrients. Because of its vitamin C, mineral content, it is recommended to be consumed in all seasons, but especially in winter (young leaves, buds, petals in salads). Its fresh leaves can be eaten cooked or raw to make full use of its mineral and vitamin content, and its leaves are also recommended for iron deficiency (cooked, filtered, cooled, flavoured with oil and salt – it is also advisable to consume the decoction – ) In the good old days, chicory coffee was made from its roots (a Hungarian invention), cut into the size of a coffee bean, roasted in the oven, and its characteristic colour and flavour is due to the caramelisation of its sugar content. Meadowsweet tea: 15-30 g of dried roots, leaves and flowers should be boiled in 1 litre of water for 5 minutes. The recommended daily dose is one cup at noon and in the evening before meals (for liver and kidney problems, flatulence, belching, intestinal upset). Or boil a teaspoonful of dried root in 2.5 dl of water for 10 minutes, cover and leave to cool, then it can be consumed.

Cultivation:

The plant, which grows well and prefers slightly clayey soil, is grown by sowing seeds. The plants are planted 25-30 cm apart in rows. A catastrophic acre requires 2-3 kg of seeds. The yield of a catastrophic acre is 120-150 q (hundredweight) of raw roots. Seed should be sown in the spring, or immediately after collection in soil or in a germination tray, which can be planted out after root development.

Processing and marketing:

It used to be official in most herbal books. Today it is mainly used in folk medicine and as an ingredient in some special medicines. Only cultivated chicory can be used to make coffee substitutes, as wild roots do not develop as vigorously and are poorer in active ingredients. Its leaves are used, especially in Germany, to make salads. It has also been grown for animal feed, and brewers have mixed it into brown beer to achieve a coffee-like flavour.

FAQ

Source: Dr. Ferenc Darvas and Dr Gyula Magyary-Kossa,Domestic herbs, their production, marketing, effects and medicinal uses Dr Michael A. Weiner, Herbal Bible, ISBN: 963 7495 29 Rápóti Jenő-Romváry Vilmos, Medicinal plants, ISBN:963 241 190 0 Reader’s Digest, Nature’s herb garden, ISBN:978 963 9562 01 1 Kim Hurst, Treasures of Nature, Medicinal Plants, ISBN:978 963 248 253 8 Reader’s Digest, Nature’s herb garden, ISBN:978 963 9562 01 1 Dr.Kolos Ede-Kolosné Pethes Edit, Our native medicinal plants Jenő Bernáth, Medicinal and aromatic plants, ISBN:963 286 258 9 Babulka Péter, Discovering wild medicinal plants, ISBN:963 9237 66 3 Dr. János Zelenyák, The effects and uses of medicinal plants Lesley Bremnes, Spices and Herbs, ISBN:963 545 041 9 Ingrid and Peter Schönfelder, Herbalist’s Guide, ISBN:963 684 124 1 Herbarium – Dr.Sándor Kmeth, ISBN:-978-615-80075-2-61 Home Herb Book – Vicky Chown&Kim Walker, ISBN:978-963-433-225-13 Medicinal plants – Jethro Kloss, ISBN:978-963-689-351-36 Alexandra, Treasury of herbs, ISBN:978 963 357 507 9 János Boruzs, Useful advice on domestic herbs, ISBN:963 9246 18 130