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In Asia, Chicory has been used for headache, inflammations, sore throat, and skin allergies. It has also been used extensively for malaria, and in folk medicine, as a laxative for children. As a vegetable, Chicory is mentioned by the ancient authors Horace, Pliny, Virgil, and Ovid. The blanched leaves can be used cooked and in salads. In France and Belgium, the roots are sliced, kiln-dried, roasted, ground, and added to coffee, imparting a slightly bitter taste and dark color. For health purposes, the leaves, the roots, and the entire plant--both fresh and dried--are all subject to use. Chicory works by increasing the flow of bile into the digestive tract.
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