chicory, a perennial herb native to Europe but now found in the United States, Canada, India, Egypt, and elsewhere. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is used as a coffee substitute, as a source of fructooligosaccharides, as a mild laxative for children, and as a treatment for gout, rheumatism, loss of appetite, and digestive distress. It is generally recognized as safe in foods and may be effective as an appetite stimulant; there is insufficient reliable information for its other indications. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: It is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation and in children. People who are hypersensitive to chicory or asteraceae/composit herbs also should avoid its use, and it is contraindicated for people with gallstones.
