Chicory

Chicory is a plant belonging to the sunflower family, or Asteraceae, and one of the earliest cited in recorded literature. The plant’s heliotropism - the opening and closing of its flowers depending on the presence of the sun – certainly seems to indicate a close link with our daytime star. Maybe it is the chicory’s special link to this heavenly body which explains its many therapeutic virtues, including an ability to aid digestion, detoxify the liver and its use as a depurative and natural sedative. From 1500 BC, it was prized for its medicinal properties and in the 17th century it was regarded as a universal remedy. Chicory, a plant which fired the imagination, was also thought to have magical powers. A young woman who uprooted the plant was believed to ensure the love of her beloved. Inspired by this close connection between the plant and the sun, Clarins Laboratories studied chicory, observing high levels of light sensors, known as chloroplasts, in their leaves. These sensors allow the leaf to absorb sunlight and ensure the plant’s vitality.