CHICORY :Bach flower remedies

- Dr. D.V. Krishnamoorty.

Desires to be in company, while along aggravates; selfishness; wants to be attended to; desired to possess things or persons; wants support from others sentimental attachments disappointed love; homesickness; quarrelsome nature; craving for sympathy; attachment to things or persons; love-pangs.

A personnel officer at Madras was transferred to the Calcutta branch of his office. His wife was employed in a different office at Madras and his two children were in the middle of the academic year. He had therefore to leave his wife and children at Madras and go alone to Calcutta and live there.

On the day of his departure in the airport, when the time came to bid good-bye he almost wept at the thought of parting with his family. After getting into the lounge, he came out and embraced his children once more. The scene was pathetic indeed. Chicory was the remedy to be given to him at that time.

The author was their family doctor and two days later the mother sent for him The boy was in bed with fever and the lady remarked: Your know, he is very much attached to his father. He feels his fathers absence very much. (This symptom is in the homoeopathic remedies phosphoric Acid etc. ) A few doses of chicory cured the boy of the fever and continued use of the same remedy enabled him to bear the separation without any suffering of the mind and consequent physical ailments.

Two weeks later we got later we got a letter from the father (who diabetes and was already taking medicines from us). In his letter he casually mentioned the fact that he felt the loneliness very much and the removal to calcutta away from his family was causing untold suffering to him (Love pangs). In the next supply of medicine for his diabetes chicory was sent (because the patient never believes that there is a medicine to bear the separation) and this made him able bear the separation.

An allopath, practising homoeopathy too, as well as bach remedies, once wrote to us: I had a patient with temperature running high. As usual in our practice, I ordered maintaining a periodic chart of the temperature. After two days a graph was drawn which showed fluctuation of the temperature in a zig-zag way. For this unsteadiness of temperature I prescribed a dose of Scleranthus. After some minutes she asked someone to be by her side and on noticing this I gave chicory which completely cured the patient of the fever. In acute diseases we have noticed, be it headache or any other trouble whenever the patient wishes somebody to be by his side or wants someone to attend on him for his needs which he himself can do, then chicory can be give.

The following account illustrates the look after me attitude of the chicory type of person.

We were at the bedside of a patient with headache. He was asking his wife to press his head. Their child of four months was carrying with hunger. When his wife said she would first feed the child and come back soon he said: You first attend on me; let someone else look after it.

The chicory patient wants even his child to press his leg when it is painful. If it refuses he threatens that he will not do anything for it, such as buying toys and so on. Weeps if he or she becomes helpless.

What is the meaning of friendship if he does not do this small thing for me He feels that his friend or child should attend to his needs.

Wants appreciation I have done so many things for my daughter But, after marriage, she does not care even to pay a courtesy visit to me (It should be noted here that this is not a symptom of WILLOW.

Crab Apple and Chicory: A comparison:

Under CRAB APPLE we see that a patient needing that remedy wants to get rid of something undesirable which makes him look ugly or causes disturbance or is a source of infection. The CRAB APPLE patients use the words if only.... The chicory patient too uses the expression if only... but there is a difference between the two patients in respect of this usage. Let us examine this.

The Chicory type of person cannot live without a companion or a material thing.

A girl once lost a pen which she had for a very long time It had been give as a gift by her uncle. She remarked Its cost is Rs.200/-. But it is not the monetary value that I am bothered about now. I Cannot lose that particular pen because it has much sentimental value for me. It was given by my uncle who was very dear to me.

Company ameliorates, and loneliness aggravates would be better phrase to describe the picture of chicory. (Ars., kali- c., Lyc., Mes., Phos., Stram., etc. in homoeopathy). see also MIMULUS for comparison between it and chicory.

The chicory type of person wants someone to keep him company or to attend on him though such aid may be a very very minor one. Or, he may want a vehicle to transport him comfortably. and quickly or it may be money which will give him all comforts. He is particular about one things and will persist till he gets it.

Things that are useless or cause disturbance have to be removed. This is the characteristic of CRAB APPLE. Things that would be helpful or give comfort are needed. This is the characteristic of Chicory.

One should not confound love or affection with selfishness one does not reprimand ones child if the latter commits a grave mistake. This is not because of his affection for the child but only because he cannot bear to see him when getting punishment.

MIMULUS and Chicory: A Comparison

A lawyer who used to drive his car himself once described his attitude of mind thus: whenever I go out in my car I take someone with me. Supposing I meet with an accident. Is it not necessary to have someone by my side who will attend on me and take me to a hospital.

A numerologist who was practising Bach remedies also, Prescribed him ASPEN and MIMULUS the two chief remedies for fear but they had no effect on him. The lawyer-patient, therefore, asked us whether flower remedies would suit only some individuals. He was told that, if correctly prescribed, there is no question of the remedy not acting if there is not effect it should only be concluded either that the selection was wrong or the remedy was not genuine.

We carefully analysed his symptoms. It should be noted here that it is not that fear of accident that haunted him so much as the idea of being left along. (That lawyer I did not stop to think that the accident might injure his companion too) asked about fear of accident, he remarked I am not afraid of it. Let me have it but I should have someone to take me to a hospital. This is more a case of fear of being left alone and lying unattended on the road than the fear of itself accident itself. Yearning for company is the chief symptom in his case. Chicory was prescribed and a month later he remarked: Nowadays I do not feel the necessity of taking any one with me while traveling in my car.

The chicory patient cannot live alone in a house, cannot go alone to a movie. He is prepared even to pay for a ticket for anyone who would accompany him. It is not his generosity that makes him ready to spend for another person. It is out of selfishness (to have company) that he is prepared to spend for others. Being in the company of some one dear to us is more important for him than possessing the money.

Many times, even experience practitioners prescribe MIMULUS where Chicory would be more appropriate and it is worth comparing the two remedies. I am not afraid of robbers or ghosts, but in the night I cannot sleep alone; I should have at least a child for company. In that case I can sleep in an old bungalow that is being haunted by ghosts. This is what a chicory type of person says.

For selfishness this is the only remedy among Bach remedies. He will not mind spending anything for himself; but for buying a saree for his wife he will think twice and will try to buy the cheapest variety.

The Chicory patient is prepared to sacrifice a big thing for the sake of a less important one. What we otherwise call sentimental feeling or sentimental attachment. one has a pen given as a gift by someone else. If he loses it and if you offer him a better quality pen that is costlier, he will not accept. I am prepared even to spare a hundred rupees in only someone can trace it. If a toy is broken the child wants the very same type and the same colour. A bigger or better toy cannot satisfy it.

A Chicory type that we meet frequently is described below.

The son of a multimillionaire was in love with a girl coming from a poor family. His father told him that if he was not willing to forget her and marry a rich girl proposed by him then he (the son) would not get even a single penny from his wealth. The son replied. I am prepared to forsake all the inheritance for the sake of that girl whom I love so much Nothing is greater for me than she The typical chicory patient indeed. Here, we are not concerned with whether it is not good not to give much importance to money it is our object to describe the words used by the chicory type of people.

Love-pangs, love sickness are the terms for the symptoms of chicory. The boy will say, nothing is greater for me in the world than my girl-friend.

Another boy in love with a girl who did not reciprocate his love said If only someone can make her accept me, I will do anything for him This is yearning to possess a person.

A lady of 55 was in grief when her only son of twenty-two died of jaundice, which was a dreaded disease in those days. She could not be consoled and in a few days she developed fever and consequent to the prolonged fever, anaemia developed and she died of the disease (The equivalent homoeopathic remedy is phosphoric Acid.) Chicory would have cured her of her fever and anaemia and thus she could have been saved and also made to bear the loss. Allopathic and other medicines any cure fever and anaemia, but not the love-pang and so in such types of treatment, there are relapses.

To go anywhere or do any work, the Chicory type of person wants the assistance or company of someone, though he can go and do the job himself and alone. To be in the company of our men. Solitude is unbearable for him.

A case of hydrocele was beautifully cured with Chicory alone. Prior to coming to us, surgery was suggested for his case to a which he said: I don't, mind the operation. But if I go to a Government hospital or a private nursing home where I would be a stranger I feel that may not bestow all necessary attention on me. They will do it in their usual way without any special care and I am afraid if anything goes wrong I may die during the operation. I am not afraid of the operation. But it should be carried out by a surgeon who is familiar with me and thus I can be confident of getting the best personal attention. He does not insist on a better or more qualified surgeon but one who is familiar to him so that because of intimacy that surgeon will take all precautionary measures and thus will avoid risks.

Since he could not get himself introduced to a surgeon with whom he may thus become closely acquainted, he was postponing the operations.

He was suggested to try our tiny pills by a friend of him. Chicory (four dram pills) was given and after a month the swelling came down to one-fourth. He remarked: Nowadays I don't know why... I don't feel that I must have a friendly surgeon. I am thinking of going to a general hospital or any nursing home. He was told to continue the medicine for some more time. Within two months the hydrocele was cured and there was no need for any surgical help.

Steals pencils, papers etc. From office though he is not going to use them. He simply wants to possess them. Crazy for beautiful calendars or diaries. He may not use any. He simply wants to keep them with him. He gets a sense of satisfaction by merely keeping them. All these points to the remedy chicory.

Kleptomania: If it is owing to an irresistible desire to steal, then cherry plum is the remedy. If he deliberately does it, then it is a case needing Chicory remedy.

The Chicory patient feels glad when his physician gives him priority over other patients waiting for their turn If he is vine type of person he looks down upon the waiting patients to impress upon them that he being a big man, the doctor has given him priority, whereas the chicory patient feels gratitude to the physician for giving him preference. He also feels secure if he has a sense of intimacy with the physician.

The Chicory type of person sometimes feels pleasure in demonstrating to others that he has a quality in him which others do not have--not that he thereby wants to be superior to or greater than others. It merely gives him some joy to possess an imported can which others do not have in that town.

He says with pride; He is our family physician; does not charge much. (Look at the word our to which he gives some stress.

The Chicory patients feels glad when he is treated nicely or is given some allowance concession. He wants to have such friends as will do whatever he wants. The VINE type of person keeps several servants to show others that he is rich and also commands his servants in the presence of others. The Chicory patients keep a servant to attend to his needs and also to give company in case he is alone though the servant has not much work to do. The mere presence of someone to give him company is his need.

Wants more than what is needed or what is just needed. Almost all those who accept bribe in government offices are Chicory type of patients.

A lady of Chicory type: I feel happy during holidays because my husband is at home. If he can be at home all the days of the week it would be a great things for me. Loneliness is unbearable to her on week days when her husband goes to his office. when one goes on tour and the separation from family members is unbearable, chicory will give strength of mind to bear the loneliness.

The Chicory type of persons want to be amidst people with whom he is intimate or familiar so that he can freely ask without hesitation what he wants..

Avarice is also a symptoms of this remedy. Theft is normally committed out of necessity due to poverty. But stealing may be due to a desire to possess things. Steals others pens Not because he cannot afford to buy but he wants to have things without paying (selfishness). Will not part with his things He cannot allow others to use his things. Does not like others entering his room and using the things in it.

When he buys a thing in a shop he will ask for reduction of prices. Say it is worth fifty rupees; he will ask for some concession. Always bargaining. Not because he has not got fifty rupees. But saving some thing gives him pleasure. If he is poor and cannot afford it, naturally he will ask for a quality or make with a limited price. The Chicory person is not concerned with the cost, but what he wants is that the shop-keeper should give him some reduction.

Chicory people desire appreciation and praise.

I have done so much for him; but in the end he dodged me and went away.

I have helped him so much; not even a word of appreciation have I got.

If he is not helping me as a friend, then what is the meaning of friendship?

Let us now see how the chicory mentality operates in our day-to-day life.

If it is our child we will sacrifice anything; will not scold it if it does mischief. But if it is somebody else's child then we will not show much consideration.

He cannot go alone for shopping or to see a movie; or to new place. In a strange place, without someone with me who is known to me, I would feel I am a stranger. It is not fear of being alone, but he feels comfortable in company though such company may not be necessary otherwise, except giving a mental satisfaction.

A wife tells her husband when he leaves the home for office Please come quickly in the evening. I don't like to be alone for very long.

There is a lot of difference between affection we do many things for our children without the thought of return. But the selfish person who needs Chicory will say; I have done so many things for my daughter. But she does not care for me when I am old. In a house there are two children. Their father brings home a toy. Both the children quarrel to possess it. Chicory is the remedy for both of them and they will come to an agreement after taking chicory, as to who should possess it or one keeping in the morning and the other in the evening. Chicory type quarrel for their shares and rights. The AGRIMONY type of person on the contrary, never quarrels. The former wants to possess things and so he goes to any extreme in quarreling. the latter wants peace of mind. In acute diseases, a symptom that can be observed often by us and in which chicory would be useful is that for even minor things which he himself can take, he likes someone to fetch it for him. The assistance needed is not because of his inability but it merely gives him some satisfaction to get the help from others. Some patients even exaggerate their troubles to attract attention and thus get sympathy and consequent help sometimes the Nurse will have the greatest trouble from a patient in bed who is of the chicory type. She will say Even for odd things he wants me now and then.

In the Chicory type of person occupies the post of Manager or Head of an Institution he would become a headache for the staff. Whenever he happens to glance at any member of the staff he will give some directions, even unnecessarily. He feels happy to make others do things in the way he wants it, If he dominates much then, of course, he needs VINE. The chicory type of parent always gives some directions or other to his children. For all trifles they want the child to help them.

A chicory type of person becomes an annoyance to other. He will always be telling someone to do this or that and such things should be done in the exact way as told by him.