Raddicio & Oriental Medicine

Lourdes González, A.P., M.A, L.Ac ., M.M.Q. Certified Specialist – National Board of Acupuncture

Today I’m sharing about Radicchio - the misunderstood child of bitter vegetables. This photo shows the beneficial but often misunderstood radicchio, which is one of the bitter vegetables. It belongs to the chicory family, whose “cousins” include lettuce, calendula, artichoke, and also dandelion.

Chicories are native to the Mediterranean region and have been used both culinarily and medicinally since ancient times in Greece and Rome for their detoxifying power.

From the perspective of the Five Elements, and more specifically the five tastes, radicchio is classified under the bitter taste (with a hint of spiciness), which corresponds to the Fire Element. Its dark red and white leaves are commonly used in salads. If cooked, its taste becomes less bitter, but it then loses many of its healing properties.

Radicchio is high in antioxidants, such as polyphenols – compounds that naturally occur mainly in fruits and vegetables, with around 8,000 identified. The most studied group of polyphenols is the flavonoids.

Clinical studies have shown that these help combat free radicals and contribute to slowing the cellular oxidation process, helping prevent inflammation in the body and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, and neurodegenerative disorders. This indicates that polyphenols help prevent disease and strengthen the immune system.

Radicchio has a high water content and is rich in fiber, which helps keep the body hydrated and supports healthy bowel movements by cleansing the intestines. It is considered antiparasitic (like all its chicory family relatives). Speaking again about the bitter taste and its benefits, we can say it helps detoxify the liver and gallbladder, which in turn helps cleanse the blood, including issues related to cholesterol. The bitter taste also helps eliminate excess heat in the body, which in Oriental medicine is linked to high levels of inflammation.

In Health, Until next time

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