Dandelion/Taraxacum officinale
Parts used: Roots, flowers, leaves
Also known as: Blowball, Cankerwort, Common Dandelion, Dandelion Herb, Leontodon taracum, Lion’s Tooth, Pissenlit, Priest’s Crown, Swine Snout, Taraxaci herba, Taraxacum vulgare, Wild Endive, Pee in the Bed, Lions Teeth, Fairy Clock, Clock, Clock Flowers, Clocks and Watches, Farmers Clocks, Old Mans Clock, One Clock, Wetweed, Blowball, Cankerwort, Lionstooth, Priests Crown, Puffball, Swinesnout, White Endive, Wild Endive and Pissa-a-beds. Dandelion, comes from Dents Lioness, medieval Latin, or Dent de Lion, French, both meaning tooth of the lion.
Dandelion’s are Blood purifiers and builder. They are high in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium.
History:
The dandelion is hated by men who strive for a golf-course swath of grass in their yards. But is also a herald of spring beloved by children. Children around the world delight in presenting their mothers with tight-fisted bouquets of vivid yellow and love to blow the o’clocks on the puffy seed heads. If the delight of children is not reason enough to appreciate the common dandelions. The medicinal benefits and culinary applications of this carefree plant ought to garner grudging respect.
The dandelion’s use as a medicinal herb reaches far back into Chinese history. The Arabs were the next to recognize its usefulness and wrote about it around the 11th century. It was they who taught Europeans about its medicinal benefits.
When the Mayflower arrived in 1620, there were no dandelions in North America. By 1671, they were everywhere. They were introduced to America by European immigrants whose cultures used dandelions as part of their regular diet.
Benefits/Treats:
Contains all the nutritive salts for the blood. Dandelion restores and balances the blood so anemia that is caused by deficiencies of these blood salts disappears. It is used to lower blood pressure, helps build energy and endurance. Overweight people when losing weight can become over acidic. These acids in the blood are destroyed by dandelion. One of the best liver cleansers. It increases the activity of the liver and the flow of bile into the intestines.
It is fantastic for use in hepatitis.
Increases activity of the pancreas and the spleen.
Good for the female organs.
Helps open urinary passages.
Used to treat skin diseases.
High in calcium, rich in Iron, low calories, loaded with antioxidants, ultimate detox and cleansing, lots of minerals, 14% protein, multivitamin green.
Dandelion leaves provide vitamins A and C, (the vitamin A content is higher than that of carrots)
Dandelion flowers are one of the best sources of lecithin, a nutrient that elevates the brains acetylcholine and may play a role in boosting memory and mental focus. Lecithin is also good for liver problems. Dandelion root taraxacin, a hepatic stimulant, insulin, as sugar, lacvulin, choline (a basic constituent of lecithin), phytosterols, (which prevent the body from accumulating cholesterol), and potash, (a diuretic).
Dandelion root helps the body dispose of unwanted skin bacteria. It also stimulates digestion and supports the liver – the major organ that helps rid the body of toxins and excess hormones, including the androgens that trigger acne breakouts.
Dandelion root contains bitter principles that have a tonic effect on the liver and digestive system. It is also a natural diureticthat doesn’t rob the body of potassium. This detoxifying, diuretic action also earns dandelion a place in many herbal weight loss formulations. In recent studies, Taraxacum officinalis was shown to have a positive effect on weight management. Dandelion root also contains sugars and starches easily assimilated by diabetics, and can be incorporated into a diet meant to help control blood sugar levels.
Constituents/ Properties:
Constituents: the bitter principle taraxacin, triterpenes (including taraxol and taraxasterol), sterols, inulin, sugars, pectin, glycosides, choline, phenolic acids, asparagine, vitamins, potassium. leaves: lutein, violaxan-thin, and other carotenoids; bitter substance
Properties: * AntiCancer * Bitter * Cholagogue * Depurative * Diuretic * Galactagogue * Stomachic * Tonic
Ways to prepare Dandelion root/ leaf:
Preparation Methods & Dosage : All parts of the dandelion are used for food and medicine, the roots are roasted and used in herbal decoctions, the leaves and crowns for salads and cooked greens, the flowers for making dandelion wine, and the juice to cure warts and blisters.
Drink dandelion root tea to eliminate the toxins that cause skin breakouts and acne.
Drink a cup of dandelion tea in the morning to increase regularity. It is a natural diuretic, and gentle laxative that doesn’t rob the body of potassium.
Dandelion flowers are a feline safe pain reliever. (cats cannot tolerate aspirin) Drop a generous handful in near-boiling water. When the water has darkened, it can be cooled and administered with a dropper.
Squeeze the juice of a dandelion flower stem and apply the milky juice to a wart and leave it to dry on. Repeat as necessarily until wart falls off.
Combos / Recipes:
Chopped dandelion root can be combined with myrrh to make a poultice for boils and abscesses, with honeysuckle flowers to make a tea to be drunk to treat boils and abscesses, with skullcap and/or chrysanthemum flowers to make a tea to be drunk to treat sore eyes, or with heal-all to treat hard phlegm in bronchitis. Can also be administered in capsule or extract form for convenience.
Dandelion and bilberry “coffee”:
This dark, sweet, and spicy herbal combo also tastes great which makes it a pleasure to include a morning cup in your daily routine. Helpful for heart health, and improved circulation, gout and arthritis.
1 tablespoon dandelion root
2 teaspoons tablespoon dried ginger
1 tablespoon bilberry fruits
3 cups of water
Additions:Cinnamon, cardamom, ramon nut
Recipe Instructions: Decoction :Bring to a boil slowly over low heat, simmer for 10 minutes, then serve hot.
Precautions:
Those who suffer from sensitivity to latex should not harvest their own dandelion leaves, since the stem of the dandelion contains a liquid latex substance that could trigger an allergic skin reaction.
Because the FDA does not oversee the production of dandelion herbal products, the risk exists for contamination of the product from pesticides and other chemicals. As a general safety precaution, do not give dandelion products to children, pregnant women or nursing mothers, unless directed to do so by a doctor.
Resources:
http://wellnessmama.com/5680/herb-profile-dandelion/
http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail92.php
http://suite101.com/article/dandelion-history-and-culture-a21402
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