THAT DAMN WEED! ~DANDELION~

(Derived from dents de lion meaning ‘teeth of the lion’, a reference to its jagged leaves)

Dandelion is one of the most nutritious, healing plants we possess, and yes….it grows like a weed! And, its one of my favourite plants. So humble. So mistreated. And yet so sunny and tenacious!

I have to say that, in todays enlightened world, I am constantly amazed at how we have lost sight of the remarkable healing properties of so many common plants. Plants that were once considered medicine! How did they get forgotten? Was it because of the pharmaceutical company’s providing ‘better’ medicine? Or was it just that the new drugs were so much easier to take? No preparation required! Or did the Doctor tell us this was the ‘way to heal’?

The humble dandelion is primarily a detoxifier and a diuretic and has historically been used to treat liver and kidney ailments. And still is to some extent today. Let me ask you this…..Have you ever taken an over-the-counter treatment for overindulgence? Whether it was alcohol or food? I can almost guarantee that the treatment you used contained Dandelion (probably together with Milk Thistle, another excellent detoxifier).

Dandelion is an extremely effective bile stimulant which helps to break down gall stones, soothes chronic rheumatism, clears gout, eases painful and stiff joints and also aids fever, constipation and insomnia.

The milky latex in the stems and at the flower base is an excellent treatment for warts, corns and verrucas. Apply the latex 2 to 3 times per day until the growth dies/subsides.

The whole plant, from root to blossom is edible with a slightly bitter, chicory-like flavour.

It contains Vitamins A, K, C, B6 plus Iron, Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium

Plus the root can even be roasted to create a caffeine free coffee.

There are many ways to consume dandelions. Eating the leaves and flowers in a salad or cooking the leaves as one would spinach. Putting chopped up leaves into stews and other dishes. Using the flowers, which are full of flavonoids, to make a tea, or make a wine tonic (see below).

I personally make an infused oil with dandelions, and olive oil, which I then use to make my skin creams with. Being so rich in antioxidants it can only help in the fight against all the free radicals our skin has to deal with on a daily basis. I also put dandelion leaves into my dogs food on a regularly, to help them maintain a healthy digestive system, and will feed dandelions, daily, if one of them appears to be getting biliary, it definitely stops that in its tracks. That is because biliary affects the liver.

In rural areas of Europe, Dandelion Tonic Wine is still made today. It is a diuretic and digestive aid. A simple recipe is as follows:

Boil 2 cups of flowers in 2 litres of water. Add 1 cup of honey, 10 cloves, 2 star anise and the juice of 4 lemons. Simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on. Cool. Strain. Add 1 litre of wine. Drink a glass daily. (Edible & Medicinal Flowers, Margaret Roberts)

What follows is an extensive list of beneficial, and possibly beneficial, qualities of Dandelion:

Digestion – Dandelions have long been used as a traditional remedy for constipation and other digestive issues.

Skin Health – A 2015 Canadian study on skin cells, found that dandelion could reduce the negative impact of UVB light.

Antioxidants – Dandelions contain beta-carotene which is an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage. The flowers are also full of polyphenols, which are also a type of antioxidant.

Immune System – Researchers have found dandelions to contain both antiviral and antibacterial properties. For example, one 2014 study found that dandelions helped to limit the growth of hepatitis B.

Cholesterol – In several studies it has been found that dandelion root and leaf could help to lower cholesterol and reduce fat levels in the liver.

Blood Sugar – A study from Aarhus University in Denmark (2016) suggested that dandelion extract stimulates the pancreatic cells to produce insulin.

Inflammation – In a study done in 2014 it was found that chemicals present in dandelions had a positive effect on reducing inflammation.

Blood Pressure – As dandelions are a good source of potassium they could help to reduce blood pressure

Weight Loss – It is said that, because dandelions can improve carbohydrate metabolism and reduce fat absorption, they could help reduce weight gain.

Cancer – Some limited, but positive, research has shown that dandelions may help reduce the growth of certain types of cancer. So far this has only been tested on cells, with a 2012 study from the University of Windsor in Canada reporting that dandelion root extract was able to induce apoptosis in pancreatic and prostate cells, either slowing their growth or preventing their spread. Several later studies have shown that dandelion root extracts were able to trigger apoptosis in leukemia and melanoma (www.verywellhealth.com)

So…..all in all a rather remarkable weed!

Have you used Dandelion as a treatment of any sort?

Have you ever tried Dandelion wine or coffee?