It is said that what we look for is often right in front of our nose, and in our search, we don’t see it. If I were to pick the top 5 prolific herbs found around my home, dandelion would is number 1 on the list & likely number 1 for health benefits. It really is a queen of herbs plant.
Every spring, Mother Nature rolls out her yellow carpet of Dandelions that often go unappreciated, and even poisoned as an unwanted weed. In Switzerland, the Dandelion is a wildflower and is illegal to pick. Conversely, in the USA a lot of money is spent on pesticides to remove dandelions. Aside from the toxic effects of the sprays on our children, we are missing out on a real gift from nature.
If you and your neighbors don’t spray your grass and gardens with pesticides, then consider the following. Dandelions provide free, vital and highly nutritious food for 2-4 months each year.
Dandelion greens are delicious in salads, sauteed or steamed. The yellow part of the flower are also edible and tasty (but avoid the green sepals at the base of the flower because they are very bitter). The roots also provide great nutrition, although they are most potent from the late fall to early spring. Sauteed roots are also yummy, especially with other vegetables.
Now for the nutrition appeal!
Dandelion leaves are perhaps the most nutritious vegetable, wild or cultivated.
They have more beta carotene than carrots, and more iron and calcium than spinach. They also contain vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, E, P, D, and contain biotin, inosiol, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc.
Dandelion roots contains sugar inulin and many medicinal substances. Unlike refined sugar, its inulin does not cause a rapid production of insulin.
Dandelions are considered a tonic that strengthens the entire body, and especially the liver and gall bladder (promoting bile flow, reducing bile duct inflammation, and removing gall stones (due to containing taraxacin).
The root is also good for chronic hepatitis, reducing jaundice and liver swelling, and healing inmach or bowel, or with acute inflammation.digestion caused by insufficient bile. Once precaution is to not eat Dandelion root with irritable stomach & bowel.
The root and leaf offer gentle diuretic action for the kidneys, cleansing the blood and recycling nutrients more effectively. More importantly, its diuretic action does not leach potassium from the body like pharmaceutical diuretics.
Dandelions help many organs including bladder, spleen, stomach, intestines, and pancreas. It also helps relieve stress.
Leaf infusion is good at dinner time, producing proper levels of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. Externally, the leaf’s milky sap is applied to to warts, pimples, calluses, moles, and sores.
There are so many health benefits to Dandelion, and moreover, it is cultivated for us without us lifting a finger to make them grow. The lazy-way to garden. It is truly Mother Natures gift to us in every way, and so I call Dandelion the ‘Queen of Herbs.’
