Dandelions! This Common Weed is a Wonderful Spring Tonic

Those Glorious Dandelions! Taraxacum officinale (composite family)

Spring is coming! Starting about this time every year I find myself craving bitter flavors. My body is longing to cleanse itself of toxins accumulated over a long winter of holiday indulgence, rich foods and various colds & flus. I am aware of an overall stagnation of energy in the digestion, kidneys and liver.

I am always so amazed at how much better I feel when I start using dandelion in the spring! All that stagnated liver/kidney/stomach energy lifts and I feel renewed!

This craving for bitter flavors always has me out searching for those young green dandelion leaves popping up everywhere about now. I eat them fresh in salads or just munch on them throughout the day. I also strain and bottle the dandelion root tincture that I put up in the late fall.

This common "weed" of the composite family is a powerful restorative to the liver. It's also rich in minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium and zinc, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3,and C. Ounce for ounce, dandelion contains more carotene than carrots.

Dandelion leaves act as a diuretic to help cleanse the bladder and urinary tract. They help relieve water retention associated with PMS.

Dandelion also cleanses the blood and liver, and increases bile production. It reduces serum cholesterol and uric acid levels and improves the functioning of the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and stomach.

Toning the kidneys and liver is one of the best things we can do for our overall health. Especially women! A strong, healthy liver will allow us to process and excrete hormones. It's also vital for a healthy immune system.

All parts of the dandelion plants are usable, but they have different properties and should be harvested at the appropriate times.

Young Leaves have tonic properties and are picked in the spring and eaten raw in salads. If you find the taste too bitter try chopping them as fine as possible and mixing them with other raw greens.

Mature Leaves have powerful diuretiv properties. They are picked in early summer before the plant blooms. These are the leaves I harvest and dry for tea. They can also be made into tinctures. These gorgeous, dark green leaves are loaded with minerals and vitamins!

When picking dandelion leaves, look for dark green, smoothe leaves (dandelion leaves are not fuzzy.) Try to avoid picking under powerlines or close to roads.

Here's my favorite thing to do with the summer dandelion leaves:

Dandelion Juice!

Pick a colander full of dandelion leaves and rinse them really well under cool water. Run them through the juicer with 1/2 an apple. This will make a nice shot glass full of delicious, nutritious juice. You will feel a nice little zing with this lovely tonic!

Dandelion Roots Dandelion roots act as a blood purifier that helps the kidneys and liver to remove toxins and poisons from the blood. They act as a mild laxative and help improve digestion. The roots are also beneficial for skin conditions such as boils, abscesses and eczema. They have been used for centuries to improve jaundice. Ideally, you want to use the roots of 2 year old plants. In the late fall the roots will contain the highest concentration of inulin. Dig the whole plant up and hang upside down to dry in a cool, dark place. The roots grow quite long, so dig deep! The dried or fresh roots can be used to make tinctures. Dried roots can be powdered for capsules or used in infusions.

Dandelion Flowers

For a tasty, easy-to-make tonic wine try this:

Pick dandelion flowers on a warm, dry day.

Macerate 1 cup (60 g) flowers and steep in 4 cups (1 liter) white wine for 1 month in an airtight container. Strain out the flowers and sweeten to taste with a little bit of honey if desired.

This a nice tonic for the gallbladder.

©2005 Cori Young is a writer and herbalist. Visit her website HerbalRemediesInfo.com

Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address(http://www.wellnesswallcharts.com) in hyperlink for other sites. Author bio at end of article must be included as is - with website hyperlinked. Please send a courtesy link or email when and where you publish article to article@wellnesswallcharts.com

Thank you!

---

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medicine used to treat... Read More

Acid Reflux and Heartburn Natural Remedies Part I

Here is a list of natural remedies that you can... Read More

Arthritis and Aromatherapy

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and is characterized... Read More

The 7 Best Ways To Use Your Subconscious for Pain Relief

Your subconscious has influence over 7 different factors that could... Read More

Honey - Natural Treatment for Wounds and Burns

Honey is a highly concentrated sugar solution produced by honeybees.... Read More

A Constipation Home Remedy - Cayenne

Cayenne is a constipation home remedy that is effective in... Read More

As The Primary Caregiver, Should I Journal My Feelings About Alzheimer?s Disease?

Being a caregiver is stressful and difficult. It involves contradictory... Read More

Cause Of Stuttering

When a person has a stutter or a parent realises... Read More

Iridology: A Natural Health 101 Article

What It IsIridology is the art of discovering weaknesses in... Read More

Three Immune System Building Natural Remedies

Here are three products that can help you elevate your... Read More

Magnetic Energy and DNA

Magnetic energy has been in use for reducing pain and... Read More

Alternative Health Care is Under Attack by a Hidden Standard - The Unfortunate Case of Dr. Shortt

A recent case in the news highlights an alarming trend... Read More

Mental Anchors

Have you ever noticed when you remember something pleasant in... Read More

Chiropractors: Theyre on My Team!

Whenever I see the title "men's health", it conjures up... Read More

Can I Be Hypnotised?

If you are conscious, have an IQ higher than about... Read More

The Origins of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy, which involves the use of essential oils to treat... Read More

Organic Juices for Constipation

Organic fresh made juices have cleansing and laxative action, which... Read More

Five Simple Steps For Treating Heel Pain

If you experience a sharp pain in your heel at... Read More

Focus Your Light: Earning Money From Home When You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome /Fibromyalgia

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome /Fibromyalgia makes you extremely tired, exhausted and... Read More

At-Home Relief For Ingrown Hairs

#1 Use Antibiotic SoapAntibiotic soap helps to clear up and... Read More

Pain Anatomy 101: How Pain Works, And How Your Subconscious May Be Able to Short-Circuit It

In building a strategy for pain relief it may be... Read More

Anxiety

Anxiety is a pernicious little devil; it can hold us... Read More

Water: The Best Medication Ever Created!

How much water do you drink every day? The majority... Read More

Benefits of Human Growth Hormone ? HGH Enhancing Products

Human Growth Hormone has often been referred to as the... Read More

A Lifestyle Approach to Remedy Snoring

If you want to remedy snoring, you have to find... Read More

Essential Oils Blends and Uses

Better Living With Essential OilsPractical formulas you can use in... Read More

How To Use Cascara Sagrada as a Constipation Remedy

Cascara Sagrada comes from the bark of the buckthorn tree.... Read More

Allergy Approaches through Lifestyle

What we do is just as powerful as what we... Read More

Herbal Remedies to the Rescue!

Since the dawn of civilization, man has always turned to... Read More

Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility

For thousands of years knowledge of the herbs and wild... Read More

Why DO the Japanese Have the Longest Lifespan? Part 2: Live the Lifestyle

Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month... Read More

Oops! One Size DOESNT Fit All

The Stop Smoking Hypnosis people.The ancient Greeks certainly had their... Read More

Beating Your Neck, Back and Shoulder Pain

Suffering from neck, back and shoulder pain? If you are,... Read More