Common Dandelion

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF DANDELION From the point of view of its chemical composition dandelion is literally a cocktail of beneficial, medicinal and active substances. There is an abundance of vitamins - especially A, B2, C and D. Along with that, there are a plethora of minerals and other substances hidden in this tiny plant. They include tannins, fructose, phytosterols, insulin, slime, amino acids, sodium, potassium, manganese, sulfur, silicic acid, L-ascorbic acid and phosphorus. Dandelion also contains bitter substances like taraxin, taraxasterin and lactapturin. However, the content of some substances fluctuates depending on the season. For example, in the fall, inulin content is highest, while taraxin gains strength over the summer months - in July and August.

ROOT (Radix taraxaci) When used for culinary purposes, the best time to harvest dandelion roots is before the plants blossom, i.e. in early spring (March - April), or fall (September - October) when harvesting for medicinal purposes. Choose the largest and most vigorous plants, leaving smaller dandelions alone. Not only do these have small roots, but they are excellent food for bees, beetles and birds. Release the root from the ground using a garden fork. Be careful not to break or damage the root as the medicinal properties lie within the precious sap housed in these tough tubers. Gently shake the root to remove extra soil and wash thoroughly. Scrub roots well before cutting. Slice thick roots lengthwise into strips and apply artificial heat to dry them, making sure the temperature does not exceed 122°F (50°C). If dried correctly, the outer flesh of the dandelion root should have a dark color while the inner flesh should be creamy white and easy to break. The roots should not be smelly and should have a bitterish taste. If not dried properly, the roots will go mouldy. Wrap the dried roots in hard paper and keep in a dry and dark place. The root is especially suitable for the treatment of constipation, digestive problems and heartburn. It is also suitable to be used during pregnancy and as a support for childbirth.

Tip: Dandelion tincture

How to make it ? To make a tincture, place dandelion root in a jar and cover with 80 proof (40%) vodka. Cover tightly and allow to steep 4-6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and remove the plant material. Store in a dark glass bottle. Label and date. What is it good for? It supports the function of liver and gallbladder, and it also helps in improving digestion. It is advisable to take 1-2 teaspoons of dandelion tincture a day. Alternatively, a half to one teaspoon of dried root can be used.

Dandelion coffee

To get a delicious caffeine-free alternative to coffee grind the dried and roasted dandelion root finely and use it as any other coffee substitute, e.g. chicory. Just pour boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the powder to make a cup of a tasty hot drink.

LEAVES (Folium taraxaci) Dandelion leaves should ideally be harvested from May to September. The stalks are to be harvested in March and April. Dry the leaves in a thin layer of up to 1.5-2in (4-5cm) in a shady and ventilated place. Turn the leaves over several time while drying. If dried properly, the dandelions leaves should keep their fresh green color. If they darken, they cannot be used. Preserve the dried leaves the same way you preserve the roots, i.e. wrapped in paper or in paper bags. Store in a dry and dark place. The leaves help to relieve swelling, cleanse the liver and digestive tract, relieve heartburn symptoms and are also suitable in pregnancy and during childbirth.

Tip: Leaves as a delicacy

FLOWERS (Flos taraxaci) Fresh dandelion flowers are not only tasty but very healing. They are especially treasured for their mild analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, making them an excellent addition to products designed for sore muscles or other external aches and pains. They’re also traditionally used in preparations to heal rough chapped skin. Patients suffering from liver diseases should eat at least five dandelion flowers a day, and patients with diabetes should eat even more. For optimal results, it is advisable to adhere to this treatment for at least a month, ideally throughout the flowering period. During the treatment, the swelling of the glands will go down and patients with metabolic disorders will feel better. The flow

In the kitchen we ideally process fresh leaves thatdo not yet contain milk. They are a valuable source of vitamin C and taste great in fresh spring vegetable salads as well as in soup. When used to season soup, do not cook the leaves, but instead sprinkle the hot soup with finely chopped fresh leaves to add vitamins and minerals to the dish. Dandelion has 30 times more vitamin C and 25 times more magnesium than lettuce.

Tip: Dandelion vinegar

ers are also harvested to be used to make dandelion honey. Dandelion honey is actually dandelion syrup; we humans cannot even come close to making any type of honey that is similar to the honey bees’ honey. However, it does resemble honey in consistency and color, and shares with it some therapeutic benefits. In spring it cleanses our body of any toxins accumulated over winter, and throughout the year it is commonly consumed for its help with digestive and liver health, and also used for various skin concerns. Like all honeys, dandelion also boasts a good nutritional content, being a good source of vitamins, dietary minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, natural sugars, pollen and other elements with nutritional value.

Thoroughly wash 20 dandelion leaves, add 10 flowers and scrubbed dandelion root, then chop into medium-sized pieces. Stuff a jar with those pieces and pour in cold organic cider vinegar until the dandelions are covered. Shake well and leave in a cupboard for 12 days. Then strain through an unbleached coffee filter into clean, sterilized jars. Replace the old leaves and flowers with fresh ones and leave the liquid to stand in a sunny spot for a further 12 days. Then filter again, pour into a clean jar and add a few more fresh leaves. Dandelion vinegar cleanses the body, improves metabolic function, moderates hypertension, lowers cholesterol, prevents osteoporosis, improves bone health and supports healthy skin tone.

HEALTH EFFECTS Dandelion has held a unique place in herbal medicine since time immemorial. Ancient Greeks used dandelion milk against freckles and spots on the skin, or to treat eye inflammation, fatigue and weakness. Modern day herbalists and healers primarily use the healing properties of dandelion internally. So, where and how does it help? Herbalist Judith Berger calls dandelion: “A supportive plant in the deepest sense” And goes on to say that: “It is no accident that dandelion grows so abundantly in places which are heavily populated. Though we imagine that the cure for our ills are complicated, exotic, and expensive, often the plants which are meant to be our constant companions love to settle at our feet.” All parts of the plant are medicinal: root, stem, leaves, and flowers! This is a plant that will not give up on you. This is a plant that will stick it out with you, healing and nourishing deeply on multiple levels and across many organ systems to bring your vital life force bubbling to the surface.

Spring fever You would struggle to find a better natural remedy for spring fever. It actually does not need to be looked for, since it is available so abundantly around us. Dandelion revives and activates metabolism. It dehydrates and detoxifies, and a dandelion tea or juice is perfect for a springtime makeover. The young leaves go very nicely in a salad or can be chopped and used as seasoning. activity and has a positive effect on blood circulation and blood cleansing.

Bile duct Last, but not least, another health benefit of dandelion is that the bitter substances it contains stimulate the flow of bile into the duodenum and promote peristalsis in the bile duct. At the same time, they can very effectively dissolve small gallbladder stones.

Liver Dandelion is one of the most effective natural remedies. For centuries, it has historically been used for liver complaints and cleansing. If the liver is damaged, dandelion can regenerate it. If you often drink alcohol, or if you regularly take medication, then dandelion should become a part of your daily diet. The leaves and root have a generally strong, detoxifying effect, while the root has a good cleansing effect on the liver. Because of these properties, dandelion is also suitable for diseases such as mononucleosis, jaundice and cirrhosis.

Constipation Dandelion is not only a suitable prevention of hemorrhoids, it can also directly treat constipation. Thanks to the substances it contains dandelion can stimulate bowel movement and thus facilitate the excretion of stools. Similar effects were observed in patients with delayed urinary excretion as well as kidney stones.

Digestive system As we have already indicated, thanks to the high content of bitter substances, dandelion supports a healthy digestive tract and boosts appetite. Just drink a cup of dandelion tea or coffee every day. Regular consumption will help you gently cleanse the liver and prevent the accumulation of toxins from food in your body.

Blood circulation The bitter substances in dandelions do not only stimulate digestion but also aid the cardiovascular system. To be more precise, dandelion improves the heart’s

Diabetes Dandelion offers a compelling profile of bioactive components with potential anti-diabetic properties. The anti-diabetic properties of dandelion are attributed to bioactive chemical components, such as chicoric acid, taraxasterol (TS), chlorogenic acid, and sesquiterpene lactones. Patients with type 2 diabetes should use this herb more often as it regulates the amount of blood sugar and might be a very helpful remedy for this disease. However, if you’re a diabetic and already on medication, talk to your doctor before taking dandelion in any form as it could affect blood glucose levels.

Obesity Mainly due to its diuretic and laxative properties dandelion can promote weight loss. Dandelion speeds up the metabolism and, when this happens, you lose weight more easily. However, it is necessary to also adjust your diet and do more physical exercise to achieve this goal.

Pancreas Patients with pancreatic diseases should also consider taking natural dandelion products. Dandelion root extract is able to offer help where no other treatment has when it comes to one particular form of cancer: pancreatic cancer. Researchers from the University of Windsor in Ontario have evaluated the effectiveness of dandelion root extract in treating aggressive and resistant pancreatic cancer cells. What they found is very promising and inspires hope. As soon as the dandelion root extract was applied to cells, it induced apoptosis (cell death) in the pancreatic cancer cells and, the more extract was used, the more cancer cells died. The dandelion extract killed off the cancer cells in an ingenious way: it caused the collapse of mitochondrial membranes, making it impossible for the cancer cells to survive. What’s more, normal, healthy cells were completely immune to this effect. In any case, we do not say that you should discontinue taking the medications prescribed by your doctor. Just be aware that dandelion improves the function of the pancreas and is believed to be an effective treatment against pancreatic cancer cells.

Skin problems Use dandelion milk to effectively treat skin diseases caused by microbial and fungal infections. Dandelion sap or milk is highly alkaline in nature and exhibits potent germicidal, fungicidal and insecticidal properties. So, it can be used to treat itchiness, eczema, sunburn, insect bites, blisters, warts, athlete’s foot, ringworm, and other similar conditions without any side effects. All these problems can be tackled with natural dandelion milk. But be careful - if your skin is sensitive, first test the dandelion milk on a small patch of skin (for example on the forearm). In individuals with sensitive skin, this milk can cause a rash.

Retention of fluids in the body If your system is flooded with too much water, then you should start to sip tea made from fresh dandelion leaves. Your body will then be perfectly drained and cleansed. However, compared to conventional diuretics, dandelion has the benefit of not carrying away valuable potassium from the body. It only helps tackle the problem of fluids, and without any undesirable effects.

Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)

Wards off cough

ellis, the genus name, comes from the Latin bella, meaning beautiful. The common name of this herbaceous perrenial originates from the Anglo Saxon word meaning “day’s eye.” The name is appropriate since the flower opens in the morning. The common daisy is native to Europe and western Asia, but has now been naturalized in many parts of the globe. The common daisy, also known as the lawn daisy or English daisy (or historically, as bruisewort or woundwort), is small in size, usually not larger than 2 to 5 inches (5 to 10 centimeters). Like the dandelion, the common daisy belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its white flowers with a pinkish hue are symmetrical. Although it looks like a simple flower it is actually a composite of several different parts joining to form the flower. The common daisy generally blooms from early spring to midsummer, although when grown under ideal conditions, they have a very long flowering season and will even produce a few flowers in the middle of mild winters, sometimes under the snow - no wonder, since they are resistant to frost of up to 5°F (-15°C). B

The leaves are small, rounded or spoon-shaped, from 3/4 to 2 inches (approx. 2–5 cm) long and a little serrated. They grow flat to the ground and are arranged in ground rosettes. The common daisy is sometimes considered an invasive weed as it habitually colonizes lawns in gardens, fields and mountain meadows up to 6500 ft (2000 meters) above sea level, and is difficult to eradicate by mowing, hence the term “lawn daisy”. It is nevertheless a great herbal remedy. They fare best in full sun and typically, the plant is harvested while in

flower, i.e. from early spring until the end of summer. Dried flowers are used to make teas or decoctions. Ideally, the stem of the harvested plant should be up to 0.25 inches (2 cm) in length – only in such states do they contain the highest levels of active substances. Spring flowers are the most effective and the recommended collection time is noon.

COMMON DAISY AS A MEDICINAL HERB

The common daisy contains essential oils, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, resins, minerals, vitamins (including vitamin C) and fiber, organic acids and inulin. It is known as a plant that can support bile excretion and, as such, digestion. The herb may be used to treat a loss of appetite as it has a stimulating effect on the digestive system – daisy tea is even recommended in treating anorexia – and has been used as a treatment for many ailments of the digestive tract, such as gastritis, diarrhea, liver and gallbladder complaints and mild constipation. You can also use it for abdominal pain from bad digestion. The common daisy is commonly found in tea blends that relieve coughs, as it dissolves mucous and cleanses the airways. It alleviates irritation and asthma cramps. By gargling with daisy infusion you can get rid of gum inflammation and sore throats. It also increases immunity, protects against free radicals and, as a result, works as cancer prevention.

Because of its diuretic properties you can use it for cleansing your urinary tract, kidneys and liver in