Dandelions are a sure thing in this uncertain world. We can be certain that they will grow and thrive every year, and we know with equal certainty that we will do everything in our power to prevent them from conquering our lawns and gardens.
We also know with equal certainty that none of our prevention will make a dent and they’ll be back as surely as taxes.
It is impossible to stay angry at the dandelion. It’s permanent. People change, but dandelions don’t. There’s a lot of comfort and hope in a dandelion.
Medicinal Uses
Practically everybody’s grandmother knows from herbal lore that dandelions must be eaten every spring as a tonic. Their bitter taste certainly seems cleansing, all right! And,
To cure whatever ails you – or to keep anything away that might – do what my grandma did : Put 2 teaspoons of fresh dandelion roots and leaves in 1/2 cup of spring water. Bring the water to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat, and let the mix steep for 15 minutes. Drink half a cup of the tea up to three times a day.
The liver and gallbladder especially benefit from the medicinal value of dandelions, and this has been their main use through the centuries.
There are rumors that gout and eczema sufferers may benefit, too. Breastfeeding women may find dandelion tea helps the milk let down more easily, and relieves swelling.
As if its other herbal properties weren’t enough to sing its praises, dandelion juice has been rumored to remove warts, too.
Pick a flower, break open the stem and rub the milk on the wart. It takes several weeks of consistent use to get rid of the warts, but try it for those really stubborn ones you can’t remove any other way.
Precautions: People who are allergic to chrysanthemum, marigold, chamomile, daisies or iodine may experience side effects from dandelions such as itching, red skin, or even mouth sores if it’s used too much.
Some people experience heartburn and increased stomach acid after consuming dandelion; if you’re taking antacids, there may be an interaction.
People who have been diagnosed with gallstones or other gallbladder problems should ask their health care provider’s advice.
Pregnant women should probably not eat or drink anything at all while pregnant, but there have been no reported side effects in pregnant women other than those who are allergic to flowers in the first place.
Now that you know how good dandelions are for people, you can still declare war on the ones growing in your yard, but remember they are one of the first flowers to open in spring, and isn’t that nice?
An important plant for bees, not only is their flowering used as an indicator that the honey bee season is starting, but they are also an important source of nectar and pollen early in the season to produce dandelion honey.
According to the USDA Bulletin #8, “Composition of Foods” , dandelions rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value.
According to these data, dandelions are nature’s richest green vegetable source of beta-carotene, from which Vitamin A is created, and the third richest source of Vitamin A of all foods, after cod-liver oil and beef liver!
They also are particularly rich in fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and are a good source of protein.
It’s hard to imagine how the dandelion has become the enemy of chemical lawn care, It’s such a multi-purpose plant.
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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener
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Pregnant women should probably not eat or drink anything at all while pregnant, but there have been no reported side effects in pregnant women other than those who are allergic to flowers in the first place.
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