Dorothy FarrarDandelion
With its seeds that spread like an invasion at the slightest breath of wind, dandelion is one of the uninvited weeds in ornamental gardens and parks. It is full of healthy active ingredients and is a tasty spring vegetable and by no means just an annoying weed.
General overview
The very long taproot allows the dandelion to penetrate deep into the ground. This makes it so difficult to dig up the entire root. Its stems are hollow and a milky juice escapes when cut.
Dandelion is a bee pasture and therefore you should not fight it with chemical agents. Otherwise these insects would die and the honey is enriched with residues of the herbicides.
Occurrence and cultivation
Dandelions are mainly found in meadows and pastures. The small seeds also like to get stuck in cracks in walls and paths. Since it needs the sun to grow and bloom, it is rarely seen in the forest. Dandelions spread very quickly once they set seed. The reason is that there are a lot of seedlings on the stem. That’s why it got its name “dandelion”.
Children especially love it when they can blow away the ripe fruit heads. They then set off like small parachutes. Large grazing animals like dandelions very much. Therefore, one cannot speak of an unkempt pasture when a sea of yellow flowers shows up there in spring. During the Second World War there were first attempts to use dandelions as a substitute for rubber. This is still an issue today and tests are being carried out in both Europe and North America to see whether the plant can be used as a base material for natural rubber.
Application and effect
The fact that every part of the plant is used in the kitchen makes the dandelion so unique. Starting with the roots, through the leaves and stems, to the flower, delicious food and drinks can be prepared from it. During the war, dried dandelion roots were used as a tasty substitute for coffee, and this type of use is now on the rise again. Today it is also used to make tea. The roots are processed either fresh or dried after digging up and cleaning.
Salad can be made from the leaves . The bitter taste is not for everyone and often just a few leaves are added to other green salads. If you want to dye a fabric with natural raw materials, for example, you use the pollen from the flowers. These can also be processed into delicious syrup. A healthy spread can be made by adding sugar and water.
The effect of dandelion on the body is manifold. Its bitter substances support the digestive organs in their work. Therefore, the plant is also used as a basis for spring purification. It is enough if the leaves or stems of the plant are chewed daily. Depending on the location, they should be washed off before consumption. People who have low blood pressure or suffer from cardiac insufficiency must be careful when consuming it raw. The diuretic effect of dandelion can otherwise lead to massive symptoms.
What does dandelion help against?
- bile problems
importance to health
Products made from dandelion are offered in many variations. When it comes to health, the high content of bitter substances comes first. This alleviates gallbladder problems and also supports the liver in its detoxification work. If you have kidney and urethral problems , you can use dandelion tea to prevent stone formation. The latest scientific findings confirm that dandelion can reduce the cell growth of malignant tumors.
People who suffer from spring fatigue regularly take a dandelion cure. You feel fresher and more powerful. This is probably because the ingredients slow down the drop in glucose in the blood. As a result, the drop in performance is less. For this reason, dandelion tea also has a positive effect on the metabolism of diabetics. For rheumatism and arthrosis patients, dandelion offers a reduction in pain . It can also prevent the affected joints from becoming inflamed.
Anyone who suffers from flatulence and/or a feeling of fullness should drink a cup of dandelion tea before meals. This preventive measure is recommended especially before a high-fat meal. Since the plant purifies the body and also removes toxins from the blood, dandelion is a proven remedy for acne.
The milky liquid from the stalks has been a weapon against warts and corns for decades. Anyone suffering from an itchy rash or painful insect bites should rub the affected areas with the juice. The annoying itching subsides quickly and the swelling also goes down soon.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.