Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion, friend or foe? Depends who you ask. To me a good friend, our family eats the greens in spring and we have a very fond relationship with this plant. At my dad’s house, we even had the cops come to our house as we had too many in our yard. I personally think they are beautiful covering the earth with bright yellow flowers, deep tap roots to bring water back into the ground, pollinators love them and the whole plant is used for food or medicine. I know that they spread fast and cover the perfectly green grass, but I think as a society we need to move away from our “perfect” lawn and embrace our plant friends of whom have so much to offer the planet and ourselves. Anywho… Dandelion is amazing and probably good for most people to take in on a more regular basis or at least most certainly seasonally.
In nature they are hyper accumulators, cleaning soil and heavy metals and such. They work in a similar way within our bodies, cleaning our blood, toning our systems and aiding body in elimination of toxins we do not need to carry with us.
We can eat the early greens and flowers in salads, the root (and leaves) are most often used in tea, tincture, vinegars. The following are its most notable qualities which I have learned and experienced in my studies.
Root – high in iron, magnese, phos, protein, aluminum (good for immunity), carotene, calcium, chromium, cobalt, potassium, zinc, absorbic acid…
galactaguage
promotes secretions
leaves & root = blood purifier & spring tonic, alterative
Tones & strengthens organs that clean the blood
Balancing blood sugar as it lowers it (Be sure to check insulin as it will effect dose!)
Performance enhancer
Poor digestions, swelling & tender stomach/intestines, increases hydrochloric acid & absorption of iron
Jaundice, bile duct swelling & blockages
Mild laxative
Gut, contraction of smooth muscle, anti-inflammatory in gut, good for probiotics/flora
Beginning stages of psoriasis (fatty liver) or overconsumption of sugar
Hangovers
Raises levels of good cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar (chromium), has inulin, reduces hardening of arteries
Anti-cancer (pancreases, liver & prostitis)
Diuretic
Urinary stones, kidney stones (not proper balance of calcium & magnesium and Dandelion distributes materials)
Gout, edema, ulcers
Mood regulator, manic depression (use only if off meds! – lithium – hard on kidneys)
Mag/phos is a muscles relaxant & root contains both
Restless leg, spasms
Ligaments, tendons
All eruptions on surface of body
Congestion
Chronic allergies
Tender sternocolidal mastoid indicates dandelion (neck muscle)
Dental health – rebuilds calcium through distribution
Anti-viral/flu inhibitor
Lowers breast & prostate cancer probability
Melanoma
Making an herbal oil with flowers can help to release stuck emotions deep within muscles.
If Dandelion is tugging at your heart, feel free to inquire if you would like to set up herbal consultation, purchase a 1oz bottle or if you would like to learn where to find it and how to make your own preparations.
