Dandelion

Healing Food
Dandelions come up in the early spring, just when our bodies are due for a spring cleaning. When consumed, the dandelion’s defining characteristic is bitterness, and this is the very feature that lends it restorative properties. That bitterness is medicine derived from plant acids and healing alkaloids. Dandelions shake you out of hibernation, getting your blood pumping and your liver cleaning house from radiation, some toxic heavy metals, DDT, and other poisons. What makes the dandelion unique is that every part of the plant can be used: root, leaves, flower, and even stem. Each bit has a different degree of bitterness, and this corresponds with areas of the body that need different sorts of cleansing. To start with, the flowers (which have some bitterness yet are edging on slightly sweet) cleanse the hollow organs such as the stomach and intestinal tract, gallbladder, bladder, lungs, uterus, and heart. Then there are the leaves. Phytochemicals in dandelion leaves purify blood and also help bring it to hard-to-reach places, so the leaves are a must for circulatory issues such as poor circulation. The leaves’ bitterness is also geared to squeeze toxins out of the lymphatic system, making them ideal for addressing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, swollen lymph nodes, and edema. When you get to the stem of the dandelion, which is even more bitter than the flower and leaves, now you’re in the world of cleansing the dense organs such as the spleen, liver, and brain—for example, by pushing out bile that’s no longer useful. I’ve seen dandelion greens, eaten consistently, prevent splenectomies. And when you get to the dandelion root, you’re detoxifying even deeper into those dense organs. This is the bitterest part of the plant, and it forces the organs to purge on the deepest level for an intensified purification. When it comes to detoxing, dandelion root is not for the faint of heart. Dandelion is not just a cleansing herb. It’s like a housekeeping service at a fancy hotel that, after tidying up and gathering the trash, leaves a mint behind on your pillow. Dandelion’s parting gift is better than candy, though —it leaves behind vital nutrients such as vitamin A, B vitamins, manganese, iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, silica, and chlorophyll that give you energy and help your body stave off disease. Dandelion is a preventative for virtually any illness, and is especially great for the prostate.

Conditions & Symptoms It Helps(43)

Abdominal painAcid refluxAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)Blood cell diseaseBlood disordersBlood toxicityCeliac diseaseCirrhosisCongestionConstipationDigestive disordersDigestive distressDysfunctional liverEdemaEnlarged spleenExcess mucusFatty liverFluid retentionHepatitis CHigh blood pressureHistamine reactions and sensitivitiesHivesInflamed appendixInflamed colonInflamed gallbladderInflamed small intestineInflamed stomachKidney diseaseKidney stonesLiver cystsMigrainesObesityPoor circulationPre-fatty liverProstatitisRingwormRosaceaSkin cancersSluggish liverSwollen lymph nodesUrinary tract infections (UTIs)Weak digestionWeight gain
If you have an aversion to dandelion’s bitter flavor, try roasted dandelion root tea. It’s a wonderful detoxifying tonic, and the roasting takes the edge off the bitterness. Dandelion flowers are wonderful for making a cold tea. Pick fresh blooms and let them steep in cold water overnight to release their minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. To sweeten, add raw honey. This makes a delightful and powerfully invigorating drink. Any opportunity you get, pluck a dandelion leaf in the wild (for instance, from your pesticide-free lawn or on a hike) and eat it raw. Wild dandelion leaves grow with a fuzz that, while generally unnoticeable to us, is like a mecca for beneficial microorganisms such as elevated biotics. In fact, wild dandelion greens have one of the highest concentrations of elevated biotics available. If you don’t have access to fresh dandelions, don’t shy away from the dandelion greens you can find at the health food store—these are still wildly beneficial for your body and mind. Try the old pastime of blowing seeds off the head of a dandelion that’s moved past flowering. This is a real and profound meditation.

Sources(1)

  • Life-Changing Foods