Wild Remedies: Dandelions

Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale  (Common Dandelion).
Where are they found: Temperate regions around the world (USA, S. Africa, India, Australia, N.Zealand).

General information: Considered to be a weed, usually colonising fertile, moist lands after fires. The seeds are dispersed via the wind. A seed can remain viable in the soil for many years. Once established, they release ethylene gas which speeds up crop ripening. This has been utilised by many a farmer.

What's so great about them: Apart from looking simply beautiful, the Dandelion has been used in natural medicine and cooking for a looooooong time. Heck you can even eat it as it is. The flowers are used to make Dandelion wine, the green shoots used in salads and the roots have been used to make a drink similiar to coffee by Native Americans. Interestingly enough, the French name for it is Pissenlit (literally Piss-in-bed) for it's strong diuretic and kidney cleansing actions and I can vouch for this!! Most importantly, this plant has been used in traditional medicine, particularly in the Indian, Chinese, and European cultures.

Natural contents: Vit A, B1, B2, B3, C and E, 16.5% protein, calcium, chromium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Medicinal properties: Diuretic, laxative, high levels of antioxidants, liver protectant (good for those heavy Friday nights and the morning after) and as a general tonic. The green leaves (like most green edible leaves) are alkalisers and can be chewed as it is on a daily basis for acid-base balance. It is a bitter treat, but eaten as it is, the Dandelion can stimulate mucous membranes, protect and soothe the gastrointestinal tract, via probiotic actions. The Dandelion has also been used to treat ailments such as disorders of the pancreas (diabetes), liver, gall, spleen and blood. It has been used in animals suffering from congestive heart failure to drain out the excess fluid.

Personally, I have found the Dandelion to be a great pick me up. I usually get it in the form of teabags. You gotta do a bit of hunting to find them in any other forms. But if you are lucky, you can get the seeds and dried leaves, which can be used for gardening and cooking respectively.

So drink up folks and piss your worries away!