The Herbal Hutch
By
Chelle
* Disclaimer: please check with your health care provider before using any herbal remedies.
DANDELION
For most of the gardening world, this wretched weed causes many a back breaking hour, pulling, spraying, and cursing its very existence. So, you can imagine the looks that I get when I tell people that it is one of natures greatest gifts. It is found in medical journals as far back as the tenth century. The dried root is listed in the U S Pharmacopoeia, and the juice of the herb has been used in Europe for centuries to treat diabetes and liver diseases. It is used in tincture with Burdock root to clean the blood stream and to level blood sugars. Dandelion is a natural diuretic, but does not deplete the body of potassium and keeps the electrolytes and normal levels. Dandelion root is great for the kidneys and bladder with its diuretic effect, helping to keep away the kidney stones.
Dandelion Cooking
In the spring you can now find in most markets, Dandelion greens. Use these in your fresh green salads, it is a bitter herb but mixed with other greens you will not notice it. Try adding Dandelion greens any time you use spinach, or any other greens, you will notice the difference in your digestion.
Spring Stir Fry
1 cup dandelion greens
2 cups bean sprouts
2 cups snow peas
1 cup spinach
1 cup cooked chicken
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon garlic finely chopped
2 tablespoons lite soy sauce
1 tablespoon peanut oil
In your pan put 1 tablespoon peanut oil and heat. When hot add garlic and snow peas, and bean sprouts. Cook until tender, just a few minutes, then add your greens and chicken, continue cooking until greens have wilted and add your sesame oil and soy sauce. serve with rice.
Dandelion Tincture
The best time to make a root tincture is with the fall dug roots. I like to dig mine the first part of October, when the plants are dying off and sending
All their nutrients to the roots to keep until spring. Use the tincture method described in previous articles. Used in combination with Burdock, I use 1 drop per twenty pounds of body weight. This is wonderful for cleansing your system. It nourishes your liver and kidneys. After using for a few weeks you will notice that there is much less water retention, you skin will look healthy. Those of you with leg cramps at night may notice that they are not bothering you.
Dandelion Leaf Vinegar
*Do not use metal, the vinegar will rust it*
glass jar and stopper
fresh Dandelion leaves
Apple cider vinegar
Break up fresh leaves and place into the glass jar until full. Add vinegar and make sure all air bubbles are out, and place on lid or cork. leave it set for two weeks and then strain. One tablespoon in a glass of water. A wonderful way to get extra calcium and potassium.
Natural Wart Remover
Pick a stem of the Dandelion plant and put the milky sap on to your wart. Repeat as necessary until the wart is gone.
Magical Dandelion
Wish Magic: Pick a Dandelion head that has gone to seed, and make your wish. Blow the seed head into the winds.
Pick a Dandelion flower and hold it under your chin. If it makes your chin look yellow you will be lucky in love. At Beltaine, have the kids pick as many Dandelion flowers as they can find. Use needle and thread to make garlands for their hair.
Growing Dandelions
You can grow them in your garden, but just make sure to pick the heads off before the seed flies everywhere, or your entire garden will be full of Dandelions. Just plant the seeds and then don't pay to much attention to them, they will do just fine on their own, just water them. When digging the roots in the fall, be very careful to not break the root. You want all the juices contained in the root for your tinctures.
Copyright 2002 Chelle
all rights reserved
11/11/02
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