DANDELION Leontodon taraxacum( Wigers.“ Med,” Moscow, 1969)
The spring leaves are used in salads and possess some slight narcotic properties. Can be found outside of most doors throughout the United States, in bloom from April to November. Dry some of your once thought of as worthless Dandelion roots for winter use, they will aid you in many ways. Medicinal Part: The root. Solvents: Boiling water, alcohol. Bodily Influence: Diuretic, Tonic, Stomachic, Aperient, Deobstruent. Native Aborigines of North America realized the great value of dandelion and used it as food and medicine by their experience and knowledge. Uses: The common Dandelion has had intelligent use as a medical plant before science strikingly opened our eyes to some of the contents of the shiny green leaves: They contain 7,000 units of Vitamin A per oz, and are an excellent source of Vitamins B, C and G. As a comparison, Vitamin A content in lettuce is 1,200 per oz. and carrot 1,275 per oz. A wise and easy addition to our diet.
The root is the official part of the plant and is a constituent of many prescriptions for dropsical and urinary complaints, and is indicated for impostumes and inward ulcers in the urinary passage; atonic dyspepsia and rheumatism. It is of an opening and cleansing quality and therefore very effective for obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen and the diseases that arise from the biliary organs. It is a splendid agent for skin diseases, scurvy, scrofula and eczema; has a beneficial effect on the female organs. Herbalists use Dandelion more generally than any other herb as it combines well with other herbal preparations for the liver and is so mild, wholesome and safe. Its prolonged use can only be beneficial in all rheumatic complaints. The natural nutritive salt in Dandelion is twenty-eight parts sodium; this type of organic sodium purifies the blood and destroys the acids therein.
J. Kloss tells us in“ Back to Eden”:“ Anaemia is caused by the deficiency of nutritive salts in the blood, and really has nothing to do with the quality of the good blood.” Dandelion root cut up and dried is used for coffee by health-minded people. From a health point of view, it is more desirable to drink than coffee or tea. For this purpose it is frequently combined with roasted acorns and roasted rye in equal parts, or according to taste. As a vegetable for salads it has no equal, being rich in many minerals. It is a medicinal vegetable plant. Dose: Of the tincture 5 – 40 drops. For infusions, fill a cup with the green leaves, add boiling water, steep ½ hr. or longer. Drink when cold, three or four times a day. Or add 1 teaspoon of the cut or powdered root to 1 cup of boiling water and steep ½ hr. Drink when cold three times a day. Homoeopathic Clinical: Tincture of whole plant just before the perfection of the flower— Ague, Bilious attacks, Debility, Diabetes, Gall-stones, Headaches( gastric), Jaundice, Liver( affections of), Neuralgia, Night-sweats, Rheumatism, Tongue( mapped), Typhoid fever. Russian Experience: Dandelion is known as Oduvanchik or Pushki in Russia. Taraxacum, part of the official name, comes from Greece, and in ancient time Taraxacum was used for yellow spots( liver