Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Every part of this plant can be used therapeutically. Dandelion is exceptionally beneficial for liver disorders and elevated blood sugar. A salad made with its leaves purifies the blood and lifts spring fatigue.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is often dismissed as a pesky weed, yet it is in fact one of the most valuable medicinal herbs. It supports the kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, intestines and blood. It is considered one of the safest and most important herbal remedies for the liver. Bitter compounds give dandelion a pronounced diuretic effect. This is why the leaves are used for water retention, kidney issues, cellulite and excess weight.

It also contains potassium, which replenishes the amount lost through increased urination. The root acts as a diuretic and a gentle laxative that promotes regular bowel movements.

Thanks to its high inulin content, dandelion is recommended for people with diabetes. Animal studies indicate that preparations containing dandelion may reduce blood sugar levels. The leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals and are excellent in salads. Harvest them in spring before the plant blooms, since flowering brings a marked bitterness that many find unpleasant.

You can curb the bitterness by using only the upper parts of the leaves. After the flowering period ends, usually in late summer, new tender leaves appear and can be gathered again. Dandelion stalks are at their best while the plant is in bloom.

The stalks are seldom eaten, yet their sap can help remove warts.

The Austrian herbalist Maria Treben recommended dandelion stalks as a remedy for chronic liver inflammation at a dose of five to six stalks daily, and for diabetes at ten stalks daily. Such regimens last three weeks, although there is no scientific research confirming their effectiveness. Choose plants that are at least two years old if you want large roots.

The finest roots grow on unmown ground with rich, loose soil. In hard soil the root can become forked and tough. Roots dug in spring are sweeter than those collected in autumn because of their higher fructose content, yet they should be lifted before the flower buds enlarge, as the buds draw nutrients from the root. The ideal time for digging roots is from September to February. At that time the inulin content is highest and the medicinal effect is strongest. The root can be eaten raw when thinly sliced, or it can be roasted and used to prepare a coffee substitute. The flowers are used to make wine and a syrup that can serve as a honey alternative.

Use the flowers on the day you pick them and make sure they have not been sprayed with chemicals. Allow dandelion to grow freely in the garden rather than removing it. It attracts beneficial insects. As many as 85 different species, including bees, feed on dandelion. In orchards it encourages faster ripening and larger fruit.

Propagate by sowing in autumn and by dividing the roots in spring.

Dandelion tea

Ingredients: 2 teaspoons dandelion root and or leaves, 250 ml water

Pour boiling water over the dandelion, leave to stand for ten minutes and strain.

Drink one cup in the morning and one in the evening, ideally half an hour before meals. Recommended for kidney discomfort, water retention, cellulite and excess weight.

Here are a few more natural and highly effective dandelion recipes.

Dandelion syrup

Ingredients: 250 fresh dandelion flowers, 1.5 l water, 2 lemons, 2 oranges and 1 kg sugar

Pour cold water over freshly picked flowers, add sliced lemon and orange, then keep covered in a cool place for 24 hours. Strain. Add sugar, bring to a boil and cook for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally until a thick syrup forms. Pour into sterilized jars and store in a cool place.

Take one tablespoon before each meal to regulate digestion and stimulate the appetite.

Dandelion wine

Ingredients: 6 l water, 5 l fresh dandelion flowers (whole flower heads), 2.5 kg sugar, 2 lemons, 2 oranges, 20 g yeast and a few raisins

Pour boiling water over the dandelion flowers, cover and leave to stand for 24 hours. Strain, then add the juice and peels of unsprayed lemons and oranges together with the sugar. Simmer for ten minutes, strain, cool and stir in crumbled yeast. Leave in the pot until bubbles appear, pour into bottles
and seal with soft white paper stoppers that allow gases to escape. Wait a few weeks until fermentation stops. Place a few raisins in each bottle and close with a boiled stopper. The wine is ready to drink after six months.

Anti cellulite tea

Ingredients: 25 g dandelion leaves, 25 g nettle leaves, 25 g dandelion root and 25 g burdock root

Combine the leaves in one jar and the roots in another. Pour a cup of water over one teaspoon of the root mix, place on the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add one teaspoon of the leaf mix, remove from the heat, leave to stand for ten minutes and strain.

Drink two to four cups daily.

Dandelion juice

Ingredients: 3 handfuls of dandelion leaves, 50 ml water

Extract in a juicer or blend and strain through cheesecloth. Keep refrigerated.

Take one tablespoon three times a day. Fresh juice helps relieve spring fatigue, promotes fluid elimination and eases arthritis and bacterial lung infections.

Tea for high blood sugar

Ingredients: 30 g dandelion root, 30 g bilberry leaves, 15 g fennel seeds, 30 g fenugreek seeds

Mix all ingredients and store in a jar. To prepare the tea, pour a cup of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of the blend, leave to stand for ten minutes and strain.

Drink two or three cups daily.

Children’s dandelion tea

Ingredients: 25 g lemon balm leaves, 25 g mint leaves, 25 g anise seeds, 25 g dandelion root and 25 g echinacea root

Combine the roots in one jar and the remaining ingredients in another. Pour a cup of water over one teaspoon of the root mix, place on the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the other ingredients, remove from the heat, leave to stand for ten minutes and strain.

This tea helps with childhood illnesses such as measles, mumps, chickenpox and colds. Give the child two cups a day.

Caution

Dandelion is considered safe even in larger amounts. Pregnant women may also use dandelion leaves. Avoid plants that have been sprayed with chemicals at any time in the previous three years. Children may feel nauseous if they eat too many dandelion flowers. Peppermint tea can help.