Have you ever seen a dandelion? Perhaps you’ve even blown its tiny parachutes in the wind when you were younger?
Its Latin name is taraxacum officinale (from the asteraceae family). Its common names are: dandelion, blowball, lion’s-tooth, cankerwort, milk-witch, yellow-gowan, Irish daisy, monks-head, priest’s-crown, puff-ball, faceclock, pee-a-bed, wet-a-bed, swine’s snout, white endive, wild endive.
Dandelions are described as attractive plants that grow almost anywhere. While these plants are considered as fun by kids, dandelion can be such a nightmare for gardeners. This is because they spread so easily and effortlessly especially after weeding it. Nevertheless, dandelions are considered as wonderful plants with herbal properties.
Dandelions as Food
Are you aware that dandelions are edible? The leaves of the dandelion plants are actually delicious if harvested before the flowers appear. Hearty with a bit of bitterness tinge, they are often used in salads or in other sautéed dishes.
Dandelion flowers are also very tasty. In fact, you can eat them directly once you’ve picked them. Choose only to eat the yellow flowers though as the green petals can be bitter.
Full of iron, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B, C, and D, make dandelion a part of your daily diet.
Dandelions and Hemorrhoids
Super plants, dandelions are not only chockfull of nutrients but of medicinal properties as well. The leaves and roots of this plant can be used to treat liver problems. When brewed as tea, it acts as a diuretic to effortlessly remove excess fluid in the body. Also, people had been using the common dandelion to cure their hemorrhoidal issues for quite some time now.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins found in the rectal area of an individual. They are uncomfortable and even painful especially when left untreated. This problem is typically removed by surgery but it can also be cured by using several herbal products. In fact, more and more people recommend common dandelion to treat the hemorrhoidal disease.
Primarily, dandelions are brewed as tea to prevent constipation. This plant is a natural laxative that prevents excessive straining which causes hemorrhoids to swell and exacerbate.
Drinking dandelion tonic wine also improves the condition. To make this, a about a cup of dandelions should be soaked in white wine of your choice for approximately two weeks in an air tight container. Once ready, strained the leaves and add honey to taste.
Ground and roasted dandelion root can also be used as a coffee substitute. The dandelion coffee is not just delicious but free of caffeine as well.
So you can use common dandelion by adding it in your diet as well. Procure some fresh dandelion leaves and eat it raw. If you are not ready to eat it raw, you can sauté it in some onions with carrots and turnips. The leaves can also be chopped up and added to vegetable soup.
For individuals with a sweet tooth, dandelions can be easily made into dessert. Dandelion jams that are made with dandelion flowers are delicious and very healthy. It is used by a lot of people as spread and even as a honey substitute.
Because of the dandelion’s properties that lowers blood pressure, its leaves and yellow flowers are recommended for consumption as often as possible.
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