by Rex Trulove

Created on: June 21, 2007   Last Updated: June 30, 2009

Dandelions are one of the least appreciated, but one of the best edible plants available. It grows throughout the northern hemisphere, though in many places, such as in the US, Canada, and Mexico, it is not natural; it was brought here in the early years by settlers, due to it's healthful and medicinal properties.

It is so good at this in fact, that dandelions were a food source that was widely used in the early US. They again came into favor in the US during the 1930s, when a third of the population was out of work and food was hard to come by. Dandelions have been used as a food source in much of the rest of the world, as well.

The health benefits of dandelions transcend the use as food, too. All parts of the plant is high in iron, vitamin E, and other vitamins. It also readily picks up trace elements from the soil, such as selenium. Naturally, these are all helpful when it is consumed as food, but the uses expand greatly.

The long taproot can be cleaned, dried, and ground to use as a coffee substitute, minus the caffeine. It can even be added, ground, to regular coffee grounds, to make a low caffeine cup of coffee. This is great for those trying to cut their caffeine intake, such as those who suffer from migraine headaches.

Dandelion benefits all aspects of the liver, including clearing obstructions and detoxifies poisons. It will also promote healthy circulation. The juice from a broken stem can be applied to warts and allowed to dry; used for 5 days or so it will dry them up. It is also used to treat premenstrual syndrome, as it is a diuretic (it aids in the expulsion of fluids). In addition, it helps clear pimples and acne when the juice is spread on the skin. It helps kidney function, and as a tea, it is a great all around tonic.

Since it isn't poisonous, quite big doses of its preparations may be taken.

The tincture made from the tops may be taken in doses of 10 to 15 drops in a spoonful of water, three to four times daily.

Make a tea out of 1 OZ. of Dandelion in a pint of boiling water for 10 minutes; decant, sweeten with honey, and drink several glasses in the course of the day. The use of this tea is efficacious in bile problems, and is very good in the treatment of dropsy.

Take 2 OZ. of freshly sliced Dandelion root, and boil in 2 pints of water until it comes to 1 pint; then add 1 OZ. of compound tincture of Horseradish. The dose is from 2 to 4 OZ. Use this as a liver or kidney tonic.

The juices have even been used to treat hemorrhoids

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