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Dandelions or Taraxacum Officinale, have been treasured for their medicinal properties by the Chinese to treat digestive disorders, breast inflammation or lack of milk flow and appendicitis. The Native American used them to treat kidney disease, skin problems, heartburn and stomach upsets , and herbalists in Europe used dandelions for remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.

And my mother? She waged war on them for years. She was allergic to them and every year starting in the spring, I was sent out to the yard with her trusty trowel to dig up those obnoxious plants and to try and get rid of them completely by digging out that long tap root to leave nothing behind. A futile job, but a battle that she waged, by proxy, every year.

Now, years later, I know that the Dandelion is actually quite beneficial to our health. Especially the roots. The long taproot on the Dandelion is edible year round but is best from October through to March. One of the best ways to cook and eat it is in soups with other vegetables which help to disguise it's slightly bitter taste. One can also boil them and saut them with other veggies.

Medicinally speaking, Dandelion roots are well known as one of the most beneficial of herbal remedies. They help eliminate waste products that have accumulated in the liver and stimulating the gall bladder to quickly remove toxins through the urine. Infection and pollution are known factors that build up toxins and Dandelion roots are very helpful in eliminating these poisons.

Dandelions are, due to their therapeutic benefits, used for treatment of constipation, various skin problems such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. The roots are also helpful with other physical disorders such as rheumatism, arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, the prevention of gallstones and warts. They can also help aid in healthy circulation in the body, skin toning and has been consider a cleanser of the blood vessels.

Women who suffer from PMS may also find that the diuretic action of Dandelions may help with bloating and water weight gain.

In Europe, the European Scientific Cooperative on Phototherapy (ESCOP) recommends Dandelion root for the treatment of indigestion and loss of appetite. In Germany the expert panel known as Commission E recommends products containing dandelion for treatment of liver disorders, appetite loss, indigestion, and fluid retention.

The Dandelion root is even now found in the United States being made into coffee and one can find it at most vegetarian restaurants and stores. The coffee provokes a stimulating influence over the whole bodily system, aiding the liver and kidneys to do their job efficiently and help keep the bowels in a healthy condition.

Of course, all this means nothing to my mother. They could be the natural worlds panacea for every medical ailment known to Man and she would still be going to war with them and yelling out her battle cry of; "The only good Dandelion is a dead Dandelion!"

Fortunately, I have long since moved away and it's my father in charge of that the trusty trowel now. The rest of us can be thankful that the Dandelion is so easily found elsewhere so that we can enjoy it's health benefits, because it is definitely an endangered species any where near my mother's house.

Learn more about this author, Kate McGee.
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