DANDELION: Medicinal properties and 15 amazing recipes

The golden cap of the dandelion serves as a symbol of the sun and light, and the scattering seeds speak of change and the transience of life. At the slightest breeze, fluffy umbrellas break away from the stalk. In clear weather, the yellow dandelion rejoices in the sun along with people, but as soon as the sky frowns, it covers itself with petals, warning of bad weather and protecting its pollen from the rain. If the sun is shining, you can use it to check the time; it opens and closes at the same hours. Dandelion: medicinal properties and contraindications

Many superstitions and beliefs are associated with dandelions; talismans are still made from them. Girls braid dandelions into wreaths with the hope of family happiness, float these wreaths along the river and make a wish: whose wreath does not drown, she will be the first to get married. A love potion is brewed from dandelion roots, and dandelions are placed under children's beds to protect them from black eyes.

Recipe for dandelion flowers, roots, leaves and stems

A medicinal decoction of various herbs with dandelion roots will help sore joints.
A decoction of herbs for inflammation of the joints.

Recipe:

1. We take herbs: 3 parts each of barberry root, dandelion and black elderberry; 3 parts tansy flowers; 3 parts hop fruit; 4 parts each of St. John's wort and knotweed; 2 parts blueberry leaves and 2 parts flax seeds.
2. Grind the herbs and mix everything together.
3. Add 1 glass of water , let it simmer for 10 minutes, leave for half an hour.
4. Take before meals, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

We also use this decoction to make compresses for sore joints .

Dandelion is useful for people with diabetes . Infusions and decoctions from the whole plant help the body produce insulin and have a diuretic effect, thereby lowering sugar in the blood, urine and kidneys.

Dandelion: healing properties and uses for men, women and children

The healing properties of dandelion
Dandelion contains: vitamins A, E, PP and group B, potassium, cobalt, manganese, phosphorus, iron, calcium, boron and copper . Dandelion is also rich in carbohydrates and resins, proteins, tannins and organic acids .

Dandelion is used to treat:

• Wounds
• Arthritis
• Atherosclerosis
• Ischemia
• Diabetes
• Diuretic for cystitis
• Heart and blood vessels
• Tumors
• Warts
• Swollen body parts from midge and mosquito bites

Important . For purulent inflammation of the skin, apply bandages soaked in dandelion decoction.

Important . For atherosclerosis, it is useful to drink an infusion of dandelion root, 2 times a day.

The healing properties of dandelion, beneficial for men
Salad with dandelion leaves and flowers is beneficial for men . It increases arousal, sexual desire for women, erection and ejaculation.

Salad for men

Recipe:

1. Salt the dandelion leaves and flowers and fill with cold water for half an hour.
2. Finely chop 1 lemon along with the peel.
3. Grate 1 small carrot.
4. Grind a handful of walnuts.
5. We cut several leaves of sorrel.
6. Combine all ingredients, season with 3 cloves of chopped garlic, vegetable oil (1-2 tablespoons).
7. In the salad, you can replace carrots with beets, sorrel with nettles, and walnuts with pine nuts.

Note : You can’t get too carried away with salad; you need to take breaks for a week, every 10 days.

Medicinal properties of dandelion that are beneficial for women
Dandelion is also beneficial for women. Salads, infusions and decoctions help with female inflammatory diseases and hormonal fluctuations, which later lead to cysts and tumors .

For inflammation of the genitourinary system and appendages, a decoction is useful for women.

Decoction of dandelion leaves and flowers

Recipe:

1. Take 20 g of dandelion leaves and 30 g of flowers , add 0.5 liters of water , boil for 10 minutes.
2. Leave in a warm place for 40 minutes, covered with a terry towel.
3. Strain and drink 2 times a day, 150 ml.

If breast swelling , in addition to the decoction, you need to make compresses on the chest from crushed dandelion root , and also apply ointment .

Dandelion root ointment

Recipe:

1. 10 g of ground dandelion root into 50 ml of vegetable oil.
2. Let it sit overnight and then you can use it.

Note. If the ointment applied to the chest is quickly absorbed, apply again and repeat the procedure in the evening.

For various gynecological diseases or irregular periods, a decoction is useful.

Dandelion root decoction

Recipe:

1. To 1 tbsp. Add a spoonful of ground dandelion root .
2. Cook in a water bath, stirring for 50 minutes.
3. We insist for 40 minutes.
4. We strain, squeeze out the cake and throw it away.
5. Add boiled water until the glass is full.
6. Take 0.5 cups before meals, 3 times a day.

Note : The decoction should be used with caution by women who are breastfeeding and have a lot of milk, as dandelion preparations enhance lactation.

Medicinal properties of dandelion, useful for children
Dandelion also treats some childhood ailments, for example, rickets . To cure this disease, you need, as soon as dandelions appear, prepare a salad of leaves for the child, brew tea from dandelion leaves and flowers with the addition of lemon, boil syrup, jam and “honey” .

Syrup for the treatment of childhood rickets

Recipe:

1. Take the juice from dandelion leaves and flowers (1 part) and mix with sugar (2 parts).
2. Leave in an open container, stirring after 1 hour, until all the sugar has dissolved, about 2-3 days.
3. Add fresh carrot juice (1 part) to the syrup.
4. Store in a cool place, give to children 15 minutes before meals, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.

Side effects

Dandelion, collected from a favorable, clean region, is a safe, non-toxic plant. It does not pose a threat if eaten fresh or processed.

Considering that dandelion contains a lot of active substances, we can assume the risk of allergic reactions. This is especially likely for people who are allergic to any plants, such as ragweed. In case of sensitive skin, contact with dandelion may cause dermatitis [27].

Dandelion-based products are not compatible with certain medications:

• Antacids lose their properties, as dandelion activates the production of stomach acids.
• Anticoagulants combined with dandelion increase the risk of bleeding.
• Diuretics can cause electrolyte imbalances.
• Lithium drugs, which are used in psychiatry, are weakened by dandelion.
• Ciprofloxacin is not absorbed by consuming dandelion.
• Hypoglycemic drugs together with dandelion can lead to a significant drop in sugar, even to the point of coma.

Treatment with dandelion begins with minimal dosages, which are gradually increased. If negative symptoms appear, stop using herbal remedies.

How to prepare dandelion tincture for joints?

The healing properties of dandelion are used in the treatment of joints.
for the treatment of sore joints .

Alcohol tincture of dandelion flowers

Recipe:

1. Pour half a liter of vodka dandelion flowers (50 g) , leave in a closed container in a dark place for several weeks, shaking occasionally.
2. After infusion, strain the tincture and store it in the refrigerator.

Compresses and rubbing with dandelion tincture help with rheumatism, osteochondrosis, gout, cramps, sore joints and colds..

We do the rubbing like this : soak gauze in the tincture and rub the area where it hurts, or the chest and back if you have a cold, until you feel warmth in that area, then cover with a warm blanket.

We make compresses : soak gauze in the tincture and apply it to the sore spot, wrap it with cellophane on top.

Recommendations for use

Like any natural product, dandelion is useful only in fresh form. Heat treatment destroys from 40 to 89% of beneficial properties.

Of course, dried herbs, alcohol tinctures, and root powder are used, but the highest content of vitamins and antioxidants is in freshly picked leaves and flowers.

Decoctions are another matter - here the beneficial properties of the product are revealed in all their versatility and power.

Whether fresh or in the form of decoctions, infusions, dandelion should not be consumed for more than two weeks in a row . Afterwards you need to take a break for a week, and only then resume the course of treatment.

The daily intake of this natural healer should not exceed 200 g.

How to make dandelion jam?

The healing properties of dandelion in jam do not disappear.
Dandelion jam and “honey” contain all the vitamins and minerals, as in a fresh plant.

Useful components from jam improve metabolism, help with colds, anemia, asthma, rejuvenate the body, cleanse the blood, and lower blood pressure .

This is what ready-made medicinal “honey” from dandelion flowers looks like

"Honey" from dandelion flowers

Recipe:

1. We take dandelions, wash them and tear off the green part, we need 200 g of dandelion petals , pour 1.5 liters of boiling water and leave for 24 hours.
2. Strain the infusion, squeeze out the petals and discard.
3. Add the juice of 2 lemons, 1.5 kg of sugar and cook, stirring at low boil, until it thickens.
4. Pour the hot “honey” into clean, resealable jars. Add a few teaspoons to green tea.

Dandelion flower jam retains all the healing properties of dandelion
Dandelion jam (classic recipe)

Recipe:

1. We collect 360-400 pieces. dandelion flowers without stems , wash them, fill them with cold water (2 cups).
2. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Leave for 20 minutes, then strain through a colander and squeeze out the flowers.
4. Add 7 cups of sugar , let it boil and cook for 7 minutes.
5. Pour hot jam into clean jars and close with lids.

100 g of jam, prepared according to the classic recipe, contains:

• 3940 mg beta-carotene
• 232 mg potassium
• 140 mg calcium
• 44 mg sodium
• 42 mg phosphorus
• 24 mg magnesium
• 18 mg vitamin C
• 2.4 mg vitamin E
• 1.8 mg iron
• 0.28 mg zinc
• 0.23 mg manganese
• 0.12 mg each of copper and selenium

Note : The norm of beta-carotene for a person per day is 5 mg.

Note : To enhance the choleretic and anti-inflammatory properties, eat dandelion jam and wash it down with green tea, or milk thistle decoction.

Composition and calorie content

Let's take a look into the chemical composition of this sunny flower. Why a pantry? Yes, because such a rich chemical composition can not be seen in every plant. Here's a weed for you.

Here are the stocks:

• potassium, which is important for maintaining the heart muscle in good condition;
• manganese;
• gland;
• copper;
• calcium, without which the harmonious development of children is simply unthinkable and which is important for people at any age;
• aluminum, which in small doses is also beneficial to the body.

But that's not all. Along with enzymes, there is a wide variation of vitamins, organic acids , which affect the normalization of metabolism, fatty oils, polysaccharides, and vitamins.

Together, this composition acts on the body as an elixir of life, health and longevity. Moreover, its calorie content is only 45 kcal , which makes dandelion an excellent tool in the fight against excess weight.

Dandelion roots: medicinal properties, uses, contraindications, recipes

All the healing properties of dandelion are preserved in dry roots.
Medicinal products with dandelion roots can improve the liver, kidneys, stomach, improve metabolism, and preserve youth longer .

To treat various diseases, infusions, decoctions and powder from dandelion roots . They help a lot:

• Boost immunity against viral diseases
• Reduce blood cholesterol
• Improve appetite
• Suffering from tuberculosis
• For patients with diabetes
• Cure insomnia
• Eliminate chronic constipation
• For liver diseases
• For a sore bladder
• For anemia
• For sore joints

Dandelion root decoction

Recipe:

1. Take 2 teaspoons of ground dandelion roots , add 1 glass of water and cook for 15 minutes.
2. Leave until it cools and strain.
3. Take half an hour before meals, 1/3 of a glass, several times a day.
4. The remaining broth can be stored for no more than 2 days in the refrigerator.

Dandelion root infusion

Recipe:

1. 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ground dandelion roots into 1 cup of boiling water.
2. Let it brew for 2 hours.
3. Strain and drink 1/3 of a glass 4 times a day, 20 minutes before meals.

To reduce blood cholesterol, it is useful to eat 1/3 of a teaspoon of ground dandelion root powder , 2-3 times a day, before meals.

All the beneficial properties of dandelion were transferred to the ointment

• Also, ointments and oils are prepared from dandelion roots with the addition of powder from them.
• For eczema, lubricate the sore spots with an ointment made of honey and dandelion root powder, taken in equal parts.
• For bedsores and burns, lubricate the skin with oil and dandelion root powder.

Dandelion Root Powder Oil

Recipe:

1. 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ground dandelion root powder with 0.5 cups of vegetable oil.
2. Let it sit for 1 day and you can use it.

Useful medicinal tea from dandelion roots
The following have medicinal properties: coffee, tea, salad from dandelion roots .

Coffee made from ground dandelion roots

Recipe:

1. the roots and fry until dark brown in a dry frying pan.
2. Can be dried in a low oven until they become brittle.
3. Grind the dried roots in a coffee grinder and brew coffee.
4. To improve the taste, add sugar, cinnamon and other spices to the finished drink.

Diabetes patients benefit from the following tea.

Tea made from dandelion root, bean leaves, blueberry leaves and nettles

Recipe:

1. For tea, take and chop the ingredients equally, pour boiling water, leave for half an hour, take before meals, half an hour before.

Healthy salad made from grated dandelion roots and spring greens
Dandelion root salad

Recipe:

1. Take fresh dandelion roots, carrots and grate them.
2. Add hand-torn green salad, dill, parsley.
3. Season with vegetable oil (1-2 tablespoons) . The medicinal salad is ready.

Contraindications to the use of dandelion root:

• Do not use during exacerbation of gastritis, stomach ulcers and cholelithiasis.
• Prohibited for use by women during pregnancy.
• Restricted use for mothers during breastfeeding, as the milk may be bitter.
• Do not give to children under 12 years of age.
• In people prone to allergies, medicine from the roots may cause an allergic reaction.

A little history

In 1983, archaeologists discovered centuries-old scrolls in one of the Carpathian caves. Great minds spent a long time unraveling their meaning, and when they managed to decipher and translate them, it turned out that in front of them was a collection of the Book of Life and Health of ancient peoples.

Here were unique recipes from healers, advice, recommendations, and instructions. And among all the recipes for many ailments, a special place in the Book was given to... what plant do you think? Some rare miracle or shrub whose branches are collected one day a year?

Not at all! It turned out that our ancestors treated the simple dandelion with special reverence!

This simple spring flower, which we all in the progressive twenty-first century mistake for an annoying weed, was revered by the ancients as the “elixir of life.”

And for a reason. Let's remember how much work we put into weeding out the hated weed in our garden. If only we knew how many amazing properties it contains !

This simple outer shell contains the key to the casket of longevity and health. We will reveal the secrets of this plant in the article.

Dandelion leaves: medicinal properties, uses, contraindications, recipes

Beneficial properties of dandelion leaves
Young dandelion leaves are edible. They improve appetite, contain carotenes, saponins, proteins, vitamins C, B, calcium, manganese, phosphorus and iron.

It is an antiscorbutic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory agent. The leaves have a good effect on the liver, kidneys, and have expectorant properties.

juice, salad, decoction, infusion from dandelion leaves .

• A paste of fresh dandelion leaves is applied if there are warts on the body or after insect bites.
• For vitamin deficiency, a decoction of dandelion leaves is useful
• For eczema, you need to take baths with the addition of a decoction of dandelion leaves.

Dandelion leaf juice

Recipe:

1. young dandelion leaves , soak them in salted boiled water for 30 minutes, then pour boiling water over them.
2. Pass through a meat grinder and squeeze through cheesecloth. The juice is ready.
3. Before taking orally, dilute the juice equally with boiled water.

Juice is used:

• For herpes, lubricate the affected areas 3 times a day.
• After insect bites, the juice relieves redness and itching.
• If there are age spots and freckles on the body, then rubbing the face with juice several times a day makes them invisible.
• If you smear warts and pimples with undiluted dandelion juice, they will disappear.
• For rapid healing of injuries and small wounds.
• To stop bleeding.
• If there is no appetite, loss of strength, or lack of vitamins, you should take 0.5 cups of dandelion juice diluted half with water 20 minutes before meals.

Healthy and medicinal salads are prepared from young dandelion leaves
Dandelion leaf salad

Recipe:

1. Take dandelion leaves , soak them for half an hour so they don’t become bitter, and chop them finely.
2. Add fresh cucumber, boiled potato, boiled egg, green salad, dill, parsley, green garlic and onion.
3. Stir, season with sour cream and the salad is ready.

Contraindications to the use of leaves:

• Use caution in case of stomach ulcers and gastritis.
• Not recommended for pregnant women.
• Do not take if you are allergic to the plant.
• The leaves cannot be used for medicinal purposes unless you are sure that the plant was collected in an environmentally friendly environment, since dandelion absorbs harmful substances from the ground and air, and can harm rather than cure.

Dosage forms

Given the fact that research into the safety and medicinal effectiveness of dandelion continues, doctors have established recommendations regarding possible dosages.

Each plant form has its own standards: [11]

• Fresh leaves - from 4 to 10 g per day.
• Dried leaves - from 4 to 10 g per day.
• Tincture - from 2 to 5 ml, three times a day.
• Juice from fresh leaves - 5 ml, twice a day.
• Extract - from 5 to 10 ml per day.
• Fresh roots - from 2 to 8 g per day.
• Dry powder - from 250 to 1000 mg, up to four times a day.

Dandelion flowers: medicinal properties, uses, contraindications, recipes

Beneficial properties of dandelion flowers
Dandelion flowers cure insomnia, liver diseases, hemorrhoids, and dandelion juice helps make age spots, freckles less noticeable, and removes warts .

Tinctures, decoctions, ointments, extracts, jams, honey, syrup and wine are prepared from dandelion flowers for medicinal purposes .

Decoctions are taken orally if it bothers you:

• High blood pressure
• Cold
• Insomnia
• Flatulence
• Severe fatigue

Decoction prepared with dandelion flowers

Recipe:

1. 10 g of dandelion flowers into 1 glass of boiling water.
2. Cook for 15 minutes, leave for half an hour, strain and drink 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

Ointments are used for burns, midge and mosquito bites, skin lesions and cuts..

Ointment prepared with dandelion flowers

Recipe:

1. 20 pcs. chopped flowers, 1 finely chopped onion, 1 cup vegetable oil, mix.
2. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes.
3. Let cool and strain through cheesecloth. Store in a cool place. Lubricate sore spots 2-3 times a day.

Bees also love the healthy and sweet extract from dandelion flowers.
Dandelion extract is useful :

• When tired
• For decreased appetite

Extract prepared with dandelion flowers

Recipe:

1. Place dandelion flowers , 3-4 cm thick, into a 3-liter jar, compact them and sprinkle with sugar, 2-3 cm thick (a 3-liter jar will require 1-1.5 kg of sugar).
2. When the jar is full, add half a glass of water and compact it again.
3. We wait until the sugar melts. Take the resulting extract 1 teaspoon 4 times a day.

Syrup made with dandelion flowers

Recipe:

1. Pour dandelion flowers with cold water to cover them.
2. Let it boil, cook for 10 minutes, cover with a lid.
3. We insist for several hours.
4. Then drain the broth, add sugar, 1.5 kg of sugar per 1 liter of broth , cook until the sugar dissolves. Store in the refrigerator. We take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

Useful medicinal wine from dandelion flowers
You can make medicinal wine . It is prepared from the petals alone or together with the green part of the flower, but then the finished wine will be bitter.

Medicinal wine from dandelion flowers with green receptacle

Recipe:

1. pure dandelion flowers together with the green part through a meat grinder.
2. Add 4 tbsp per 1 liter of juice. spoons of sugar.
3. Pour into a bottle, cap tightly, remove the tube and lower it into the water.
4. Leave the wine like this until it ferments.
5. When air bubbles stop releasing, pour the wine into another container and store in a cool place.
6. To preserve the wine better, you can add vodka to it (100 g of vodka per 1 liter of wine).

This wine can be taken to relieve heart spasms instead of nitroglycerin .

Contraindications to the use of medicines from dandelion flowers:

• Not recommended for stomach ulcers and gastritis
• Use with caution in people with frequent diarrhea
• Not recommended for hyperacidity of the stomach
• Do not take if there is a blockage of the bile ducts
• Do not take if you are allergic to the plant
• Limit to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers

Medicinal raw materials

The roots are dug up in early spring (April - early May) or in autumn, when the leaves fade (September - October). Plants are dug up with shovels. The dug up roots are shaken off the ground, the above-ground parts, root collars and thin lateral roots are cut off at the roots with knives. Then immediately wash in cold water. The washed roots are laid out on a cloth for drying. After drying in the open air for several days, until the milky juice ceases to be released from the root cuts, the roots are dried in attics under an iron, slate or tiled roof or under sheds with good ventilation, spread in a thin layer (3-5 cm) on fabric or paper, stirring occasionally. You can dry dandelion roots in ovens or dryers at a temperature of 40-50°.

The raw materials should consist of dried, whole, dense, washed from the ground, simple or slightly branched tap roots with the root neck removed. The roots are wrinkled, sometimes spirally twisted, fragile, and break with a bang. The length of the roots is about 10-15 cm, thickness 0.3-1.5 cm. The roots are brown or dark brown on the outside, grayish-white or pure white inside at the break, with yellow and yellowish-brown wood in the center. There is no smell, the taste is bitter with a sweet aftertaste.

Flowers should not be harvested near roads, as the plant accumulates lead and other toxic substances.

Teberda Nature Reserve. On grassy slopes, forest clearings, waste places, in estates, along roadsides, 1300-1900 m above sea level.
Usually. The yield of dry raw materials is approximately 33-35%. Store in dry rooms with good ventilation on racks; in pharmacies - in boxes with lids, in cans and jars, in warehouses - in bales; cut raw materials - in bags.

Shelf life. 5 years.

Chemical composition

Dandelion stems: medicinal properties, uses, contraindications, recipes

Dandelion stems also have medicinal properties.
Dry calluses and warts are removed with milky juice from dandelion stems; smears freckles and age spots, after which they become less noticeable.

It is recommended that patients with diabetes mellitus suck the juice (rubber juice) from the stems of dandelion This juice lowers blood sugar.

So, dandelions treat many diseases that we didn’t even know about.

Description of appearance

Photo: Yandex.Pictures
There are many types of dandelions, but we are interested in the most common dandelion for the Central Russian region, medicinal dandelion (pharmacy dandelion). This is a perennial plant up to 30 centimeters high, with a thick, few-branched stem. Sometimes the root penetrates the ground to a depth of 60 centimeters.

The plant begins to bloom early and blooms until late autumn, changing generations. A flower in the form of a yellow basket, standing on a hollow leafless tube of a peduncle, rises above the leaves with pinnately cut edges. The leaves form a rosette and their length can reach from 15 to 25 centimeters.

All parts of the plant secrete a very bitter milky juice, which, despite its bitterness, is incredibly useful.

Dandelion juice and all parts of the plant are used as a medicinal plant in folk medicine, depending on the ailment being cured.