The dandelion. Medicinal plant
The dandelion, with its bright yellow flower, beautiful dandelion and distinctive toothy leaves, is one of the most memorable plants in Central Europe. It is a great addition to the diet. From the root to the flower, all parts of the plant can be used. They can help with weight loss, act as a pick-me-up, make food tastier and much more. Even small children are familiar with dandelions and enjoy the funny dandelions with which they spread them around.
The yellow carpet of flowers is impossible to miss and this miracle flower grows everywhere. Many people are unaware of the amazing abilities and healing powers of this medicinal plant. The leaves and stem are collected before the flowering season, the flower in May and the root in spring or fall.
Due to the early appearance of its flowers, the dandelion is an important bee pasture, which serves the development of bee colonies in spring, but can also enable an early honey harvest in the case of larger occurrences. Dandelion honey has a strong aroma, is golden yellow and viscous when fresh and crystallizes into a fine-grained yellowish honey. To produce one kilogram of honey, a bee colony must visit over 100,000 dandelion flowers.
During the Second World War, dandelions were used as a rubber substitute in Russia and the German Reich. Among other things, a research station for plant rubber was set up in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942, where 150 to 250 forced laborers were employed. For some years now, this research has been resumed in order to obtain an alternative to the natural rubber commonly used today.
Use in folk medicine
- helps with allergies and skin conditions such as eczema, acne, corns
- Respiratory diseases such as cough, bronchitis
- against menopausal symptoms
- Spring fatigue
- Diuretic and laxative, therefore good for liver weakness, stomach weakness, constipation, etc.
Use as a food and medicinal plant
The following ingredients are found in dandelion: bitter substances, inulin, tannins, the leaves contain many vitamins (A, B2, C), silicic acid and trace elements, caoutchouc (milky juice)
In addition to milk thistle and artichoke, dandelion is also an indispensable medicinal plant that stimulates our liver function. Dandelion can help with indigestion, constipation and flatulence caused by insufficient liver function. Dandelion therefore promotes our entire digestion, but it also helps to improve the absorption of important nutrients in the blood and stimulate blood formation. Dandelion can make us feel more alert and motivated.
Dandelion is also a wonderful addition to the diet. The yellow flowers are suitable for making a tasty, honey-like syrup or jelly to spread on bread. The young, only slightly bitter-tasting leaves can be used as a salad. The root can also be used as a salad or cooked. In the post-war years, the dried and roasted root of the plant was used to make a coffee substitute (chicory root substitute). Dandelion is also used as animal feed.
Recipes with dandelion
SPRING SALAD
Pick the young dandelion leaves, cut them out and wash them in a sieve. Chop the boiled potatoes and spring onion and add. Season with a marinade of lemon, olive oil and herb salt.
LION'S TOOTH PESTO
Ingredients
100 g dandelion
30 g Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
100 g sunflower seeds (lightly roasted)
150 ml sunflower oil
2 garlic cloves
salt, pepper
Make like basil pesto!
