Dandelion – A Spot of Sunshine

When I walk out into my garden and see these beautiful yellow flowers, it brings me so much joy!

Okay, I am admitting, I have “weeds” in my garden but we are all better off because of it. Their ability to spread quickly makes gardeners work really hard to eliminate them, what a shame, as they are most beneficial and hold valuable medicine.

The flowers make a herbal oil that is a muscle relaxant, targeting the neck and lower back. The flowers are also edible and can be added to brighten up a summer salad.

The leaves are high in antioxidants as well as minerals and vitamins such as iron, potassium, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin K. The leaves can be made into a tea or tincture and are diuretic, helping kidney and bladder function. This has been wonderful to me personally in the hot summer months with uncomfortable swollen ankles! Within 3 days the swelling is noticeably less and the discomfort has eased.

The roots can be roasted, ground and used as a healthy coffee substitute. The roots are highly beneficial as a liver tonic.

To add to this impressive list, the milky substance within the stems can be used to eliminate warts.