Dandelion: Benefits and how to prepare
Depending on where you live, some of the herbs used by Dr Sebi (see the herb list) may be unfamiliar to you.
But what about the common dandelion? You may even have them growing in your backyard…
Most people consider this to be an annoying weed but actually it has some incredible medicinal properties.
Dr. Sebi included dandelion leaf in his Endocrine compound which is designed to cleanse and nourish the pancreas.
Dandelion is rich in vitamins such as A, C, K, and B-complex, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, and potassium.
Here are a few other benefits of consuming dandelion:
- helps with digestion – dandelion has been traditionally used to help with digestive issues like constipation, bloating, and gas.
- weight-loss – dandelion may help with weight loss by reducing water retention and increasing urine production.
- fights inflammation
- boosts the immune system
Harvesting and preparing dandelion for consumption
The entire dandelion plant is edible, nutritious and is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Young leaves can be cooked or eaten raw. The roots can also be eaten raw or dried and roasted to make a tea which is similar to coffee.
The leaves tend to be better tasting (less bitter) when they are young so around springtime is best.
The roots though are much more medicinally potent, especially in Autumn, but can be tricker to harvest as they go pretty deep.
It’s usually necessary to dig around them to loosen the soil and slowly pull them out. Note that if you leave some of the root intact the dandelion will grow back again and again (free).
After you get it out of the ground, wash it thoroughly. Then you can either eat it raw or chop it up and gently roast it on a baking tray in the oven to make tea (some call it coffee).
Pretty amazing right?
Perhaps even more incredible though is that you can find these for free. (Just be sure it’s somewhere that hasn’t been sprayed with weed killer etc.)
So many of the so-called “weeds” offer incredible health benefits and you don’t need to spend a fortune to acquire them.
All you need to do is educate yourself so you know what to look for. Happy harvesting 😊
