Dandelions And Your Health

Dandelions And Your Health
by Michael Russell

kidney ailments of all sorts. Its detoxification power has also been used to treat
respiratory problems, cure gastro-intestinal ailments and cleanse the circulatory
system. It even is reputed to help dissolve some kidney stones.

In northern China, the dandelion is considered to be one of the top 10 herbs. But if
you live in the southern hemisphere you probably have never seen a dandelion. Most
people in North America and Europe are very familiar with the yellow flowered
dandelion.

The word dandelion literally means "lion's tooth" because of the jagged shape of the
leaves. The French, however, tend to be a little more adventurous when it comes to
naming things. They figured out the medicinal and detoxification value of dandelions a
long time ago. Their name for dandelion is "pissenlit". Can you guess what that
translates to in English? You guessed it. It means, "piss in bed".

The French gave it that name because dandelions are very powerful diuretics. In
other words they very quickly cleanse and accelerate your urinary system. It is not
uncommon for children playing in a field of dandelions to wet the bed later that night.
It really isn't the kid's fault. The dandelions did it. This stimulation of the child's liver
also has a powerful detoxification effect. It flushes out all kinds of toxins.

Although dandelions are almost always treated as weeds they are listed by the US
Department of Agriculture as one of the top vegetables for nutrition. They are chock
full of all kinds of vitamins and minerals. But if you decide to experiment with the
detoxification power of dandelions how do you go about preparing them? What part
is eatable and what gets thrown out? All parts are eatable but generally only the
flower and leaves are consumed. You can put the leaves in a salad and eat them that
way. Or put a colander full of dandelion leaves in a juicer along with an apple and
make apple-dandelion juice. Checking the internet for dandelion recipes will reveal a
whole host of preparation options. Of course, make sure the dandelions you collect
have not been treated with pesticides or weed killer. And to be safe thoroughly wash
them before preparation. If you have liver or kidney problems make sure you consult
with your doctor before trying dandelions.

Dandelions have also been reputed to remove warts. If you rub the yellow flower
part on a wart and do this once a day for a month or so many people have reported
that their warts go away. Of course this may just be an old wife's tale. But if you
have warts it certainly would not hurt to give it a try and see if it helps. There are
many detoxification treatments and cures that work but have not yet been
thoroughly tested and documented by doctors and scientists.

So when next spring brings a heavy crop of dandelions to your front lawn, don't
despair. Harvest them and put them to good use before you break out the weed
killing pesticides. Clear the "weeds" but don't let the detoxification power of
dandelions go to waste.

About The Author

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Detoxification [http://detoxification-guides.com]

Almost everyone hates that pesky
weed called the dandelion. Every year
when the weather gets warm sure
enough some yard in your
neighborhood will have a huge crop
of dandelions. You cringe in fear and
anger at the prospect of all those
dandelions going to seed. Truly it will
be an ill wind if any of those seedlings
get blown into your carefully
manicured lawn.

Most people don't realize that the
common dandelion is a very powerful
detoxification agent. It has been used
for generations to treat liver and

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.