Don't hate those Dandelions in your yard: Embrace them!

I Adore Juliette de Bairachi Levy's work, for those who do not know who she is, she is the Grand Lady of Herbology...at least to me that is.  Juliette has traveled the world living and studying with the Nomadic peoples...Gypsies, Bedouin Arabs, and the American and Mexican Indians.  Ah, what a life to have led!  She has passed down the wisdoms of these peoples in her books.

As I sat this morning drinking my coffee and reading the inventive blogs on here, I thought to myself..."I wonder what the price of coffee is going to be".  I know what to do...but do other people have a clue?  So many plants have traveled around the world along with people, plants that we (well, most of us) now consider weeds, and Dandelions are one of these.

This is what Juliette says of the Dandelion in her book Common Herbs for Natural Health...

Dandelion Coffee is made from the roots, which should be collected at the end of the year for this purpose.  After careful cleaning, they are oven-dried at a low temperature for several hours, until they emit a pleasant roasted aroma.  They are then ground to a fine powder.  A little coffee may be mixed in with the dandelion root to improve the scent and flavor.  Also, roasted Chicory root can be added, a teaspoon to every twelve teaspoons of dandelion coffee.

You may be saying at this time Ewwwicky, but it is actually pretty good, and well just what did you think the pioneers were brewing in their coffeepots while on the trail?  And to me the best thing about Dandelions is that they are Extremely good for you...That's Right, They Are Good For You! 

And, trust me on this...after a short time of consuming them you Feel Great Too!

My Grandma use to cook the greens in spring, and make Dandelion Wine...Good for what Ails you...they are considered to be a spring tonic herb.  Here is what Juliette says about the health effects...

Use, internal:  For all disorders of liver and bile (especially jaundice).  A diet of the greens improves
the enamel of the teeth.  Helps in diabetes, obesity, over-sleepiness.  It is blood cleansing, blood tonic, lymph cleansing.

Use, external:  the white juice for application to warts, old sores, blisters, and pimples.  American Indians use the split stem, for applying by rubbing, to bee stings.

Dose: A half dozen or so of the leaves, eaten daily.  Being rather bitter, they should be mixed with some milder salad herb such as lettuce.

So, you see maybe it's time for Americans to be re-thinking weeds...Think about it while drinking your coffee.

3 Comments | Post Feedback

I have read recently that holly leaves contain
caffeine. They are related to mate, an herbal tea with caffeine drunk throughout South America. So if times were hard, gather and roast your dandelion roots, and make your brew, but boil a few holly leaves in the mix. I would imagine you might chop them.

I had always thought that Holly was poisonous. Is there a certain kind that can be used? You have peaked my interested, here in the Hill Country, we have so many different types of Holly plants that I would hate to grab one that could make me or anyone else very sick.

From http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/staff/rbir/ilexpoison.html
Dick Bir
NC State University

'Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America' by Turner and Szczawinski, gave a more thorough treatment. In the section on English holly (Ilex aquifolium) and related species, they write "Berries and leaves may cause digestive upset; berries occasional cause of poisoning in children, but not known to be fatal." They say the berries and leaves contain theobromine, a caffeine-like alkaloid listing the same toxicity symptoms as Shmutz and Hamilton. "However, fatalities from Holly are unknown, and their poisonous properties are frequently overstated. Mild doses of the leaves or berries cause stimulation of the central nervous system, whereas higher doses cause depression of the central nervous system." If large quantities of the berries have been ingested, they suggest that vomiting be induced followed by activated charcoal and a saline cathartic, excess stimulation caused by theobromine can be countered with barbiturates and benzodiazipines. Obviously, medical professionals need to be involved if treatment becomes necessary.

From Redwicket...
Go to the site, read the article...I found this with just a very short search. Just from this little snippet I would not ingest Holly in ANY form.

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