Fwd: July Newsletter - Dandelion

[Guest guest]

Mon, 30 Jun 2003 19:26:45 -0600

July Newsletter - Dandelion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear F. Dennison,

Below is the July Newsletter that you requested from Herbs First.

 

 

 

DANDELION

 

Taraxacum officinale or Leontodon taraxacum Compositae

 

 

Dandelion is one of those herbs that Dr. Christopher taught we should honor

rather than despise. Growing almost everywhere man lives, it supplies good food

and medicine abundantly. We should be glad for its presence in our lawns, rather

than diligently pulling it out. One herbalist remembers sadly the time that her

well-meaning neighbors dug all the Dandelions out of her lawn as a special

surprise. " Not only was my meadow gone, " she recalls, " but also my spring

spinach, summer salad bar, and reserve medicine chest. Truly it was a loss. "

(Herbalist:May, 1978:8).

 

We recall the winter and spring when illness and other difficulties made it

impossible to purchase regular groceries to supplement our food-storage diet of

wheat, beans, bottled fruit, etc. We lived in the country among the orchards,

and when early spring came on, we couldn't help noticing the lush growths of new

Dandelions. We gathered handfuls and made a soup of them with onions, herbs,

cooked grains, etc. Because we ate them very young--although the new growth in

the untrampelled places was quite luxurious--the Dandelions were sweet and

delicious. Our children still enjoy Dandelion Soup!

 

A classic story about the use of Dandelion is often repeated. Around the turn of

the century, A Dr. Sparks wrote, " Fifteen years ago I was afflicted with the

liver complaint. I used all my skill trying to cure it but failed. I then tried

two physicians, Doctors Wilson and Jordan, but without success. An old nurse

told me that Dandelion was an effective folk remedy for this disorder, so I

decided to try it. Using Dandelion promptly restored me to health. It then

became my favorite prescription for liver complaint, either by the simple

extract of the herb or by taking a teacupful of a strong decoction of it twice a

day. In almost every instance I have succeeded in restoring those who have used

this plant. " (Lucas:Herbal:35).

 

LION'S TOOTH

 

 

Dandelion is one of the most ancient and the most frequently-used herbs in

history. Its jagged leaves bear a somewhat fanciful resemblance to the canine

teeth of a lion, or so it is said, which gives the plant its familiar name, dent

de lion, dandelion. The French is a corruption of the Latin name Dens leonis and

the Greek name carries the same meaning, Leontodon. Grieve, however, questions

whether it was really the shape of the leaves that provided this name, as there

is really no similarity between the leaves and lion's teeth! Some authorities

have suggested that the yellow flowers might be compared with the golden teeth

of the heraldic lion, while others say that the whiteness of the root resembles

teeth. Some say that the shape of the root is tooth-like. One report suggests

that a surgeon, Wilhelm, was so impressed with the power of the plant that he

compared it to a lion (Grieve:250).

 

The name of the genus, Taraxacum, is derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder)

and akos (pain), referring to the medical effects of the plant (Grieve:250).

 

The plant enjoys a variety of other names as well. When the plant has seeded and

the florets close up, its shape is thought to resemble the snout of a pig, so it

is called " Pig's Snout " in some areas of England. When all the seeds have flown

and the flower disc is bare, it is surrounded by the drooping remnants of the

bracts, which resemble the bare heads of medieval priests, thus earning it the

former name, " Priest's Crown. " (Ibid). In earlier days it was termed

" Piss-a-beds, " referring to its diuretic effect (Rose:Herbs:56). Some say that

certain American Indian tribes termed it " strong root " for its medicinal effect

(Harris:Eat the Weeds:123). Other tribes called it " blowball, " and children in

England sometimes called it " clocks, " using the number of puffs necessary to

disperse to the seeds to discern what time it was.

 

Dandelions have been used since ancient times; as Millspaugh states, " it is one

of those drugs, overrated, derogated, extirpated, and reinstated time and time

again by writers upon pharmacology, from Theophrastus...to the present day "

(Millspaugh:371). The first mention of the plants as a medicine is the works of

the Arabian physicians of the tenth and eleventh centuries, who considered it a

sort of the wild endive (Grieve:252). There is allusion to it in the Welsh

herbals of the thirteenth century.

 

The plant was also used in the kitchen early times. John Evelyn, in his

Acetaria, said, " With this homely salley (salad), Hecate entertained Theseus. "

Evelyn was evidently a great salad-fancier in the days when they were an

important source of nutrients, when fresh vegetables were not so easily

available.

 

Gerard described the plant, and Culpeper did likewise, commenting that " This

herb helps one to see farther without a pair of spectacles. This is known by

foreign physicians who are not so selfish as ours, but more communicative of the

virtues of plants to people " (Culpeper:56). He considered the plant excellent

for removing obstructions from the liver, gall bladder, and spleen, as well as

opening the passages of the urinary tact and cleansing ulcers therein. He

recommended it for wasting diseases in illness and for relieving restlessness

during fevers. He especially thought the tea could be drunk during times of the

pestilence and used as a wash for sores (Ibid).

 

Old English herbalist Parkinson agreed with Culpeper's recommendations, adding

that the herb was good for bedwetting in children and for retention of urine or

scanty urine in elderly people (Herbalist Almanac:32).

 

Early American herbalist Lyle commented that Dandelion " is a mild, slow,

relaxing, and stimulating tonic hepatic, influencing slowly, the liver, alvine

canal, and kidneys. " He continued giving a number of other medicinal uses, which

agree with the ones which we present below (Ibid:154).

 

The American Indians greatly valued this herb. An old record states, " They scour

the country for many day's journey, in search of sufficient to appease their

appetites. So great is the love for the plant, that the quantity consumed by a

single Indian exceeds belief " (Ibid). The Mohicans steeped the leaves for a

physic, which the Pillager Ojibwas made a tea of the roots for heartburn. The

Potawatomis used the roots for a bitter tonic. The Meskwakis thought the root of

a strong medicine and took it for pains in the chest when other remedies failed

(Vogel:299). The Papagos ate the vitamin-filled young leaves both raw and

cooked, along with other parts of the plant (Niethammer:109). Among the Tewas a

fracture was treated with fresh Dandelion leaves, which were ground and made

into a paste with water, to be spread on the injury, and then whole leaves were

bound on top of this with cloths (Ibid:110). At Santa Clara, the leaves were

ground and mixed with dough to be applied to bad bruises.

Indians used the tea from the boiled blossoms as a heart tonic (Ibid:110-111).

 

Among the Algonquins, a legend goes that Shawondesee, the fat lazy south wind,

was resting on the grass beneath some live oaks and magnolias. He observed a

beautiful, golden-haired maiden on the meadow near him, but he was too lazy to

pursue her, and after a few days, in her place he was a bent old woman with

grizzled white hair. In his disappointment he heaved a great sigh and was amazed

to see her white hair become detached and fly away of the breeze. Other maidens

like her come and grow old, but in the spring of the year the south wind still

sighs for the lost beauty with the golden hair who might have been his had he

exerted himself a little more (Moldenke:75).

 

There is a tradition that Dandelions never grow where there are no human

inhabitants. The early pioneers supposedly found no trace of them in America.

After a few years up sprang a gay head, and soon there were millions of them

(Herbalist Almanac:168). Another legend claims that to dream of Dandelions

portends ill fortune. It is said to be a sure sign of rain when the down blows

off the Dandelion when there is no wind, and to blow the seeds off the Dandelion

is to send one's thoughts to a loved one (Rose:Herbs:56).

 

In Bible times, Dandelion is thought to have surely been one of the bitter herbs

consumed at Passover time.

 

SUPERIOR ALTERATIVE

 

 

There are so many uses claimed for the plant that it takes place among the

herbal cure-alls. Its most frequent use, however, is an herb to heal the liver.

In Europe, many scientific experiments have been undertaken which prove the

traditional belief that the herb truly does cure hepatic ailments

(Lucas:Herbal:33). The herb acts in two ways for these conditions: it promotes

the formation of bile and removes excess water from the body in edematous

conditions resulting from liver congestion (Lust:171). It is thought to be

especially useful in cases of enlargement of the liver and for jaundice, even in

little children. Dr. Swinburne Clymer wrote: " Dandelion has a beneficial

influence upon the biliary organs, removing torpor and engorgement of the liver

as well as of the spleen...only the green herb, whether for tincture or infusion

should be used.... " (Lucas:Common:12). Grieve suggests that the herb is

particularly useful in hepatic conditions of persons long resident in warm

climates,

taken in a broth with some leaves of sorrel and the yolk of an egg, daily for

several months (Grieve:254).

 

Any herb which acts beneficially upon the liver has good effect on the rest of

the system. Of particular interest is its action upon the digestion and

eliminative systems. Kloss claimed that Dandelion is extremely high in nutritive

salts which purify the blood and destroy the acids in the blood. He said that

" anemia is caused by the deficiency of nutritive salts in the blood and really

has nothing to do with the quantity of good blood. Dandelion contains these

nutritive salts " (Kloss:237). It is thought to tremendously benefit the stomach

and intestines. Lukewarm Dandelion tea, claims Lust, is recommended for

dyspepsia with constipation, fever, insomnia and hypochondria (Lust:171). It is

given in chronic constipation and catarrhal gastritis, of particular use in

auto-intoxication which result in skin eruptions. In other words, many people

who suffer from acne or other skin eruptions due to toxins in the system can

benefit from taking a daily cup of tea. Furthermore, it promotes good

absorption of nutrients and so is recommended for chronic indigestion. Where

the stomach is irritated, it can be given in moderate does several times a day;

it increases the natural appetite and promotes good digestion.

 

Dandelion has been often thought to have good effect upon the functions of the

pancreas. Tierra considers the root a specific for hypoglycemia, a cup of tea

taken two or three times a day in connection with proper diet. He also uses it

in the treatment of diabetes which has been acquired in later life, also

accompanied with a good diet (Tierra:122). He considers it a good remedy to help

lower blood pressure as well.

 

This is the first part of Dr. Christopher's newsletter on Dandelion. For more on

Dandelion

 

Dandelion is available in capsules & bulk

 

Have a great month.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kathryn Mechling

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER

 

 

The information provided here is for educational purposes only, and should not

be used to diagnose and treat diseases. If you have a serious health problem, we

recommend that you consult a competent health practitioner.

 

After each product is a list of what it has been used to aid. We are not

claiming that the product will cure any of these diseases or that we created

them to cure these disorders. We are merely reporting that people have used the

product to aid these conditions.

 

Finally, we wish to caution you that the information on this web site is for

educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified health practitioner

before deciding on any course of treatment, especially for serious or

life-threatening illnesses.

 

 

 

 

 

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Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

This article on dandelion could not have been more timely. My nutritionist

has " prescribed " this for me as a detox aide. I start taking it in the am,

sublingual.

Susan

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

As I was copying the info on Dandelions which Frank so kindly

placed on gettingwell list into my on-line LiveJournal, I prefaced

the copied text with a few rhetorical questions I thought I would

share here with the gettingwell list (in slightly edited form).

 

I suspect we all have already answered these questions for

ourselves -- which is why we read this wonderful list. I initially

felt the need to pose my questions because different sorts of people

read my LiveJournal and I like to nudge people to think about beliefs

they may have, but which they may have never actually examined.

 

Were our ancestors so gullible & /or desperate enough to sing

the praises of herbal remedies, even though they had little or no

value?

Or did the remedies actually work?

 

 

If the latter, then, why are herbal remedies no longer in

favor amongst the general populace?

Could it possibly have anything to do with the fact it is

very difficult to become a billionaire harvesting and selling herbs,

but it is much easier for a chemical company to become a

multi-national billion dollar conglomerate by creating a belief in

synthetic chemicals as curative agents -- chemicals which the

chemical company owns all patent rights for?

 

 

 

Alobar

[Guest guest]

Gettingwell , " Alobar " <alobar@b...> wrote:

<<If the latter, then, why are herbal remedies no longer in

> favor amongst the general populace?>>

 

 

I would also suggest looking at the history of the rise of our

current patriarchal medical system. Eliminating natural health care

was (and still is...) their primary agenda.

[Guest guest]

Hi Alobar;

 

Dandelion works;

 

Dandelion leaves are a good source of Inulin, (12%-15% dry weight) an

indigestible long-chain sugar that works as a prebiotic. It feeds the

correct bowel bacteria. Dandelion and other inulin-containing

vegetables have been used and written about for centuries, for

restoring bowel order.

 

The significance of proper bowel culture goes well beyond flatulence,

diarrhea and candida correction, and into bowel cancer prevention,

VLDL cholesterol reduction, mineral absorption improvement, blood

sugar and insulin reduction and atherosclerosis prevention. All this

is now in the research.

 

So what we had as a home remedy has been used by medicine for a long

time, and in this case, proven by later research.

 

There's a chart and many references on my web site, including a

comprehensive scientific review of inulin by international researcher

Bryan C. Tungland. Here's a direct link into Tungland's extensive and

thorough contribution. It's the document's only on-line location:

http://members.shaw.ca/duncancrow/inulin_review.html

 

Inulin is the most common carbohydrate in the vegetable kingdom after

starch.

 

Duncan Crow

 

> Were our ancestors so gullible & /or desperate enough to sing

> the praises of herbal remedies, even though they had little or no

> value?

> Or did the remedies actually work?