It’s Not A Weed To Your Body

The lowly little dandelion is something most homeowners detest.  Popping up in our beautiful green lawn, we go after them with a vengeance. Hopefully, no one is spraying them with chemicals.  But maybe we should be doing something more with them than throwing them away.  My grandmother picked them and made tea by boiling them.  I juice them—not for the taste, but for their health benefits.   All parts for the dandelion have a bitter bite. This taste comes from their flavonoids that give them their blood purifying properties. These compounds work in the digestive system to increase the flow of urine. Unlike other diuretics, dandelion contains vast amounts of potassium that restore the mineral balance in the kidneys as toxins are flushed out. Healers also count on dandelion’s highly volatile and bitter constituents in the root to flush toxins from the system.

Dandelion is in most liver tonics due to its oils, the bitter resins that stimulate the digestive system. The fiber in the whole plant is described as viscous because of its astonishing ability to absorb and transport toxins from the bowels out of the body, balance intestinal flora, and soothe the digestive tract in the process.

Conditions Helped By Dandelion

Detoxification is the word most people think of with dandelion. There are few detox formulas on the market that don’t use of this plant. Dandelion can be your best friend when recovering from illnesses. It can revive you after a flu or a cold have taken their toll. People with liver conditions, skin conditions, changes in hormones such as menopause or adolescence and arthritis (including gout) can benefit greatly from dandelion.

Dandelion is also useful for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and unstable blood sugar levels. This plant is full of bitter constituents that are not only excellent for stimulating the digestive system but offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Dandelion is also helpful as a lactation stimulator.

Liver Cleansing Cocktail

1 handful dandelion greens
3-4 carrots, scrubbed well, tops removed, ends trimmed
1/2 cucumber, peeled
1/2 lemon, peeled

Bunch up dandelion greens. Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube. Tuck the greens in feed tube and push through with the carrot. Juice remaining ingredients, finishing with a carrot. Stir the juice, pour into a glass, and drink as soon as possible.
Serves 1

Note: Dandelion juice is a traditional remedy for cleansing the liver.

From Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life