Is it possible to make a medicine out of dandelions? You will find the answer to this question in our article. In addition, we will talk about what properties this plant has, with what diseases it is used, etc.
Botanical Description
From dandelions, the medicine can be done in different ways. But before using this folk remedy, you should find out what this plant looks like and what parts of it can be used for treatment.
Medicinal, field, pharmacy or ordinary dandelion are the most famous species of the genus Dandelion of the Astrov family. Such a perennial herbaceous plant can reach a height of up to 30 cm. It has a low-branched stem root with a thickness of about 20 mm and a length of about 600 mm.
The leaves of dandelion are whole or pinnately incised, glabrous, dentate, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate. Their length reaches 10-25 cm and a width of 1.5-5 cm. They are assembled in a basal socket.
This plant has a juicy flower-bearing cylindrical arrow, hollow inside. It ends with a single basket of bright yellow flowers, the diameter of which can reach 5 cm.
Where is it common?
There is nothing easier than to find and make a medicine out of dandelions, because this weed perennial plant is spread throughout the Russian Federation. It grows in gardens, meadows, lawns, vacant lots and along roads. Dandelion is the most common weed in agriculture, which has useful properties.
Harvesting plants
To make a medicine from dandelions, use its flowers, and petals, and roots. However, it is the last element that is stored for the future in early autumn or spring. The roots of a dandelion are dug up with shovels, carefully shaken off the ground, cut off the aboveground part and washed well under cold water. After that, they are dried in air for several days. The shelf life of such a workpiece is exactly 5 years.
If you want to stock up on the grass of the presented plant, then it must be cut off during flowering, and then dried in the shade in the open air, laid out in one layer and constantly mixed.
Dandelion properties
Dandelion roots contain bitterness, rubber, fatty oil, inulin polysaccharide, sterols, organic acids, resins, mucus, as well as protein and tannins. The leaves of this plant contain choline, vitamins P, C and B2, carotenoids, phosphorus, iron, asparagine and calcium.
It should be noted that dandelion is very often used as a choleretic agent to improve digestion and stimulate appetite. It has diuretic, laxative and antispasmodic properties.
The effect of plants on the human body
Medicinal dandelion, the recipes of which will be presented below, has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, choleretic, antipyretic, expectorant, antiallergic, laxative, anthelmintic and anti-sclerotic effect. In addition, the plant is able to improve the condition of the skin and the general well-being of the patient.
The anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and diaphoretic effects of medicinal dandelion are due to the presence of triterpene compounds in it, as well as tarry and mucous substances.
Bitterness, with choleretic properties and the ability to increase the secretion of gastric juice, increase appetite and significantly improve digestion. In addition, they contribute to expectoration of sputum.
The antisclerotic property that this plant possesses promotes the binding and elimination of cholesterol from the body, and the purification of blood from fat-soluble toxins. This effect is due to the presence in the dandelion of beta and stigmasterol, which are glycerides of unsaturated fatty acids.
The general tonic and antihypoxic effect of such a plant is ensured by the presence of sugars, inulin, amino acids, a complex of vitamins, as well as malic and nicotinic acids.
Indications for use
Before you prepare a medicine from dandelions, you should decide what it is that you need. After all, such a plant has many useful properties that well help in the treatment of certain diseases.
Consider the indications for the use of medicinal dandelion in more detail:
- Preparations based on such a plant are actively used for chronic constipation, anacid gastritis and cholecystitis.
- The root part of dandelions is often used to stimulate the patient's appetite, improve the motor and secretory activity of the intestines and stomach, increase the secretion of digestive glands and bile secretion. It should also be noted that the roots of this plant are a fairly strong diuretic.
- Dandelions have been used as medicine since ancient times. Moreover, for the treatment of various diseases, the infusion of the roots of this plant is used not only for ingestion, but also used externally for skin diseases (acne, dermatitis and boils).
- A medicine from dandelion flowers (tincture or decoction) helps to quickly remove hepatic and intestinal colic. But a decoction from the roots is often used to eliminate spasms and convulsive contractions of smooth muscles.
- Traditional medicine recommends using a medicine from dandelion flowers as a sleeping pill, expectorant and sedative. It is recommended for use in diseases of the spleen and gall bladder, as well as kidney and nervous system disorders.
- Freshly squeezed juice from this plant is used as a cosmetic product that removes age spots, blackheads and freckles. In addition, it is often used to remove corns. By the way, the milky juice of medicinal dandelion during trachoma should be instilled one drop in the eye.
- A medicine from dandelion flowers (infusion, decoction) is often drunk with high blood pressure and insomnia.
- Preparations made from the leaves of such a plant can stimulate the elimination of stones from the kidneys and gall bladder. In addition, they are advised to take with obesity, cellulitis, renal failure, vitamin deficiency, skin diseases and anemia.
How to make a medicine from dandelions?
For preventive and therapeutic purposes, various preparations from medicinal dandelion are used. Most often, decoctions, teas, infusions, powders and freshly squeezed juices are made from the roots, flowers and petals of this plant .
It should be noted that not everyone knows how to prepare medicines based on dandelion. That is why we decided to bring to your attention several effective and proven recipes that are actively used to create natural products in order to cure a particular disease or alleviate the patient's condition.
Decoction for diseases of the biliary tract and bladder
To prepare such a product, you need to take 2 dessert spoons of crushed dandelion roots, pour them with a glass of boiling water, and then stand for 8 hours under a closed lid. Next, the broth needs to be filtered and taken 3 or 4 times a day, 60 ml 30 minutes before eating.
Atherosclerosis Powder
It has long been established that dandelion roots remove cholesterol from the body, and also have beneficial effects on blood vessels and veins. That is why this part of the plant is actively used for atherosclerosis.
To make the medicine yourself, you need to grind the dry roots of dandelion in a coffee grinder, and then take a large spoon three times a day. It should be noted that they taste rather bitter. In this regard, it is recommended not to chew the finished raw materials, but to slowly moisten with saliva and swallow immediately. By the way, dandelion powder can be taken after mixing it with honey or some kind of syrup.
Tincture for joint pain
Dandelion joint medicine is infused with regular 40-degree vodka. To do this, pour 4 large spoons of ground roots into a glass container, and then pour them with 2 cups of alcohol-containing drink. Tightly closing the lid of the dishes, place it in a dark place and leave it for 3-5 weeks. After the specified time, alcohol infusion can be used to rub joints to relieve soreness.
Tea to strengthen the body and increase immunity
To make a healthy drink, pour a large spoonful of dandelion flowers and a few leaves of fresh mint into the teapot. After this, the ingredients must be poured with boiling water, closed with a lid and left for 20 minutes. After this time, the contents of the dishes must be mixed and used as ordinary tea leaves.
Cough jelly
In winter, a drug is often required that can quickly and effectively eliminate sore throat. That is why a large number of people since the spring have been preparing special jellies based on fresh dandelion flowers. To do this, pour them into a large pot (about 2/3), pour cold water, close the lid, bring to a boil and cook on low heat for 30 minutes. After this, the broth must be insisted, first wrapped in a towel, then strain, add granulated sugar at the rate of 5 large spoons per 1 liter of liquid and cook for another 50-60 minutes until a jelly-like mass is obtained. At the end, the finished product must be laid out in jars and taken in the autumn or winter season when coughing.
Dandelion Juice From Blackheads And Acne
If you have an acne, then you must immediately lubricate it with the milky juice of a medicinal dandelion. After a simple procedure, inflammation will pass much faster.