is a troublesome and persistent weed in the garden
and is difficult to eradicate, but it can be a useful herb in the home.
In the kitchen, young dandelion
leaves add relish to a salad, make a tasty boiled vegetable and an unusual
soup. Dandelion flowerheads
make a delicious light wine for summer. The roots, carefully dried then
roasted and ground, make a delicious drink and an alternative to coffee
for those who cannot tolerate caffeine. Burdock and
dandelion leaves combine to make a pleasant healthy
drink which helps to increase the appetite.
Dandelion can be used in quite
large amounts and is often more effective in its action which combined
with other herbs. It is a tonic herb, diructic and slightly laxative
when taken internally. It is helpful in the treatment of constipation,
gout and for a sluggish digestion. A small glassful of
dandelion tea sweetened with a little honey can be
taken once or twice a day.
To make an infusion
Pour 2 cups of boiling water over a handful of dried
dandelionleaves
(leaves for drying should be picked only when young as the older leaves
will be bitter.) and leave to infuse for about 10
minutes. Strain the tea and drink it while it is warm.
Dandelion is full of vitamins
and minerals and helps the liver and kidneys to function smoothly. A
decoction can be make using either shredded root or a mixture of root
and leaves.
To make a decoction
Put 2 teaspoons of herb and 1 cup of cold water
in an enamel pan. Bring the mixture slowly to the boil over a low heat
and boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 15
minutes. Take a small glassful when feeling sluggish.
(In the spring a concentrated course of dandelion
will help rid the body of waste matter and generally
tone up the whole system.)
Dandelion is recommended to be
eaten by those with chronic constipation. Fresh young leaves are picked
washed, finely chopped and added to salads.
DANDELION
SALAD
For a deliciously crisp salad than can
be served as a starter or a side dish,
take 4 good handfuls of washed and
sliceddandelionleaves and
mix with
the following ingredients:
- 6 slices crisply cooked bacon cut into strips
- 2 slices cubed bread fried in butter and garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- salt and freshly ground plack pepper
Place everything in a large bowl or
6
individual serving dishes
toss gently together and serve.
Dandelion Wine is a wholesome
drink which makes and excellent tonic that can be taken on a daily basis.
It is made from freshly picked dandelion
flowers.
To make
DANDELION WINE
Gather the flowers in the morning
on a dry day
and put 8 cups
of dandelion
into a bowl with an
equal amount of cold water.
Leave for 3 days, stirring occassionally,
Strain into an enamel pan and boil for
30 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups of sugar
and the rind and juice of a lemon
and an orange. When cold add a teaspoon
of yeast in warm water. Cover and leave
to ferment for 2 days. Pour into a
fermenting jar or cask and leave for
2 months before bottling.
The wine improves with keeping.
A decoction of dandelion root
or herb can be taken internally in cases of ecxema and other skin
ailments.
To make a decoction for skin
ailments
Add 2 large handfuls of dried leaves
and flowers to 4 cups of water in
an enamel pan. Bring slowly to the
boil then simmer gently until the liquid
is reduced by half. Strain through a
piece of muslin into a jug and keep in
the cool. A small glassful of the decoction
sweetened with honey, can be taken
3 or 4 times a day.
This same decoction can be used to bathe troubled
areas of the skin and help soothe the intense irritation. A compress using
pieces of lint, dipped into the decoction and laid on the affected part,
pressing the lint lightly on to the skin to make sure it in in contact
with the affected surface, can be left in place for 10-15 minutes and
renewed as necessary. Dab the decoction on localised spots of eczema
with cotton wool as soon as the itching begins.
The strong decoction added to the nightly bath will also help to stop
the itching of skin eruptions, providing a soothing and relaxing bath.
Dandelion face packs also help to cleanse
and clear the skin. Combined with nettle, the facepack becomes more
effective.
To make a facepack
Pick young nettle and dandelion
leaves in the early morning. Chop the leaves finely
and put in an enamel pan with sufficient water to prevent from burning.
Simmer until the leaves have formed a thick mash. Remove from the heat
and spread the pack on a piece of muslin. Cleanse the face and open
the pores of the skin by using warm water compress. Cover the face with
the pack and lie down and relax (with cold compresses or cucumber over
the eyes) for 15 minutes. Remove the pack with warm water and splash
the skin with cold water or an astringent lotion to close the pores.
If used every 2 or 3 days for a fortnight there will be a significant
improvement in the skin.
