You can find them in the garden, they commonly grow near houses and the meadows are full of them. We’re talking about nothing else but dandelions.
You may think they’re pretty but otherwise useless. But they can be used in other ways than as a basic building material for making traditional wreaths. Dandelions can also help with a range of ailments.
Kapitoly
Simple but pretty flower
The dandelion may not look as underwhelming as, say, a rose, but it doesn’t lack attractiveness. That’s also why it is occasionally picked for a vase.
It is a hardy plant that can grow to a height of over 30 centimetres. It has a spindle-shaped root and a hollow stem, which is characterized by a sticky, milk-like liquid that oozes out when squeezed.
It was first described in detail in the western world by a certain Master Wilhelm, who gave it the Latin name Ortus Sanitis.
This was a year before the discovery of America, in 1491. That doesn’t mean they hadn’t already explored it in other parts of the world. In China, it has been known for centuries.
This plant spreads very easily, which can especially annoy gardeners who want to keep everything tip top, and yellow flowers throw a pitchfork into their plans.
Although they can often be a distraction, it is certainly not wise to remove dandelions from your vicinity completely. After all, you never know when they might come in handy. They contain many medicinal substances. These are found not only in one part of the plant, but also in the root, flower and leaves. And it can be used to make tea.
Positive properties of dandelion tea
Dandelion tea can bring you a whole host of benefits, and although you shouldn’t rely on it alone in case of trouble, it can eliminate many unpleasant conditions even before you think of going to a doctor. And how can you benefit from tea?
- It works great as a natural diuretic. This means that if you have trouble urinating, dandelion decoction should help. Usually, just get two cups in a few hours apart. Because dandelion is a diuretic, it is also very effective in preventing urinary tract infections. It is ideal when combined with herbs that are specifically aimed at fighting infections, such as lily of the valley.
- You can even lose a few kilos of weight with its help. Sure, it won’t run for you or stop you from munching, but because it can slow down some of the enzymes that work during digestion, it can help break down fat better.
- Although it is not directly confirmed scientifically, it is possible to treat mild digestive disorders with tea. The decoction can even treat constipation.
- Because dandelion root tea increases the flow of bile, it is a good idea to use dandelion tea to cleanse the liver. This is not only useful after a few days of drinking.
- There are studies that say that dandelion root may also help fight some types of melanoma. However, this is still in the research stage. So don’t expect any miracles in this case and rather rely on modern medicine.
Of course, you can buy various types of dandelion tea in a health food store or pharmacy, but if this plant is blooming in your garden or backyard, you can make tea from it at home with your own help.
It’s not complicated at all.
Tea is usually not made from the whole plant, but from its individual parts, i.e. the flower, leaves and root.
Blossom tea
To make dandelion flower tea you will need ten pieces of dandelion, or dandelion flowers. These should first be thoroughly cleaned under water to remove any dirt and especially any insects that may have settled on them.
It is also important to get rid of the green parts on the bottom of the head.
The treated flowers can then be placed in a sieve or cup and covered with boiling water. Unlike other teas, the flowers need to be steeped for around twenty minutes to get the most of the necessary substances from them. The tea will be a little cold, but still tasty. It can be flavoured a little, ideally with honey.
The benefits of the leaves
Five leaves are needed to make dandelion leaf tea. Wash these thoroughly with cold water and then finely grate them. You can also process them in a mortar. As in the case of the flowers, you can either put the leaves in a cup or leave them in a tea strainer. The infusion should take approximately ten minutes.
Root Broth
To obtain the root, it is necessary to dig up the entire plant. The root needs to be washed thoroughly, ideally under cold running water. There is no need to give too much of the root, about two teaspoons is enough.
It does, however, need to be grated with a knife before use.
Before you start cleaning, boil a litre of water and once the water is bubbling, put the chopped root in it. It’s a good idea to let the water boil for another minute and then turn it off. After forty minutes of steeping, the tea should be ready.
