herbal footnotes from earthdeva

herbal footnotes from earthdeva/molly;
i love wildcrafting/gathering my wild medicinals...
most morning as of late has me out gathering
dandelion blossoms from my own earthspace.
In the past i have gathered at
specific times for specific reasons...
spring/fall for roots, to dry for later use,
to create tonics, bitters, tinctures & teas.
last spring & this i gathered gallons of the lovely yellow blossoms
& brewed dandelion blossom wine!! ( yummy)
last year i also started adding blossoms regularly to my scrambled eggs in the morning , which actually is quite tasty, as well as added nutritional value!!
altho i have dried blossoms in the past, it is an "ify" process to say the least, often resulting in lots of dandelion fluff!!
this year i have been sealing the blossoms & freezing them to store for use during the cold months.
i also recently infused some avocado oil with the blossoms, in my herbal infuser (Mighty Fast) thinking i would utilize it for salves etc. however i have discovered how wonderfull it tastes & have been using it in cooking. i have also used the blossoms in baking; cornbread, muffins, "brownies" personally i love the added flavor & texture they add to the baked goods.
when my kids were little, i had them gather the blossoms & made dandelion fritters as a treat, that i remembered from my childhood.
as a former landscaper, the industries opinion of dandelions in general is a sad one, with my herbalist background i was often scoffed at for my interest & high regard of the dandelion.
i choose to look at & appreciate a plants nutritional/medicinal qualities!!
i have several herbal books i refer to often,
listed here are just a few of the nutritional & medicinal benefits
from this beautifull plant:::>
1. Source of antioxidants.
2. Relieve pain from headaches, backaches, & menstrual cramps
3. Relieve stomach cramps.
4. Relieves depression.
5. A chemical compound known as helenin may be the cure for those with a problem of reduced vision in the dark.
6. Flowers also contain Vitamin A & Vitamin B12 which are also good the eyes.
7. In 1956, Chauvin demonstrated the antibacterial effects of dandelion pollen, which may validate the centuries old use of dandelion flowers in Korean folk medicine to prevent boils, skin infections, tuberculosis, & edema and promote blood circulation.

Certain chemical compounds in fresh dandelion greens, flower tops, and roots are known to have antioxidant, disease preventing, as well as health promoting properties.
Besides, its latex is an excellent laxative. These active principles in the herb can help reduce weight & control cholesterol levels in the blood.
Dandelion root, as well as other plant parts, contains Taraxacin, a bitter crystalline principle, & Taraxacerin, an acrid resin. Further, the root also contains inulin (not insulin) & levulin. Together, these compounds are responsible for various therapeutic properties of the herb.
Fresh dandelion leaves carry 10,161 IU of vitamin-A per 100 g (about 338% of daily recommended intake), one of the highest source of vitamin-A among culinary herbs. Vitamin-A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin & antioxidant, required for maintaining healthy mucosa skin.
Its leaves packed with numerous health benefiting flavonoids such as carotene-ß, carotene-α, lutein, cryptoxanthin, & zeaxanthin. Consumption of natural foods rich in vitamin-A & flavonoids (carotenes) help the human body protect from lung & oral cavity cancers. Zeaxanthin supposed to possess photo-filtering functions & therefore, may help protect the retina from harmful UV rays!
The lovely herb is an ideal source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, &&& magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell & body fluids which helps regulate heart rate & blood pressure. Iron is essential for red blood cell production.The human body uses manganese as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
It is also rich in many vital vitamins including folic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, vitamin-E and vitamin-C that are essential for optimum health. Vitamin-C is a powerful natural antioxidant. dandelion greens provide 58% of daily recommended levels of vitamin-C.
dandelion is probably the richest herbal sources of vitamin-K; provides about 650% of DRI. Vitamin-K has a potential role in bone strengthening by promoting osteoblastic activity in the bones. it also has established role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.
dandelion herb contains notable nutrients and is a great source of nutrition during winter
this humble backyard herb provides
9% of dietary fiber,
19% of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine),
20% of Riboflavin,
58% of vitamin C,
338% of vitamin A,
649% of vitamin K,
39% of iron and
19% of calcium.

love this little sunshine blossom!!
herbal hugs, earthdeva/molly

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