Table of ContentsHow Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEWDandelion arrives on the spring scene just when the herb is needed most. Many herbs have this amazing quality - proliferating just when their healthful properties can really make a difference. The inspiring yellow flowers of dandelion celebrate spring's full swing, and the promise of good health in this new cycle. Maybe dandelion's charm does not strike you - are you pulling them from your garden, or cursing their appearance on your lawn? Then you are missing out on a prized medicinal herb that holds helpfulness in its leaves, roots, and blossoms. The plant is a perfect spring tonic that cleanses the liver and cools the hot nature of Pitta, which is beginning to ascend in springtime. Spring Liver TonicDandelion is a cholagogue, clearing the liver and gallbladder while removing cholesterol from the blood. It aids in digesting a fatty meal and improves fat metabolism.The delightful dandelion holds your hand in the transition from winter to spring to summer, helping to eliminate the heaviness of winter's indulgences, making you light for spring, and also preventing the accumulation of summer heat. The so-called weed also helps to process the environmental toxins that burden our modern civilizations. Reduces Blood Sugar, Replenishes PotassiumThis herbal ally's attributes don't stop there. Dandelion root regulates blood sugar levels in diabetics. Dandelion leaf is comparable to the drug furosemide. Unlike the drug, which causes a loss of potassium, dandelion leaf is a natural source of potassium.Reduces Water RetentionDandelion is definitely drying; it makes the mouth dry and tingle. It dries the eyes and makes the frontal lobe alert. Its high potassium content makes it a strong diuretic (increases urination), relieving high blood pressure and the water retention that causes spring sluggishness.Feeling puffed up in the April warmth? Try dandelion leaf tea, or dandelion leaves in your spring salad. Cleansing LaxativeDandelion is a mild laxative, but should be combined with ginger or cardamom to counteract its cold quality. Be careful and don't be too zealous with this potent food medicine; for instance, too many raw dandelion leaves makes the stomach cold, curbing the appetite.Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2022 study and survey of 18 students of Ayurveda who experimented with dandelion. During the study, students ate dandelion for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course. About Dandelion LeavesWhen most people think of dandelion, they think of pulling this pesky weed out of their manicured lawn. It's the poster child for weeds. This is especially ironic because colonists brought the dandelion to the Americas as an important medicinal plant. Since then, we've lost the knowledge of our ancestors. The bitter spring greens devoured by our forefathers helped them tremendously, and have the potential to bring us all to better health.Dandelions originally come from Eurasia, the country of Georgia, where they have been enjoyed by humans for at least 3,000 years. Many homeowners are challenged to treasure the furry yellow flowers, to give up weed killers for a season, and to enjoy the wild plants that are nature's plan for green spaces. The nutritional power of dandelions remind people that growing food instead of lawns brings us back to a personal intimacy with the environment and health. The medicine you need is growing right under your feet, the dandelion's sunny petals remind us. Interestingly, each single petal of the bright yellow flower is actually a single rayed flower, and each one contains a copious amount of nectar that fills the ovary over halfway full, making it a staple for our vanishing honeybees. It also proves beneficial to bees and other pollinators because it can bloom late into the fall. The presence of Dandelions can mean that bee farmers do not need to offer nectar alternatives to their hives as the weather cools. Buying & Preparation
The best things in life are free, and dandelions are no exception.
Healthfulness is a consumer impulse for some, but it is important to remember that our needs are fulfilled by the nature all around us. Medicine pops up all around us all of the time. Dandelions grow on the back lawn, and that's the best place to find them. You can enjoy dandelion leaves as a salad green if you pluck the delicate spring foliage from the ground-hugging rosettes early in the season. Like many weeds, they are prolific and full of hearty plant wisdom. All people are in danger of ignoring what is around us and shrugging off what seems merely common. When it comes to dandelion, it's important to remember the dignity of common weeds, and the miracle of the relationship between humans and plants. Grocery store dandelions are great, and dandelion leaves from the farmer's market will work just fine, but go ahead and stalk the wild dandelions growing in your back yard. They pack a more vital punch. Wild food has to contend with elements and compete with other plants while farmed food is coddled, often fed fertilizers, and may be treated with pesticides. Frank Cook (the late herbalist from Asheville, NC) would say that the difference between grocery store food and wild food is the difference between a dog and a wolf. Find out how you can go wild! Eating wild foods brings you closer to the land. When you eat a dandelion, you are communing with the natural world, taking in the strength of thriving plants. You become a part of the land. Eating wild medicinal foods has a potent effect. If you ate 20 dandelion flowers for three days, a part of your brain would be vitalized; perhaps your life would change forever. Who would have thought that these wild and under appreciated plants like dandelion have the vitality to keep us strong and healthy? Cooking Dandelion LeavesBe simple and organic: Find a lovely dandelion flower, get on your hands and knees, and eat it right off the stem. Or, take some leaves, chop them, steam lightly with mint for easy digestion, and eat like greens. Use dandelion leaves as you would use greens, in soups, or with eggs, or even pulsed raw into a verdant pesto with olive oil and pumpkin seeds. Immerse the dandelion leaves into hot water for a bitter tea.Every part of the plant is edible, the flower, the leaves, the seeds, and the roots. However, it's important to separate seeds from the white fluff, also called papas, which can get stuck in your throat. Once you eat a dandelion, there's no going back. Soon you'll be munching on many of natures delights, including lamb's quarters, nettles, purslane, and chickweed. Make your favorite dressing, bring a big salad bowl, an instructional manual on how to identify and forage for wild greens, and venture into wild land. Your enjoyment will connect you with your ancestors, who may have spent whole winters without fresh greens. Imagine the ecstasy, biting into those fresh leaves that trumpet the arrival of spring! Learn about the health benefits of dandelion leaves for FREEYou'll receive free access to our entire website including healthy recipes, nutritional diet plans, medicinal uses of ingredients, & ayurvedic health tips. Sign in once and you can use our website indefinitely..Are Dandelion Leaves Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Dandelion Leaves' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENTYour Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.SERVING SIZE: 1/8 lbs SPECIES: Taraxacum officinal FAMILY:
Asteraceae PREPARATION: EAT IN: FOR OCCASION: Biocharacteristics of Dandelion Leaves
Foods with a Similar Nature to Dandelion LeavesTurmeric Turmeric has these Actions in CommonCholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Antioxidant, Digestive, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, AntimicrobialBurdock Root (Gobo) Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in CommonAnti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Antimicrobial, General-laxative, Livotonic, Anti-estrogenic, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugarAloe Vera Juice / Gel Aloe Vera Juice / Gel has these Actions in CommonAlterative, Appetite-suppressant, General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Stimulant-laxative, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicantBeets Beets has these Actions in CommonAlterative, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulant-laxative, Anti-inflammatory, General-laxative, Irritates-kidney, Stimulates-energy, Blood-thinner, Hepatoprotective, LivotonicTurmeric Root (Fresh) Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in CommonAlterative, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antimicrobial, Digestive, Immune-calmingKale Kale has these Actions in CommonAnti-estrogenic, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Alterative, Appetite-suppressant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-peristalsisCilantro Cilantro has these Actions in CommonBlood-thinner, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Immune-calmingRed Leaf Lettuce Red Leaf Lettuce has these Actions in CommonBlood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-peristalsis, Alterative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antioxidant, General-laxative, Stimulates-energyCranberry Cranberry has these Actions in CommonAnti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Livotonic, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Antioxidant, Immune-calmingWhite Vinegar White Vinegar has these Actions in CommonInternal-detoxicant, Antioxidant, General-laxative, Livotonic, Appetite-suppressant, Hepatoprotective, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, CholagogueHerb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Dandelion LeavesBhumyamalaki Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in CommonGeneral-laxative, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Lithagogue, Cholagogue, Livotonic, Digestive, DiureticDandelion Root Dandelion Root has these Actions in CommonCholagogue, Digestive, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-estrogenic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, AntimicrobialNeem Leaf Neem Leaf has these Actions in CommonHypolipidemic, Alterative, Immune-calming, Anti-estrogenic, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antimicrobial, Blood-thinner, Cholagogue, DiureticPunarnava Punarnava has these Actions in CommonDigestive, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antimicrobial, Stimulates-energy, Antioxidant, CholagogueGinkgo Ginkgo has these Actions in CommonHepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Blood-thinner, DiureticYarrow Yarrow has these Actions in CommonAlterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-estrogenic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Blood-thinner, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Immune-calmingMilk Thistle Milk Thistle has these Actions in CommonAntioxidant, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Livotonic, AntimicrobialBhringaraj Bhringaraj has these Actions in CommonAnti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, LivotonicDong Quai Dong Quai has these Actions in CommonBlood-thinner, Digestive, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, AntioxidantAmalaki Amalaki has these Actions in CommonHepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Digestive, General-laxativeGuduchi Guduchi has these Actions in CommonImmune-calming, Internal-detoxicant, Livotonic, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, HepatoprotectiveJoyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine. TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMSDandelion Leaves may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.View Other Ingredients for SpringDandelion Leaves is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.Clinical Tools & ResourcesAbout the Author John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 6 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language. Comments & Impressions of 'Dandelion Leaves'Do you like 'dandelion leaves'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'dandelion leaves'?(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 325 likes Sign in to review this food
I would exercise caution eating things from your lawn. Our neighbors use ChemLawn and I am sure that the chemical lawn "cocktail" ends up on our law too (runoff).
Sad but true modern reality that your lawn may not be safe for your children, your bare feet, or to grow a simple garden. There are also many permaculture remedies for this if you want.
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