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Wild Endive | | Name : | Wild Endive | | Synonyms : | Blowball
Cankerwort
Lion'stooth
Priest'scrown
Puffball
Pugong ying
Pu-kung-ying
Swinesnout
Whiteendive
Wildendive
| | Parts Used : | Roots, tops, and leaves. | | Habitat : | The golden-yellow flower-heads of this poor, despised plant brightenup fields, hedgerows and many a drab piece of land. Found on lawns,waste places, throughout the United States and Canada. Native of Europe,found in most of the world. | | Description : | Descriptionis hardly necessary. A familiar weed; 2-18 inches tall.A small rosette-forming perennial plant with a long thin taproot anda clump of entire or sinuate leaves. Flowering, leafless, stalk ishollow, with milky juice. The leaves are jagged-cut. Flowers are yellow;March to September, or sporadically all year. Seeds form 'clocks'round balls of seeds with parachutes of hairs. | | Constituents : | Biotin, calcium, choline, fats, gluten, gum, inositol, inulin, iron,lactupicrine, linolenic acid, magnesium, niacin, PABA, phosphorus,potash, proteins, resin, sulfur, vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, B12,C, E, and P, and zinc.
Leaves: bitter glycosides, carotenoids, terpenoids, choline,potassium salts, iron and other minerals, vitamins A,B, C, D, G. (contain 7,000 units of Vitamin A per oz.)(compared with lettuce, 1,200 units per oz. and carrot, 1275 per oz.)
Root: bitter glycosides, tannins, triterpenes, sterols, volatileoil, choline, asparagin, inulin.
Alterative, cholagogue (increase the flow of bile), deobstruent,diuretic, stomachic, hepatic, laxative, tonic, aperient, (a very mildlaxative), liver and digestive tonic. | | Uses : | A mildly bitter herb that cleanses the bloodstream and liver andincreases the production of bile. A natural diuretic and digestiveaid. Improves function of the pancreas, spleen, stomach and kidneys.Take for anemia, gallbladder problems, gout, rheumatism,jaundice, anemia, cirrhosis,typhoid fever, neuralgia,hepatitis, abscesses, boils,decayed teeth, snakebites,cramps, fluid retention,constipation, and breasttumors.
May aid in the prevention of breast cancer and agespots. Reduces serumcholesterol, and uric acid. The greatest benefit of this herbis to help detoxify any poisons in the liver, but is also has beenbeneficial in loweringblood pressure. Root is one of the best remedies for treatmentof hepatitis and may be a possible preventative for breast cancer.
Recommended for treating arthritis;it is said to disperse acidic deposits from the affected joints. Tobenefit from this herb, the leaves (slightly bitter) should be eatenraw in salads; or prepare an infusion in the usual way. Also, the'milk' from the hollow stalks of this plant may be applied with goodeffect to all pimples, cankersores, ulcers, edema, andsores.
Dried root thought to be weaker, often roasted as coffee substitute.Dried leaf tea is a folk laxative. Experimentally, root is hypoglycemic,weak antibiotic against yeastinfections (Candida albican), stimulates flow of bile and weightloss. All plant parts have served as food. Leaves and flowersare rich in vitamins A and C. Boil leavesand serve like spinach.
In Chinese medicine, dandelion is regarded as a bloodcleanser, tonic, diabetes,and digestive aid. It isground and applied as a poultice to snake bites. | | Dosage : | Combine dandelion root, ginseng, and ginger root taken along witha sound nutritional diet will help people suffering from lowblood sugar. Take a cup of this blend of tea, using either extractsor dried herbs, 3 times a day. The white sap from freshplants is corrosive and can be effective against warts.
Hearty spring salads are quite effective. Gather the fresh dandelionleaves, the young stinging nettle leaves (Urtica dioica), and thebirch leaves that are just unfolding. Mince the leaves and add thishealthful green seasoning to any clear or thickened soup, vegetablestew, or salad shortly before serving. Sprinkle the finely choppeddandelion leaves onto a piece of buttered bread, mix them with farmer'scheese or another soft cheese, or put them on potatoes. If eaten regularly,you will be stimulating your body metabolism.
Dandelion root tea: Pour 8 oz. (1/4 L)of cold water over 2 heaping tsp. of the root plus aerialparts, bring slowly to a boil, let steep for 10 to 15minutes, then strain. Drink 2 cups of tea perday; after breakfast or with breakfast, and before going to bed.
Fresh dandelion juice makes a good spring tonic. Flowers make dandelionwine. | | Safety : | Contact dermatitis reported from handling the plant, probably causedby the latex in the stems and leaves. | | Myths : | Potassium is often flushed from the body when synthetic diureticsare taken. But dandelion has an abundance of potassium to off-setthis problem.
The feathery seed balls of the dandelion were once used by younggirls to determine if their true loves were really true. They wouldblow on the dandelion fuzzy ball 3 times; if at leastone of the fuzzy seeds remained, it was taken as an omen that hersweetheart was thinking about her.
Culpeper says dandelion is 'vulgarly called Piss-a-Beds.'
Since the 7th century, the Chinese have known about the antibacterialproperties of the juice of the dandelion. Researchers recently discoveredthat dandelion may protect against cirrhosis of the liver. In Europe,the dandelion first appears as being used medicinally in 1485. Thename dandelion was invented by a 15th century surgeon, who comparedthe shape of the leaves to a lion's tooth, or dens leonis.Old timers called dandelion the 'King of Weeds.'
A French authority claimed that the flowers and stems of dandelionare 'enormously rich in estrogen.' Dandelion was brought to the NewWorld by the early colonists. They used the whole plant. The flowersmade wine, the leaves made salads, the stems and roots dried and usedmedicinally. According to stories, dandelion never grows where thereare no human inhabitants. The early pioneers found no trace of themin western America. After a few years, up sprang a dandelion headand soon there were millions of them. Native Americans learned tolove them and would walk miles to gather them if they could not befound locally.
Dandelion coffee is made of high quality roots, now grown on specializedfarms. Proper harvesting, drying and skillful roasting methods givedandelion a remarkable roasted flavor that many people readily acceptas a coffee substitute. Dandelion coffee has been found to be of benefitto dyspeptic people, who cannot tolerate real coffee. The roastedroot has no caffeine, so drink it as often as desired, even as a nightcap.
Roasted dandelion root has almost a magical effect upon milk. Steep1 heaping tsp. of roasted root in 1 cupof hot, not boiling, milk, for 5 to 10 minutesand strain. Sweeten if desired. The resultant liquid tastes like richcream. Of course with fewer calories. Try on breakfast cereals, itis great. Also, try this dandelion milk in recipes that call for milkas an ingredient.
Add 1/4 tsp. powdered licorice to give dandelion milka pleasant tang. | | Nutrient : | Calcium, fats, iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, proteins, vitaminsA, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, E, and P, and zinc.Rich in potassium and lecithin. | | Sold : | Capsules: take 1 capsule 3 times per day.
Extract: mix 10 to 30 drops in juice or water daily. |
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