Dandelion is a type of plant. Dandelion - description, properties, application. In some cases, dandelion can help

Dandelion is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae or Compositae family. Well known dandelion officinalis with a rosette of basal leaves and bright yellow flowers.

Description of dandelion

Plant height is from 10 to 30 cm. The root is strong, vertically located, white in cross section. The leaves are dissected in shape and form a basal rosette. The flowers are yellow, collected in rosettes. The main flowering occurs in April-May, and can bloom until autumn. The fruits consist of an achene with a tuft and ripen in June-July.

Dandelion Spread

Dandelion officinalis grows throughout our country - in fields, vegetable gardens, lawns. Often considered a weed. Appears as soon as the snow melts.

Medicinal properties of dandelion

In fact dandelion officinalis– a very useful plant that cures many ailments. Its medicinal properties have been known for a long time, and were used by all healers in Rus'. Dandelion leaves contain choline, various trace elements and beneficial bitters, as well as other substances necessary for health. All parts of the plant that are harvested for future use are useful. The above-ground part is dried in the shade in the air, or in well-ventilated areas. The roots are harvested in spring or autumn. To do this, they are dug up, cleared of soil, washed and dried.

Dandelion officinalis used to improve digestion, as a means of stimulating appetite and giving strength, for diabetes, vitamin deficiency. Its use is considered an excellent means for the prevention of atherosclerosis. They treat anemia, heart, kidneys, intestines, and metabolic disorders. Traditional medicine claims the antitumor properties of dandelion. And in China it has long been used as a strong antioxidant. The biologically active substances it contains also have expectorant, laxative, sedative, antipyretic and antispasmodic effects.

Dandelion juice restores liver cells, normalizes its work. It is used for cholecystitis and poisoning. Restores bile formation. Treats eczema and furunculosis. Sometimes dandelion juice mixed with carrot juice.

Juice can be prepared in several ways:

Method 1 is to dig up the plant along with its roots in May or June. Rinse, soak in slightly salted water for about half an hour, squeeze out all the water, dry and squeeze out the juice. Mix with sugar 1:1 and add vodka 1/10 part. After 2 weeks the juice is ready. Keep refrigerated.

Method 2 - everything is the same, only without adding sugar and vodka. The squeezed juice is diluted with a small amount of water. Take with honey for 2-3 months, ¼ cup before meals.

Method 3 – finely chop the washed leaves, blanch for 1 minute, then drain the water. Pass through a meat grinder and squeeze through a double layer of gauze. Dilute the resulting mixture with water in a 1:1 ratio. Boil for 1-2 minutes.

Dandelion roots – an excellent natural diuretic. They are used to cleanse the kidneys. Infusions help with arthritis - pain decreases, the process of joint deformation stops. Thanks to its rich composition, dandelion decoctions regulate metabolism and help with weight loss.

Contraindication are conditions with blockage of the bile ducts, gastritis and ulcers.

Uses of dandelion

To improve metabolism: Pour 1 tablespoon of crushed leaves into 1 cup of boiling water. Leave for 1-2 hours. Then strain and take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 15-30 minutes before meals.

For constipation: Grind the roots well in a coffee grinder. Take 3 times a day, ½ teaspoon half an hour before meals.

For diabetes: Leaves are used in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus as part of herbal preparations recommended by a doctor.

An infusion of the root can be made as follows: pour 1 tablespoon of crushed root into a thermos, then pour a glass of boiling water. Leave for several hours, preferably overnight. Strain and take 1/3 cup 3 times a day before meals.

In cooking All parts of the dandelion are used by nutritionists as a low-calorie food. The roots of the plant are baked in the oven, then ground and drunk instead of coffee. If you add a little chicory, ginger or cinnamon, you get a flavorful drink.

Very useful as a source of vitamins salad of young leaves and flowers. In order to get rid of excess bitterness, they are pre-soaked in a salty solution. In Europe, a variety of salad dandelion without bitterness has already been developed. Also used as a seasoning for meat.

Dandelion flowers are pickled and added to salads as a garnish.

Dandelion salad recipe:

Pour 100 g of fresh leaves with salted water and leave for 15 minutes. Drain the water and chop finely. Add 1 tablespoon of sour cream and 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Add salt to taste. If desired, sour cream and mayonnaise can be replaced with vegetable oil and sprinkled with lemon juice.

To surprise your guests for the New Year, it’s time to think about this during the dandelion blossoms and prepare wine (another name is whiskey). , which tastes like Scotch whiskey, will mature in six months, just in time for the winter holidays.

If you want to stay young and healthy longer, pay attention to the small simple flower by the road. In addition to numerous useful microelements, it contains silicon, the deficiency of which affects the aging of the body. So it was not for nothing that dandelion received the name “elixir of youth”.

In folk cosmetics A mask of fresh leaves is used to moisturize, nourish and rejuvenate the skin. Freckles and age spots are well whitened by an infusion of flowers.

Dandelion juice will help get rid of small warts. And an insect bite can be cured by freshly crushed leaves.

Dandelion- an excellent honey plant. It produces honey with a strong aroma and slightly bitter taste.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) belongs to the perennial family Asteraceae. It is considered a unique plant that is distributed almost throughout the globe, but most of all in temperate climates.

Dandelion has the following names in other languages:

German– Butterblume, Kuhblume, Pusteblume, Wilde Zichorie;
in English– dandelion;
in French– dent de lion, pissenlit.

In literary language you can often find the name “dandelion”.

Appearance

Dandelion is small in height, it grows up to a maximum of 0.4 m. However, it has an extensive and branched root system that can reach a meter. A rosette is formed from the leaves at the roots. The leaves themselves are irregularly lobed in shape with deep teeth. The stems are hollow from the inside and end in a basket with many yellow ligulate flowers.

Yellow flowers open only in sunny weather. Also, all parts of the plant contain white milky sap. Dandelion fruits are achenes with white tufts.

Kinds

Dandelion has larger species, of which there are about 75, and smaller ones - more than 1000 of them. Of the large species, the most common are:

common dandelion (medicinal);
autumn dandelion;
Dandelion Bessarabian.

Some species were listed in the Red Book.

Where does it grow?

Dandelion can be found all over the globe, although it prefers temperate climates. One of the typical representatives, the common dandelion, is common in the forest-steppe zone. It grows everywhere - in meadows, along roads, on the edges, as a weed in the garden, garden or park. It can be found especially often in Central Russia, in the countries of the Near Abroad, in Siberian and Far Eastern territories, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, on the Sakhalin Peninsula, in Asian countries, etc. The exception is deserts.

Peculiarities

Young dandelion leaves have a slightly bitter taste, old leaves have an even more bitter taste, but the flowers, on the contrary, are quite sweet and honey-like.

Some individual types of dandelion are considered suitable for rubber extraction, as they contain it in large quantities.

Characteristics

Dandelion has the following characteristics:

used in preparing various dishes;
contains many vitamins and minerals;
used not as a seasoning, but as an independent product;
is a large honey plant.

Dandelion honey has a pleasant color ranging from golden to coppery-amber. It is quite thick, has a pronounced odor, but tastes bitter and may seem unpleasant. In addition, it tends to become sugary quickly.

Nutritional value and calorie content

100 grams of young and fresh dandelion leaves contain 45 kcal.

The nutritional value of 100 grams of fresh product includes the following components:

proteins – 2.7 g;
fats – 0.7 g;
carbohydrates – 5.7 g;
dietary fiber – 3.5 g;
ash – 1.8 g;
water – 85.6 g;
mono- and disaccharides – 0.71 g;
saturated fatty acids – 0.17 g.

You can find out more useful information about dandelion from an excerpt from the program “Live Healthy!”

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of dandelion contains the following components:

vitamins:β-carotene – 5.854 mg, A (RE) – 508 mcg, B1 (thiamine) – 0.19 mg, B2 (riboflavin) – 0.26 mg, B3 (pantothenic) – 0.084 mg, B6 (pyridoxine) – 0.251 mg , B9 (folic) – 27 mcg, C – 35 mg, E (TE) – 3.44 mg, K (phylloquinone) – 778.4 mcg, PP (niacin equivalent) – 0.806 mg; choline – 35.3 mg;
macronutrients: calcium – 187 mg, magnesium – 36 mg, sodium – 76 mg, potassium – 397 mg, phosphorus – 66 mg,
microelements: iron – 3.1 mg, zinc – 0.41 mg, copper – 171 mcg, manganese – 0.342 mg, selenium – 0.5 mcg.

Dandelion juice contains several percent rubbery substances; the roots contain triterpene compounds, sterols, carbohydrates, and fatty oil. Flowers and leaves are rich in lutein.

Beneficial features

Dandelion has the following beneficial properties:

contains a huge amount of minerals valuable for the human body;
relieves swelling;
helps relieve redness and itching after insect bites;
used for weight loss;
enhances lactation;
actively fights toxins;
improves metabolism;
helps whiten skin.

Harm

In some cases, dandelion can help:

blockage of the biliary tract;
exacerbation of ulcers or gastritis;
diarrhea;
vomiting.

Contraindications

if there are problems with the biliary tract;
in the presence of acute stomach diseases;
if you have a pollen allergy.

You should also monitor the dosage.

Oil

Dandelion oil is obtained by mixing crushed dandelion root with vegetable or olive oil. There should be 25 g of oil per 100 g of roots. You need to infuse it for a couple of weeks in a warm room. Dandelion oil is used as an ointment or compress against burns, as well as in the presence of bites, eczema and other inflammations of the skin.

Dandelion oil is also suitable for salad dressing.

Juice

The juice of the plant strengthens and tones the body. It helps restore the acid-base balance in it. It is obtained from all parts of the dandelion. To do this, they are crushed and slightly diluted with water. However, before this, the dandelions are soaked for half an hour in cool water, which is pre-salted so that it does not taste so bitter. Canning juice in alcohol is allowed.

In combination with the juices of carrots and turnip leaves, dandelion juice helps strengthen bones, spine and teeth.

Application

In cooking

The culinary uses of dandelion have proven to be quite extensive:

used in the preparation of various purees;
leaves are added to green cabbage soup, soups (including borscht) or salads;
sometimes added to vinaigrettes;
jam is made from flowers;
Dandelion wine is made from buds, flowers and stems;
leaves can be pickled or fermented;
Boiled leaves sometimes replace spinach.

Sometimes young leaves are steamed and baked in dough. Flowers are often used to decorate various dishes, and they are also used to make tea, jellies and syrups. There are several options for tasty and healthy salad with the addition of dandelion leaves.

Dandelion salad

First recipe:

young leaves are finely chopped and salted;
add finely chopped onions and carrots;
If desired, the salad can be seasoned with sour cream or olive oil with the addition of lemon juice.

Second recipe:

100 g of fresh dandelion leaves are washed well and then soaked for half an hour in cool water, which must first be salted;
the greens are dried and chopped;
wash, dry and chop several green onions and parsley (there should be an equal amount);
the greens are mixed, salted, peppered, sprinkled with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and seasoned with a few tablespoons of olive oil;
Dill sprigs are used as salad decoration.

Dandelion flower jam

Particularly popular is dandelion jam, which can be prepared according to the following recipe:

you need 400 flowers, a lemon, a liter of water and a kilogram of sugar;
inflorescences are collected in an open form, preferably on a sunny, fine day;
they are washed and soaked for 24 hours, then the water is drained and the flowers are washed again;
pour a liter of water over the flowers, cut the lemon together with the peel, boil along with the inflorescences and leave for 2 hours;
filter the preparation, and pour a kilogram of sugar into the resulting syrup;
cook the workpiece (cooking time depends on the desired degree of thickness);
the optimal cooking time is 45 minutes, but the longer the jam sits on the fire, the thicker it will be;
When putting jam into jars for the winter, you can add more sugar.

In medicine

Dandelion is a valuable plant for medicine. Use it as follows:

as a choleretic and diuretic;
as an anti-inflammatory agent;
for blood purification;
to improve appetite;
in case of disorders of the digestive tract;
for liver diseases;
for the treatment of intestinal diseases;
for the treatment of hemorrhoids;
for the treatment of joint diseases;
to normalize the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
for diabetes mellitus;
for wound healing;
for the treatment of skin inflammation;
to tone the body;
to lower pressure;
to combat warts and papillomas, etc.

Traditional medicine recipes

Decoction. To prepare a decoction of dandelions, pour several tablespoons of crushed roots into a liter of boiling water. The broth is boiled for 25 minutes under the lid, then cooled and filtered. Drink warm three times a day, half a glass an hour before meals. This will help improve appetite and activate the pancreas.
Infusion to increase appetite. R It is recommended to infuse two teaspoons of crushed roots in 200 ml of cool water for 7-9 hours and drink 50 ml before meals.
Infusion. If the immune system is weakened, pour 200 ml of boiling water over a spoonful of crushed leaves and roots and leave in a thermos for a couple of hours. Then the broth is filtered and taken 50 ml several times a day before meals.
Juice and gruel Dandelion juice can also help remove warts. It is recommended to crush the young leaves and apply them to areas of the skin inflamed by insect bites. Also, the leaves, crushed into a paste, effectively help heal wounds and ulcers.

In cosmetology

An alcohol infusion of dandelion flowers can effectively fight acne and papillomas. Masks with the addition of fresh young leaves of the plant effectively nourish the skin, moisturizing and making it firmer and more elastic. Infusions of flowers help to whiten the skin and make freckles much paler.

When losing weight

Most often, when losing weight, dandelion roots are used, which help improve metabolic processes in the body. It is used in the form of decoctions and infusions. They remove excess fluid from the body and also relieve swelling.

Due to the low calorie content of the plant, you can safely eat vegetable salads with the addition of dandelion leaves. They contain a large amount of vitamins that will be beneficial for the body.

At home

Household uses of dandelion are as follows:

used in official and unofficial medicine;
present in dishes of different cuisines of the world;
used as an extract in various cosmetics;
included in herbal preparations for weight loss.

Growing

Dandelion can be grown in a greenhouse, vegetable garden, or even at home. The plant does not require special care; it is not without reason that it has become a hated weed for many gardeners. Light shade or sun is suitable for lighting.

Soil moisture is usually not particularly important. Dandelion will grow best in cool, moist soil types. When planting plants with seeds, the distance between them should be at least 0.1 m.

The frequency of watering should be chosen so that the soil has time to dry out. Constant humidity does not have a very good effect on plant growth.

Sometimes dandelion roots are roasted and crushed to create a kind of coffee substitute.
Dandelion is fed to many rodents. For example, rabbits.
Dandelion is considered a weed, the control of which is quite difficult. The plant regenerates amazingly quickly, but this ability manifests itself after its first seeds appear. During the flowering period, it is recommended to rid the soil of areas clogged with plants.

0,508 Iron 3,1 Vitamin B2 0,260 Calorie content 45 kcal Selenium 0,5 Vitamin B6 0,251 Zinc 0,41 Vitamin B1 0,190 Manganese 0,34 Vitamin B9 0,027 Copper 0,17

100 grams of boiled without salt and drained dandelion contains:
Main substances:	G	Minerals:	mg	Vitamins:	mg
Water	89,8	Potassium	232	Vitamin C	18,0
Squirrels	2	Calcium	140	Vitamin E	2,44
Fats	0,6	Sodium	44	Vitamin K	0,551
Carbohydrates	6,4	Phosphorus	42	Vitamin PP	0,514
Alimentary fiber	2,9	Magnesium	24	Vitamin A	0,342
		Iron	1,8	Vitamin B2	0,175
Calorie content	33 kcal	Zinc	0,28	Vitamin B6	0,160
				Vitamin B1	0,130
				Vitamin B9	0,013

Dandelion flowers contain carotenoids (bitterness taraxanthin, lutein, flavonxanthin), volatile oils, triterpene alcohols (arnidol, faradiol), inulin, tannins, mucus, rubber, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, mineral salts.

Dandelion root contains about 25% inulin, triterpene compounds (amyrin, taraxerol), tannins and resins, mineral salts (lots of potassium), inositol, steroids, mucus, choline, vitamins A, B1, C, D, fats, 3% rubber, a small amount of volatile oils and flavonoids, organic acids.

What exactly is used and in what form?

Dried dandelion roots are included in a variety of herbal teas; healing decoctions and tinctures are prepared on their basis, and the roasted roots are used to make dandelion coffee.
Green dandelion leaf It is recommended to soak in salted water before use to eliminate the bitter taste.
Fresh dandelion flowers pickled, used to make tinctures and lotions.
Milky dandelion juice used externally as an effective cosmetic product.

Medicinal properties

Since ancient times, dandelion has been used as a means of reviving the human body. It promotes good functioning of the digestive tract, activates the excretory function of the stomach, increases appetite, has a positive effect on metabolism, for example, eliminates the manifestations of high blood sugar, and reduces sexual dysfunction. Different parts of the plant are used to treat coughs, constipation, bile stagnation, and to get rid of helminths. Dandelion increases the tone of the human body and its immune capabilities.

The use of dandelion covers the spheres of both official and alternative medicine, in herbal medicine in particular. Written evidence of the medicinal use of dandelion places this beneficial plant geographically in Asia, Europe, and North America. Dandelion root was originally regarded as a gastrointestinal remedy that helped improve digestion and maintain liver function, and the leaves of the plant were consumed to achieve a diuretic effect. It has been proven that preparations based on dandelion root cleanse the blood of excess cholesterol, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and help with sleep disorders.

Specially prepared dandelion juice has a stimulating effect on the liver, while being a general tonic. Dandelion juice is effective for stones and sand in the gallbladder.

Dandelion Root Powder heals skin damage well: wounds, deep abrasions, burned areas, bedsores. A drink made from the roots will be appreciated by diabetics: powder from dandelion roots is useful for high blood sugar.

Optometrists recommend consuming at least 12 mg of combined lutein and zeaxanthin daily to reduce the risk of developing cataracts and age-related vision loss. Dandelion contains both of these nutrients.

Fresh dandelion leaves popular in cooking. Dandelion flowers have occupied their niche in winemaking: they are used to prepare the famous dandelion wine and dandelion jam. Dandelion root decoction prescribed for liver damage and as a diuretic.

Peter Gale, author of " Health Benefits of Dandelions“I saw this plant as almost a panacea. According to his beliefs, " if you are looking for a miracle cure that, as part of your daily diet (in the form of food or drink), depending on the characteristics of your body, can: prevent or cure hepatitis or jaundice, act as a mild diuretic, cleanse your body of waste and toxins , dissolve kidney stones, stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, improve skin condition and intestinal function, lower blood pressure, relieve anemia, lower blood cholesterol, reduce dyspepsia, prevent or cure various forms of cancer, regulate blood sugar levels and help diabetics, and at the same time not have any side effects and selectively act only on what bothers you…. then dandelion is for you» .

The range of medicinal properties of dandelion is so wide that we can safely assign this plant the status of one of the most famous healers in the world.

In Costa Rica, dandelions are sold as a pharmaceutical remedy for diabetes.

There are two different types of dandelions used in Guatemala. A narrow-leaved variety called diente de leon, is used as a tonic to improve overall health, while another variety called amargon, is used in cooking as salad leaves, and in medicine it is used in the complex treatment of anemia.

In Brazil, dandelion is a popular remedy for treating liver problems, scurvy and urinary tract diseases.

In official medicine

Pharmaceutical brands of dandelion available to consumers: Taraxacum (Radix) roots, cut, packaged in 100-gram packages; condensed extract from the Taraxacum plant (Extractum spissum). Dandelion extract is used in the production of pills.

The healing ability of the active ingredients of dandelion, associated with the restoration of cartilage tissue, has been successfully implemented by specialists in the drug “Anavita +”. The tablets are classified as dietary supplements; their action has a beneficial effect on joints, their mobility and structure.

In folk medicine

Dandelion root decoction: add a tablespoon of finely chopped root to 2 glasses of water, let it boil over low heat for 10 minutes, leave for 2 hours. Drink 0.5 cups several times a day for liver diseases with insufficient bile secretion, as a diuretic for renal failure with edema, mild forms of diabetes, as well as for liver damage caused by large doses of antibiotics and synthetic drugs. The decoction does not induce enzymes in the liver, so it can be taken for a long time. When mixed with other plants, it has an antiviral effect, mobilizes the body's defenses, and increases appetite.
Dandelion flower tea: A tablespoon of inflorescences is brewed with a glass of boiling water. Drink 2-3 times a day, 0.5 cups.
Dandelion root mixture: squeeze 100 gr. liquid from chopped roots. Combine the juice with alcohol, glycerin and the water component (take 15 grams in total). Take the strained mixture 1-2 tablespoons per day. This mixture cleanses the blood, acts as a tonic, a diuretic, and is used in the complex treatment of gout, jaundice, and skin inflammation.
Dandelion leaf infusion to increase appetite: pour one tablespoon of chopped fresh leaves into 2 cups of boiled water, leave in a warm place for 12 hours. Take 3 times a day half an hour before meals.
Dandelion root infusion for eczema: pour two tablespoons of dandelion and burdock roots combined in equal parts with cold water for 12 hours, boil, let it brew and consume half a glass 3 times a day.
Dandelion root salad useful for problems with the thyroid gland, male sexual dysfunction and disorders of the female reproductive system.
Dandelion juice treat rheumatism. Grind one part dandelion flowers with one part sugar. Let it brew for a week. Squeeze out the juice and store in the refrigerator. Drink one teaspoon before meals.
Dandelion for lowering cholesterol: Infuse one small root in a glass of water for 3 days. Drink in portions, up to 400 ml. in a day.
For hepatitis A mixture of lettuce leaves with the addition of dandelion is useful.

External use of dandelion: Wash your face with a decoction of dandelion roots to get rid of freckles. Prepare the decoction as follows: pour 2 tablespoons of chopped roots with boiling water (300 ml), boil for 15 minutes, then cool.
Dandelion to improve vision. Take dandelion roots, ordinary onions and honey in proportions 3:2:4. Mix dandelion root juice, onion juice and fresh honey. Leave for a couple of hours in a dark place. Apply the mixture as lotions to the eyelids when vision deteriorates and to prevent the development of cataracts.
Dandelion as a remedy for fighting cellulite: rub an infusion of dandelion and nettle leaves, taken in equal proportions, into the skin.
Dandelion as a cure for herpes: Mix a tablespoon of ground dandelion roots with 200 ml of water. Boil for 5 minutes. Consume shortly before meals.
Dandelion against dermatitis: apply directly to damaged skin two or three leaves of the plant in the form of a poultice, several times a day.

In oriental medicine

The Chinese used dandelions more than a thousand years ago as a diuretic, hypoglycemic, antispasmodic, anticancer, antibacterial and antifungal agent. In China, the plant was used for conditions such as abscesses, appendicitis, boils, caries, dermatitis, fevers, inflammation, liver disease, mastitis, scrofula, abdominal pain and even snake bites.

In Central Asian countries, juice from young dandelion leaves is used to treat anemia, general exhaustion of the body, as a means of increasing intestinal motility, and for pain in the thoracic region. Warts are treated with juice squeezed from the roots.

In scientific research

Various Dandelion species have been used in official Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for over 2000 years. Therefore, modern medical research is especially relevant, creating a scientific basis for unlocking the medicinal potential of dandelion.

S. Clymer characterizes the plant as follows: “ Dandelion is indispensable for the productive activity of the liver and gall bladder. It stimulates the functions of these organs and eliminates bile stagnation. It is also useful for the spleen. It is important to choose only green and fresh herbs intended for potion or tincture» .

Diuretic (diuretic) effect of dandelion leaf extract medicinal is described in scientific articles by B. Clare, R. Conroy and K. Spelman.

Alternative medicine is investigating the possible use of dandelion root extract in the treatment of melanoma. Foreign researchers (S. Scutti) see dandelion as a natural remedy in the fight against skin cancer, pointing to a powerful source of triterpenes and steroids, which is dandelion roots. What is the support for the statement “ Dandelion against cancer"? Dandelion is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, luteolin, which reduce the number of free radicals (the main causative agents of cancer), thereby reducing the risk of its occurrence. Dandelion removes toxins from the body, which prevents the further formation of tumors and the development of various types of cancer.

Luteolin actually poisons the main components of cancer cells by combining with them, rendering them ineffective and unable to reproduce. This feature has been demonstrated most prominently in prostate cancer, although other studies are currently underway.

In domestic science, the chemical components of the vegetative system of dandelion were analyzed by S. N. Evstafiev, N. P. Tiguntseva. Scientists studied the biological activity of the constituent substances of dandelion, including essential oils, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, etc.

A monographic study by Brigitte Mars is devoted to the healing properties of dandelion “ Dandelion Medicine: Remedies and Recipes to Detoxify, Nourish, Stimulate» (« Dandelion in medicine: means and recipes for cleansing, vitaminization and regeneration"). The author points out the herb's underappreciated potential, calling it one of the safest and most effective remedies known to modern medicine.

In cooking and dietetics

The most popular recipe based on dandelions is dandelion wine. This popularity is associated with the work of the world famous science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. His novel Dandelion wine"glorified not only the writer himself, but also the winemaking masterpiece of the same name. Dandelion wine recipe pretty simple. To make dandelion wine you will need: petals of fully blossomed dandelions (in quantities equal to fill a 4.5 liter container). The remaining ingredients: water - 4.5 liters, sugar - one and a half kilograms, zest and juice of four lemons, 500 grams of raisins, chopped and pounded in a mortar (or 200 ml of concentrated white grape juice), one packet of wine yeast and one packet of used in winemaking nutritional supplement for wine yeast (10 g sachet, respectively).

Boil water and pour over the petals. Leave the covered container with the petals for a couple of days, stirring occasionally. After two days, pour the infused dandelions into a large saucepan, add the lemon zest, bring to a boil and stir in the sugar until completely dissolved. Boil for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat, pour in lemon juice, combine the mixture with grated raisins or concentrated grape juice.

Pour the boiled dandelion mass into a thoroughly sterilized fermentation tank. Cool, add wine yeast, nutrient supplement and cover. Let it ferment for three to four days, then pour into a glass bottle using a sterilized sieve and watering can. Insist for two months. After this, you can safely enjoy the wine, poetically named by Sir Bradbury " corked in a bottle in summer» .

Dandelion coffee: Wash and peel the roots, dry them and place them on a baking sheet. Roast the roots at low temperature until they darken and become brittle. Grind the roots in a blender. Brew one teaspoon in a glass of water and boil for about 3 minutes. Strain, add cream, milk, sugar to taste. Store dandelion coffee in a tightly closed jar.

Dandelion jam: you will need enough flowers to fill a 1-liter container, 2 liters of water, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 10 gr. fruit pectin powder, 5 cups sugar. Separate the flowers from the stem and sepals and rinse thoroughly. Pour water over the flower mixture and boil for 3 minutes. Cool and squeeze. Measure out 3 cups of the resulting liquid, add lemon juice and pectin. Bring the mixture to a boil, add sugar, stir. Simmer over low heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Cool and pour into jars.

Dandelion for weight loss: Dandelions, being diuretic in nature, promote frequent urination and thereby help remove excess water from the body without causing any side effects. Additionally, dandelions are low in calories, as are most leafy greens. Dandelions are sometimes used as sweeteners, which increases their nutritional value.

In cosmetology

Dandelion flower steam is widely popular in cosmetology. They heal skin formations and remove age spots. It helps get rid of freckles. Dandelion is an ingredient in acne lotion. Bee stings and blisters are treated with bitter milk juice. Cosmetic masks for multifunctional purposes (anti-aging, nourishing, whitening) are created based on dandelion. Dandelion is a component of a variety of organic massage oils.

Other uses of dandelion

Industrially, dandelion is valued for its root, which is a natural source of rubber. The rubber industry, built on the cultivation of dandelions, is in its development stage; It is important that dandelion rubber, unlike other types, is not dangerous for allergy sufferers.

Unconventional uses

A simple dandelion flower has nothing to do with the complex mechanisms of a clock or barometer, but this plant can accurately indicate the time and predict changes in the weather.

Dandelion inflorescences open at exactly 6 o'clock and close at 10 o'clock. This feature of the plant was used by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus when creating the so-called flower clock.

Dandelion also has barometric properties: at the first rumble of thunder and an approaching thunderstorm, its flowers close.

If you put dandelion leaves and flowers in a paper bag with unripe fruit, the plant will begin to release ethylene gas and ensure rapid ripening of the fruit.

Dandelion root produces a dark red dye.

The delicate and weightless dandelion has the honor of being glorified not only in reference books of medicinal plants. One of the loudest voices of the Silver Age, Konstantin Balmont dedicated an elegant poem "Dandelion".

Painters were also not immune to the spell of the golden flower: Claude Monet and Isaac Levitan captured the elusive beauty of this representative of the flora on their canvases.

The fascinating symbolism of the dandelion: This is the only flower that embodies the three heavenly bodies (sun, moon and stars). The yellow flower symbolizes the sun, the fluffy and silvery soft ball symbolizes the moon, and scattering seeds symbolize the stars.

Dangerous properties of dandelion and contraindications

Medications that may interact with dandelion:

Antacids (anti-acid) agents. Dandelion increases the secretion of stomach acids, so antacids may not be helpful.
Blood thinners. Concomitant use of such drugs (eg, aspirin) and dandelion products may be associated with a risk of bleeding.
Diuretics. Dandelion can act as a diuretic, so the simultaneous use of this plant and medications with a diuretic effect is not recommended to avoid electrolyte imbalance in the body.
Lithium, which is used in the treatment of bipolar disorders (psychosis). Research has shown that dandelion may reduce the effects of lithium.
Ciprofloxacin. One type of dandelion Dandelion Chinese, prevents the complete absorption of the named antibiotic.
Medicines for diabetics. Their combination with dandelion, which lowers blood sugar levels, can lead to a critical level and hypoglycemia.
Dandelion milk juice, is known to cause itching, irritation or allergic reactions to the skin. Finally, there is a rare type of fiber in dandelions called inulin, and some people have a predisposed sensitivity or allergy to this element, which can become a serious problem.

You should add dandelion greens to your diet with caution, starting with small doses and carefully monitoring your body's reaction.

If you strictly adhere to the indicated therapeutic doses of dandelion juice and tea, a person will not face any side effects.

Particular attention should be paid to using all parts of dandelion in the diet of children.

We have collected the most important points about the benefits and possible harm of dandelion in this illustration and will be very grateful if you share the picture on social networks with a link to our page:

Botanical description

This is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, widespread in the CIS countries.

origin of name

Its name in Latin is Taraxacum– presumably goes back to an Arabic borrowing " tarukhshakun" ("dandelion"). People also call it milkweed, baldhead, cow flower, Jewish hat, powder puff, milk pan, parachutes. In Russian speech, the name of a flower is associated with the verbs “ blow», « blow" It is noteworthy that in a number of European languages, representatives of the Romano-Germanic group, “dandelion” is translated literally as “ lion tooth»: Lowenzahn(German), dandelion(English), diente de leon(Spanish), dente de leão(Portuguese), dente di leone(Italian) .

Kinds

The dandelion genus has more than 2000 species, of which about 70 varieties are the best known and studied.

1 Common dandelion(field, pharmacy, medicinal) - the most famous and widespread type. Grows in the forest-steppe zone (meadows, clearings, near roads and near housing). Distributed in the European part of Russia, Belarus, the Caucasus, Ukraine, and Central Asia.
2 White-tongued dandelion– this species is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Habitat: Kola Peninsula. A distinctive feature is the white flower petals along the edge of the inflorescence and yellow ones in its middle.
3 Dandelion whitish- grows in the Kamchatka region. This Far Eastern species has proven itself to be a popular and unpretentious decorative flower.
4 Autumn dandelion– distributed on the Crimean Peninsula, the Balkans, and southern European countries. In the past, this species was intensively used in the rubber and coffee industries.
5 Flat leaf dandelion- found in Japan, China, Korea, in the Russian Federation - in the Primorsky Territory.

The height of the dandelion ranges from 10 to 50 cm. The leaves are formed into a rosette, with cut, coarsely toothed edges. Sunny-colored flowers form an inflorescence basket. The root system is taproot, long, strong roots reach a length of up to 20 cm. The stem is hollow, smooth. The fruit is an achene with a fluffy fly.

This plant can be found almost everywhere: on roadsides, in squares or parks, in fields and meadows, in forests, in vacant lots.

Growing conditions

The optimal way to propagate a plant is by seed. Seeds should be planted with interbed distances of 25 to 30 cm. Caring for dandelion is simple and involves plowing the soil three times and weeding during the growing season.

The flowering period of dandelion begins in mid-spring and ends in late autumn.

Collection of used plant parts includes harvesting leaves and roots. The roots are harvested before the flowering period begins, or in late autumn. Dandelion leaf It is more advisable to store at the beginning of flowering. The roots are dug up, cleaned with cool water, dried for several days under a flow of fresh air, and dried in a dark, dry room in a dryer at a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees. Properly prepared dandelion roots do not lose their healing properties for more than 4 years.

When collecting dandelions, it is important to remember that it is strictly not recommended to pick plants near the roadway, roads or within the city, since dandelions easily absorb and accumulate lead and other carcinogenic substances.

Dried up dandelion roots brown or dark brown in color, wrinkled, oblong, often twisted in a spiral. When cut, they are white, or grayish-white with a brownish core, odorless. When bent, they should break easily, with a crack, their taste is bitter, with a sweet aftertaste. The output is 33-35% of the root by weight of the prepared raw material.

The medicinal properties and contraindications of dandelion were described in treatises of ancient Chinese and Tibetan medicine. Here the herb is called the “elixir of life.” Dandelion cleanses the blood, rejuvenates the body, and strengthens the immune system. Medicines from the root and fresh juice of young leaves are especially valued. The medieval Persian physician Avicenna mentions this plant in his medical works. Since ancient times, dandelion has been considered a valuable diuretic and choleretic medicine.

Features of a medicinal plant

Dandelion officinalis. Botanical illustration from the book “Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen”, 1887.

Field dandelion, or medicinal, ordinary, pharmaceutical - the names of the same plant variety. This variety is used for medicinal purposes and in cooking.

Area

Common dandelion is a medicinal plant of the forest-steppe zone. An unpretentious flower, it is a persistent weed. It takes root well in wet (meadows and forest clearings) and dry soils (wastelands and fields). It can often be seen near homes, in garden plots. Gardeners are well aware that this is a difficult weed to eradicate. Dandelion officinalis is found throughout Europe, but also in Siberia, the Far East, China and Central Asia.

Dandelion is whitish. Autumn dandelion, or Crimea-sagyz. Dandelion Bessarabian.

Kinds

There are over two thousand small species of dandelions. Also in botany, about 70 large, or “composite” species of this plant are described. The most common of them are whitish dandelion, white-tongued dandelion, flat-leaved dandelion, and Zhukova. For example, autumn dandelion, or Crimea-sagyz, contains a lot of milky juice - it is a natural rubber plant. In addition, tea is prepared from it, and a healthy coffee drink is obtained from ground roots. Dandelion whitish and Zhukova are included in the Red Book of Russia and are grown as ornamental flowers. The greatest medicinal value is the dandelion. There are also varieties that are prohibited to be taken internally due to the high content of milk juice - Bessarabian, late, red-fruited.

Collection and preparation

When to harvest. Dandelion blooms twice - in May and August (September). It is recommended to collect leaves and flowers during the first flowering. It is better to harvest roots in the fall - in September-October.
How to dry. The above-ground part is dried in natural conditions, without direct sunlight, and is often turned over so that the grass does not rot. The roots are dug up with a shovel, washed under running water, slightly withered and dried. If the weather is dry and warm, you can dry the roots naturally. If it is cold and damp, it is better to dry the roots in an electric dryer at a temperature no higher than 50°C.
How to store. Dry grass and roots are packaged in canvas bags. Must be stored in a dry place. The roots retain healing properties for 5 years, and the shelf life of leaves and flowers is 2 years.

Healing effect

Healing properties are contained in all parts of the herb - rhizome, leaves, inflorescences.

Medicinal properties of dandelion flowers. Lots of carotenoids, saponins, vitamin C, as well as vitamins B1 and B2, E, PP, protein, iron, phosphorus, manganese, potassium and a lot of calcium. The inflorescences also contain the carotenoid lutein, which is especially beneficial for vision in adults and children.
Medicinal properties of dandelion root. Contains triterpene glycosides, which affect the synthesis process in tissues. It also contains sterols, bitterness, tannins, rubber, fatty oil; beneficial oleic, cerotinic, lemon balm, linoleic acid, mucus, wax. The roots of the plant contain 24% inulin. What are the benefits of this dietary fiber? Once in the stomach, inulin breaks down into fructose and fructooligosaccharides, acting as a natural prebiotic and sorbent. Inulin is also found in the roots of chicory, Jerusalem artichoke and elecampane.
Beneficial properties of dandelion leaves. Dandelion leaves have the same composition as the inflorescences. They are also high in phosphorus (higher than leafy vegetables) and protein. Therefore, the leaves are valued not only in medicine, but also in cooking due to their nutritional properties.

Pharmachologic effect:

choleretic;
bactericidal;
soothing;
mild laxative;
diuretic;
multivitamin;
anti-sclerotic (prevents atherosclerosis);
hypnotic;
anthelmintic;
antipyretic;
diaphoretic;
blood purifying.

Indications for use

For what symptoms and diagnoses will dandelion treatment be effective?

Dandelion for treating joints. Due to its blood purifying properties and beneficial effects on metabolism, dandelion helps with arthrosis and rheumatic pain. The grass is high in calcium and magnesium, which strengthen bones. For joint diseases, the remedy is taken orally and compresses are made.
Metabolic disorders. The herb enhances insulin production, regulates carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Therefore, it is often prescribed for diabetes, thyroid diseases, to lower blood cholesterol levels, and to lose weight.
To cleanse the body. The herb cleanses the blood thanks to inulin, high content of vitamins and microelements. Inulin absorbs toxins, waste, heavy metals, radionuclides, carcinogens and removes them from the body. Dandelion is often used for general detoxification of the body, for various poisonings - food, chemical, medicinal. The herb also promotes hematopoiesis, increases the level of leukocytes, and is effective against inflammation of the lymph nodes.
Digestion. The herb well supports various functions of the gastrointestinal tract - secretory, motor, endocrine, immune, absorption. Thanks to inulin, healthy microflora is maintained and beneficial bifidobacteria multiply in the intestines. Therefore, it is useful to drink it for digestive disorders, after a course of antibiotics. Dandelion is used to treat pancreatitis, hypoacid gastritis (with weakened secretion), liver stones, hepatitis, constipation and hemorrhoids, colitis and enteritis, flatulence.
Respiratory diseases. The herb has a diaphoretic, antipyretic effect, and can be drunk when the temperature rises. It also helps with coughs due to acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, bronchitis, and alleviates the condition of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Nervous system . Relaxes the nervous system, relieves stress, helps with insomnia.
urinary system. The herb has mild diuretic and bactericidal properties. Medicine from dandelions helps with inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, and kidney stones.
External use. The herb is used to treat eczema, psoriasis, acne, allergies, warts, corns, calluses on the feet, burns, boils.
For women . The herb is taken for diseases of the mammary glands; dandelion is also a lactogenic herbal remedy. Its decoctions and infusions promote milk production. Dandelion contains phytohormones that help with menstrual irregularities. In addition, women often use this plant for cosmetic purposes.
For men . According to Tibetan medicine, the herb accumulates male yang energy, therefore it is useful for men. Increases not only potency, but also the strength of the male spirit.
For the elderly. Dandelion accumulates a lot of solar energy, it is not for nothing that people call it “sun-gazer”. This plant contains a lot of protein, vitamins, microelements, tones, and maintains strength in old age.

Dandelion is also used for cancer to support the body. The herb helps get rid of toxins, cleanses the blood, and restores the body's defenses.

What are the contraindications of dandelion? Diarrhea; acute inflammation of the bile ducts, their blockage; acute cholelithiasis; stomach ulcer and gastritis with increased secretion; individual intolerance and allergic reaction. There is no scientific evidence that the herb can cause harm during pregnancy. However, before using it, consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.

Using dandelion at home

What are the uses of dandelion officinalis? What medicines can be prepared from this plant at home? What dishes can be prepared from it?

Tea

Dandelion tea can be taken as a general strengthening, tonic, and to prevent vitamin deficiency. Tea is also prescribed to remove small stones from the kidneys (the procedure is called “water shock”).

Preparation

Take 2 tbsp. l. dry or fresh crushed raw materials.
Pour in ½ liter of water.
Bring to a boil.
Leave for 20 minutes.
Strain.

For preventive purposes, take ½ glass 3 times a day before meals. To remove kidney stones, tea is diluted with warm boiled water. The total volume of liquid should be 2 liters (including tea). This solution is drunk in small sips over 20 minutes. Due to the large intake of water into the body, stones are washed out. The passage of small stones is accompanied by pain. It is important to know that the “water blow” is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Decoction

A decoction of the leaves and inflorescences of the herb is often used as a choleretic, diuretic, sedative, multivitamin, and blood purifier.

Preparation

Take 1 tsp. chopped grass.
Pour a glass of boiling water.
Boil for 2 minutes.
Leave for another 30 minutes.
Strain.

Take ½ glass 3 times a day before meals. It helps well with constipation, bloating, hemorrhoids, and diabetes. Externally used to treat skin rashes (psoriasis, eczema, allergies, acne), as well as burns and insect bites. Decoctions are added to medicinal baths for joint pain and insomnia.

Infusion

Preparation of infusion in a cold way

Take 2 tsp. chopped herbs (dry or fresh).
Pour a glass of cold boiled water.
Leave in a cool place for 8 hours.
Strain.

This infusion should be drunk throughout the day in the following dosage: 1 tbsp. spoon 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals. It is useful to drink for digestive disorders, especially inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Preparing the infusion using the hot method

Take 1 teaspoon of raw material.
Pour a glass of boiling water.
Leave for 1 hour.
Strain.

Take ¼ cup 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Tincture

Dandelion tincture with alcohol is good for joints. For rheumatism, gout and arthritis, it is used for rubbing. Also, alcohol tincture strengthens the immune system, improves metabolism, digestion, appetite, and acts as a sedative. Can be prepared from fresh or dry ingredients.

Preparation

Take 5 tbsp. l. dry grass.
Pour in ½ liter of vodka.
Leave in a dark place for 14 days.
Shake occasionally.

Before use, strain the tincture. Take 30 drops 3 times a day before meals.

A decoction, infusion, powder, and alcohol tincture are often prepared from dandelion roots or a mixture of roots, flowers, and leaves. Homemade medicine from the roots of the herb is especially useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, atherosclerosis, gout, rheumatism, hypertension, anemia, endocrine system disorders, for cleansing the blood, lowering cholesterol levels. The roots are included in herbal diuretic, choleretic, and appetizing preparations. Read more about it in our other article.

Oil

Dandelion oil can be used as an ointment for rheumatic pain. Most often the oil is made from the roots of the plant, but the leaves and flowers can also be used.

Preparation

Take 1 part of chopped roots.
Pour in 4 parts olive oil.
Leave for 14 days in a warm place.
Strain.

Most often used externally. Dandelion oil is an effective medicine for joints; it is rubbed into sore spots and compresses are made from it. It also helps with thermal, chemical, and radiation burns, and is used in cosmetology.

Juice

In folk medicine, dandelion juice is widely used. You can drink it for all the diagnoses and symptoms listed above. The juice from fresh leaves is especially useful for anemia, it restores strength well, saves from vitamin deficiency, and energizes. The juice helps with gastrointestinal disorders. It is recommended to be used together with black radish juice for inflammation of the liver, cholelithiasis, cough and ARVI. For fractures, it is prescribed along with carrot juice for rapid healing of bones; it is useful for children to drink it to prevent rickets. Externally used in dermatology and cosmetology.

There are positive reviews about the benefits of juice for older people. After taking it, fragile bones are strengthened and joint pain goes away. Are there any special contraindications for dandelion juice? Dandelion milky juice, depending on the dosage, can be beneficial or harmful to the body. Juice should not be given to children in large quantities, otherwise it may cause signs of poisoning.

Cosmetology

In cosmetology, various medicinal forms of dandelion are used - decoctions, infusions, fresh juice, alcohol tincture, oil.

For facial skin. Dandelion products cleanse, nourish, moisturize and rejuvenate the skin. Decoctions and infusions are used to wipe pimples, acne, and boils. The oil eliminates dryness and inflammation of the skin, and dandelion juice helps with age spots, freckles, and is used to whiten the skin.
For hair . The herb contains all the most useful and necessary substances for healthy hair - vitamins A, E, C, PP, trace elements, organic acids, fatty oil. You can use decoctions and infusions to rinse your hair after washing or make masks from them; the oil is rubbed into the roots to strengthen the hair and for dry skin.

Cooking

In some European countries (France, Germany, Austria, Holland), dandelion is cultivated as a leaf vegetable. It is also grown on plantations in India and the USA. The young, earliest leaves of the grass can be eaten immediately. It is recommended to soak later leaves in salted water to remove the bitterness. Dandelion dishes are not only a supply of vitamins, microelements, and organic acids. Dandelion leaves in the diet are a prophylactic against viral, bacterial, fungal infections, and helminthic infestations. What can you cook from dandelion?

Salads. There are many recipes for making salads from dandelion leaves. They are prepared not only in Europe, but also in China and the USA. What ingredients may be included? Eggs, butter, parsley, dill, mint, yogurt, sour cream, sorrel, pepper, vegetables. For example, in France, dandelion salad (“pissali”) is seasoned with a sauce of mayonnaise, butter and mustard.
Pickled leaves and flowers. Unopened flower buds and young leaves are pickled for long-term storage. They are added to salads, soups, and vegetable dishes.
Treats. Dandelions (flowers and leaves) make delicious delicacies - syrup, jam, candied fruits. It is also known that the grass is a good honey plant; the pollen of the flowers produces tasty and healthy honey.
Coffee . Roasted ground roots make delicious and healthy coffee. Reminds the taste of chicory due to its inulin content.
Wine. Traditional dandelion wine is made in the UK. The famous American writer Ray Bradbury dedicated his autobiographical book “Dandelion Wine” to this drink. The author, of course, does not glorify wine, but the breath of life itself, nature, summer, sun, feelings - and all this through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy.

What are the main beneficial properties of dandelion? Choleretic, multivitamin, diuretic, blood purifying, diaphoretic, sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic, bactericidal. Beneficial substances are contained in the flowers, leaves and roots of the plant. Infusions, decoctions, teas, oils, and tinctures are prepared from dandelion. The plant is also popular in cooking around the world.

Numerous species of dandelion, more than 1000 of them, are widespread in cold, temperate and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, but are especially numerous in the mountainous regions of Eurasia. In 1964, when the penultimate volume of Flora of the USSR was published, there were 203 species of dandelions on its territory, and in 1973, in addition to the Flora, 27 more species appeared. Basically, they differ little from each other. The differences are small and come down to the shape of the root, and especially the structure of the fruit.

Among dandelions there are many endemics, i.e. plants found nowhere else. Numerous species of dandelions grow on mountain slopes, screes, coastal sands of the Arctic, in gorges or on islands of the Pacific Ocean isolated from each other (as well as gorges), i.e. in places that are far from the most favorable for life. The Novaya Zemlya dandelion grows, as its name suggests, in the Far North, and the desert dandelion grows in the desert steppes of Eastern Transcaucasia. One of the species, the Mexican dandelion, brought to the Far East, settled on the seaside sands and pebbles, and it is not alone there. In the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka and Sakhalin, dandelions are often found in the coastal strip and on mountain slopes. There are only 27 endemic species there.

Dandelion is one of the most unpretentious perennial herbaceous plants. It grows mainly in meadows, gardens, along roads, in vegetable gardens, on forest edges, and in fields. The clarity of subordination to a certain biological rhythm is clearly visible in the frequency of daily blooming of its inflorescences: exactly at 6 o’clock in the morning the yellow baskets unfold and close at exactly 3 o’clock in the afternoon; The inflorescences also react to atmospheric humidity - in cloudy weather, the baskets also close, protecting the pollen from moisture. Everyone knows the parachute seeds of this plant: when finally ripe, they are easily torn from the basket by a light breeze and carried away to considerable distances (up to hundreds of meters) from the mother plant. The flowering period of dandelion is one of the longest - from early spring to autumn.

The general appearance of all dandelions is very similar. These are perennials with a thick taproot and a rosette of leaves. The leaves are always oblong, from entire, more or less serrated along the edge, to pinnately divided, gradually narrowing at the base into long winged petioles.

Almost all dandelions have inflorescences in baskets with a thick, long-leaved involucre, located one at a time on bare tubular peduncles.

Many types of dandelions, like our usual dandelion officinalis, gravitate towards roads, fields, plantings, and become weeds.

Dandelions contain milky juice in all parts of the plant, for which they have special vessels - lactifers. This juice contains substances that produce rubber. Before the war and after, two types of dandelions were even bred - Kok-sagyz and Crimean-sagyz - as rubber plants. And not surprisingly, the root of kok-sagyz, translated into dry weight, accumulates up to 14% of rubber. This species was discovered in 1931 at the direction of the collective farmer V. Spivachenko by the botanist Buhanevich, and later it was widely introduced into culture in many regions of our country. In some places it can still be found as a wild plant. Then natural rubber was replaced by synthetic rubber, and with it the Kok-saghyz plantings disappeared.

Kok-sagyz is similar to our dandelions, the leaves are almost the same, but the peduncles are much thinner, and the inflorescences are smaller, lemon-colored, and there are more of them. If you break a fresh root, white elastic threads of rubber stretch at the break site. When described, the species was named kok-sagyz, which translated means “green chewing gum.” The root of kok-sagyz penetrates the soil to a depth of 2.5 m, but its diameter at the root collar rarely exceeds 1 cm.

Our common dandelion, also called medicinal, as evidenced by its Latin species name, comes from the Mediterranean. In the Middle Ages, it began to quickly spread throughout the globe. This is due to the development of trade and agriculture. Despite the widespread distribution of this dandelion, you will not find it where there have never been fields or roads, and lawns full of dandelions are definitely the result of human activity.

Dandelion is one of the most dangerous garden weeds. Under natural conditions, its seeds do not germinate well among dense grasses, which suppress small dandelion seedlings. If the seeds fall on clean soil, they germinate almost completely and quickly produce new plants.

Vegetative propagation of dandelions in nature is rare, but human intervention awakens this ability in the dandelion. According to research, dandelions are able to form new plants from pieces of root more than 0.5 cm in length. Academician Lysenko used this feature of the plant to quickly propagate kok-sagyz. But in a garden or lawn such vitality is undesirable. If you do not carefully select dandelion roots when digging, all the pieces will give rise to new plants.

And dandelion does not skimp on seeds; there are 200 of them on one head, and the total number per bush is about 7 thousand. Interestingly, the later you cut the dandelion into pieces, the better it takes root. If at the beginning of May only 5% of the root cuttings grow back, then in June 33%, and in July and later everything grows back. True, a dandelion cut in September does not have time to grow this year, but it overwinters in the soil and grows back in the spring.

Interestingly, dandelions have successfully adapted to human activity. If in the spring the lawn is completely covered with only dandelions, then in mid-June you will not find them. Everything is explained simply - dandelions molt. Literally. The ground part has almost completely died off. If you now dig up a dandelion root, there will be almost nothing in its skin. All nutrients are used for flowering and fruiting. The skin of the root peels off heavily and falls off, the remains of the root are easily pulled out of it - the dandelion is in summer dormancy. And above it, summer grasses are growing wildly - cereals, legumes, cornflowers, chicory - everything that will be mowed in July. And only after haymaking, dense thickets of dandelion will again appear in the vacant space. At the beginning of August, hibernation will end and the plant will hastily begin to prepare nutrients for new flowering.

In September, the inulin content in dandelion roots reaches a maximum of 18-25%, but in May it is only 2-3%, the rest has already been spent on the formation of flower buds and leaf primordia - dandelion is one of the first to bloom. He succeeds because the plant overwinters in the form of a rosette of leaves. They dry out a lot, some die, but they recover very quickly. And the buds are laid in the fall; it’s not for nothing that in warm years dandelions bloom a second time in the fall.

An old northern fairy tale says that once upon a time there were no dandelions anywhere. And people were very sad to greet spring without beautiful flowers. So they asked the sun: “Give us beautiful flowers!” The sun smiled and sent its golden rays to the earth. These rays fell on the spring grass, sparkled with sunbeams and became cheerful yellow flowers - dandelions.

Dandelions grow all over our land, and in different places they are called differently: sometimes toothgrass, sometimes milkweed, sometimes downy grass. Dandelions are called dental herbs for their healing properties. Dandelions are still used to treat a variety of diseases. And in the spring, when there are not enough vitamins, a salad is made from young leaves. Dandelions are called milkmen because their juice is white, like milk. Snails do not like this juice and do not spoil this plant. But cows, goats, and rabbits like dandelion. And if you have songbirds at home, be sure to treat them with leaves of this plant. They love dandelion leaves, flowers and land turtles. Well, dandelions are called down jackets because of their down jackets-parachutes.

The yellow head of a dandelion is a whole basket of small flowers gathered together. There are about two hundred of them. They will fade, and instead of each of them a parachute will appear. On it, at the first gust of wind, the seed will travel. This is how dandelions spread throughout the area.

The journey of the Dandelion parachutes can only take place in clear weather. At night and when it rains, the parachutes are folded into a tight tube.

Dandelion has long been used in folk medicine, not only in the treatment of diseases, but also as a means of increasing appetite, as well as for the prevention of vitamin deficiency.

Young, barely blossoming dandelion leaves are considered the favorite salad in France; cultivated varieties with larger and softer leaves have even been bred there. In winter, it is specially grown in greenhouses. The French who come to us are usually surprised that we have so many dandelions and no one eats them. However, before the revolution in Russia there were also salad varieties of dandelions. And then they were lost, and although it would be possible to import them again from France, no one has such a desire yet. Dandelion leaves contain 85.5% water, 2-2.8% nitrogenous substances (including proteins), 0.6-0.7% fat, some fiber, mineral salts, vitamins, and bitterness. It is these bitternesses that repel many of its potential consumers from dandelion, although lovers consider this rather an advantage. In any case, you should not completely get rid of bitterness - it is this bitterness that dandelion owes its medicinal effect. Bitterness improves appetite and digestion, increases the secretion of gastric juice, and has a choleretic effect. Well, if you don’t want to eat bitter dandelions at all, there are several ways to get rid of the unpleasant taste.

The most labor-intensive, but giving the best results, is bleaching. Dandelion leaves grown in the dark lack green color and bitterness. To bleach, it is enough to cover the growing rosette with something impenetrable to light - a board, a box, black film, and finally - an empty can of canned food. After a few days, the leaves under the cover will turn white and become very elongated. Such bleached leaves retain their fragility and elasticity, which is more pleasant in salads. The other two methods are much faster, but will result in soft, wilted leaves. Firstly, you can simply scald the dandelion thoroughly with boiling water. At the same time, it will darken and soften, and at the same time lose some of its vitamins. Another method allows you to regulate the bitterness remaining in the leaves. To do this, they need to be soaked in salt water. How long to keep the dandelions in the brine is up to your taste, but the finer they are chopped, the faster the bitterness disappears. Usually 20 minutes is enough to get slightly bitter leaves that taste like regular salad.

Dandelion leaves become tough and completely tasteless after buds form. However, dandelion is still edible. Now the buds are eaten - they are pickled in vinegar and used in this form in salads and soups instead of capers. However, the small buds, still dense inside, can be eaten raw. From them, just like from the leaves, you can cook soup, make a side dish, and salads.

Collected in September, after hibernation during the summer, dandelion roots can simply be fried like potatoes. When heated, the bitterness disappears and the roots become sweetish. If you overcook the roots roasted without oil a little until they turn brown, you will get a good and nutritious coffee substitute.

Medicinal properties. Dandelion officinalis is a plant that contains bitterness. It is used to stimulate appetite and improve digestion. The effect of dandelion bitterness leads to stimulation of the food center, and then to increased secretion of gastric juice and the secretion of other digestive glands. It also improves general condition, normalizes metabolism, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, and improves blood composition in case of anemia. The biologically active substances of dandelion also have choleretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, laxative, expectorant, sedative, hypnotic, diuretic, and diaphoretic properties. In addition, in the process of studying the activity of dandelion, antiviral, antituberculosis, fungicidal, anthelmintic and anticarcinogenic properties were also established.

Dandelion officinalis is used for anorexia caused by functional disorders, chronic gastritis with secretory insufficiency, chronic hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, chronic constipation. Stimulates milk secretion in nursing women. Externally, the juice of the plant is recommended against freckles.

Dosage forms, route of administration and doses. Infusion of dandelion root: 10 g (1 tablespoon) of raw material is placed in an enamel bowl, poured with 200 ml of hot boiled water, covered with a lid and heated in a water bath with frequent stirring for 15 minutes, cooled for 45 minutes at room temperature, and the remaining raw material is squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. Take 1/3 cup warm 3-4 times a day 15 minutes before meals as a bitterness and choleretic agent.

Collection and drying of dandelion officinalis. Dandelion roots are the medicinal raw material. They are harvested in the fall (September - October). The roots are dug up with shovels or plowed with a plow to a depth of 15-25 cm. Repeated harvesting in the same place should be carried out at intervals of 2-3 years. The dug roots are shaken off the ground, the aerial parts, rhizomes (“necks”), and thin lateral roots are cut off with a knife and washed in cold water. It is recommended to chop large roots. The washed roots, spread on cloth, are dried in air for several days (until the milky juice stops secreting when cut), and then dried in dry, well-ventilated rooms, spread out in a layer of 3-5 cm and stirring occasionally. In good weather, the raw material dries in 10-15 days. You can dry the roots in ovens or dryers at a temperature of 40-50 °C. It must be remembered that if the dandelion is harvested too early, when the supply of nutrients has not yet been deposited in the roots, the raw material after drying turns out to be flabby, lightweight, with easily separated bark and cork. In this case, the raw materials are rejected. The shelf life of raw materials is 5 years. The outside of the roots should be light or dark brown, odorless, and taste bitter.

Chemical composition. The milky juice contains bitter substances of a glycosidic nature - taraxacin and taraxacerin. The milky juice also contains resinous substances of a rubber nature. Triterpene compounds, mainly alcoholic in nature, as well as sitosterol and stigmasterol, have been isolated from the roots. There is some fatty oil. Characteristic is the content of inulin, the amount of which by autumn can reach 40%; by spring it decreases and at the time of formation of a leaf rosette it is about 2%. In autumn, a lot of sugars also accumulate in the roots (up to 18%).

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Wigg. s.l.)

Description of appearance:
Flowers: Leafless hollow flower arrows grow from the center of the leaf rosette in spring, ending in a single inflorescence-basket with a diameter of up to 5 cm. All flowers in the basket are reed, bisexual, golden yellow.
Leaves: Leaves vary in shape and size; They are usually lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, notched-pinnately incised or planum-shaped, up to 25 cm long and up to 5 cm wide.
Height: 10-35 cm.
Root: With a fleshy tap root up to 60 cm long and a diameter at the root collar up to 2 cm.
Fruit: Grayish-brown fusiform achenes up to 5 mm long, with a long thin nose and a tuft of white soft hairs.
It blooms in April-June, the fruits ripen in May-June. Secondary flowering often occurs in late summer and fall.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Dandelion grows in a variety of places: in meadows, light forests, forest edges, clearings, fields, gardens, vegetable gardens, vacant lots, along roads, on lawns, in parks, near homes.
Prevalence: A Eurasian species brought to America, Australia, and South Africa. In our country it is widespread in many regions. In Central Russia it is found as the most common plant in all regions.
Addition: A polymorphic species, represented on the territory of Central Russian regions by numerous small species. Honey plant.

Red dandelion (Taraxacum erythrospermum Andrz. s.l.)

Description of appearance:
Flowers: Flower shoots with loose cobwebby felt under the baskets. The flowers are light yellow.
Leaves: Leaves are usually planiform-pinnate, with horizontally spaced or downward inclined lateral lobes, often serrated along the edge, and a relatively small apical lobe; less often, the leaves are pinnate or almost entire, serrated along the edges, glabrous or sparsely hairy, up to 10 cm long and up to 2 cm wide.
Height: 5-30 cm.
Root: With a relatively thin tap root; the root collar is covered with dark brown remnants of dead leaves.
Fruit: Brownish-red, yellow-purple, dark or almost black-red achenes, with a whitish tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time: It blooms in May-June, the achenes ripen in June-July.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: It grows in dry and saline meadows, on steppe slopes, on sands, outcrops of chalk and limestone, and roadsides.
Prevalence: Eurasian species. In Central Russia it is reliably known in the Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Penza and Ryazan regions; as an alien plant it is also found in more northern regions.
Addition: Honey plant.

Late dandelion (Taraxacum serotinum (Waldst. et Kit.) Poir.)

Description of appearance:
Flowers: Floral arrows with loose cobwebby felt. Wrappers 10-18 mm long; outer leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, usually slightly deviated from the inner ones, numerous, without horns; The inner leaves are 1.5-2 times longer than the outer ones. The flowers are yellow.
Leaves: Leaves 5-20 cm long and 1.5-6 cm wide, oblong, from almost entire with denticles along the edges to prickly-pinnate, almost leathery, spread over the soil, gray, rough-pubescent on both sides, gray along the main vein -felt.
Height: 5-30 cm.
Root: With a thick, often multi-headed tap root; the root collar is covered with numerous remnants of dead leaves, in the axils of which an abundant brownish felt is formed.
Fruit: Brownish-gray achenes, with a brownish tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blooms and bears fruit in July-September.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: It grows in the steppes, on chalk outcrops, salt licks, and downed areas.
Prevalence: European-Caucasian species. In Central Russia it is found only in the south of the black earth belt - in the Voronezh, Kursk and Tambov regions.
Addition: Honey plant.

Bessarabian dandelion (Taraxacum bessarabicum (Hornem.) Hand.-Maz.)

Description of appearance:
Flowers: There are several flower shoots, they are straight or ascending, bare or under baskets with loose cobwebby felt. The outer leaves of the involucre are lanceolate or lanceolate-linear, narrower than the inner ones, reddish, the inner ones are usually twice as long as the outer ones. The flowers are yellow, often with an orange tint on the margins, and with scattered short hairs in the middle part of the corolla.
Leaves: Leaves are notched-toothed or pinnately lobed, upward directed, less often pressed to the soil, glabrous, 5-10(12) cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide.
Height: 5-20 cm.
Root: With a simple or multi-headed root, at the base (root collar) covered with woolly dark brown remnants of dead leaves.
Fruit: Grayish-brown achenes, with a reddish-brown tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time: A plant that blooms in the second half of summer and autumn - in July-September, the achenes ripen in August-September.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Grows in saline meadows, solonetzes, limestone and chalk outcrops.
Prevalence: Eurasian species. In Central Russia it is found in the southern regions of the black earth belt.
Addition: Honey plant.

When using site materials, it is necessary to place active links to this site, visible to users and search robots.