Traditionally, dandelion has been used to cure breast illnesses, bloating, disorders of the gastrointestinal system, aching joints, and skin conditions.

The leaves have large amounts of numerous vitamins, including A, C, D, and B-complexes, as well as minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon.

General Information

For many people, dandelions are simply a yard pest. However, dandelions are very rich in nutrients. The leaves of the plant are very rich in vitamins, including A, C, D, and B-complex. They also have high levels of minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon. The most active ingredient in dandelions, eudesmanolide and germacranolide, are found only in dandelions.

Dandelion Uses and Health Benefits

The leaves of the plant are very nutrient-rich, and so they make good supplements for women who are pregnant or elderly women. Dandelion can also be used as a gentle diuretic and can decrease serum cholesterol in some people.

The root can be an appetite stimulant and it can treat some digestive disorders. Today, many herbal doctors use dandelion to purify the liver and gallbladder of toxins.

Research indicates that dandelions can treat pneumonia, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Dandelion can improve general health, and is beneficial to the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and other organs. Dandelion is also recommended for the treatment of tinnitus, tonsillitis, osteoporosis, abscesses, anemia, boils, mammary tumors, cirrhosis, water retention, hepatitis, jaundice, rheumatism, and warts.

Dandelion may also be effective in eliminating or averting age spots.

Some people also use toasted dandelion root as a healthier alternative to coffee.

Dandelion Benefits also include:

• It is a gentle diuretic

• It can purify the bloodstream and liver, and it can stimulate the manufacture of bile

• It can decrease the amounts of serum cholesterol and uric acid

• It can maximize the performance of the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and stomach

• It is very beneficial to menopausal women

• It is effective in treating abscesses, anemia, boils, breast tumors, and cirrhosis of the liver

• It may avert the development of age spots or breast cancer

Dandelion Nutritional Content

Lactupicrine, a bitter principle, tannin, inulin and a latexlike substance, polysaccharides, carotene

Side Effects/Interactions

Some individuals experience stomach pain because of hyperacidity. It is safe to use with other drugs.

We have a small coffee grinder that we bought for about $8 that we grind dandelion root in. We buy the roasted dandelion root and grind it in the coffee grinder and then add a Tablespoon or so to the coffee when make a pot of coffee.

(Just put the ground dandelion root in the coffee filter with the coffee).

I am not a coffee drinker but I do like an occassional cup when my son makes coffee with the dandelion root in it. In fact, a few times when I have had a headache and drank this coffee with dandelion root it has cured the headache.