Winter Roots

 

The Fall is when most root plants return to storing their energy in their root system so they may return again in the spring. This means that this is when the roots are most potent. Today we collected dandelion roots for winter storage. Below is an excerpt from our newly released booklet that covers remedies, recipes and information of different medicinal plants:

DANDELION


Taraxacum officinale



Active Compounds:
 vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon, taraxacins (eudesmanolides), sitosterol, stigmasterol, alpha- and beta-carotene, caffeic acid, mucilage, Linoleic and Linolenic Acid, Gallic Acid, Several Triterpenest



History:
 Dandelion is commonly used as a food. The leaves are used in salads and teas, while the roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Dandelion leaves and roots have been used for hundreds of years to treat liver, gallbladder, kidney, and joint problems. In some countries, dandelion is considered a blood purifier and is used for ailments such as eczema and cancer. Dandelion has also been used historically to treat poor digestion, water retention, and diseases of the liver, including hepatitis.



Properties:
 anti-diarrheal and anti-bacterial, tonic, diuretic, Alterative, Antacid, Anti-bilious, Anti-lithic



Useful for:
 liver and gallbladder problems, prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse skin and eliminate acne; improve bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus, Fiber fights diabetes, lowers cholesterol, reduces cancer and heart disease risks, and assists in weight loss.



Description:
 Closely related to chicory, dandelion is a common perennial plant worldwide. The plant grows to a height of about 12 inches. The oblong or spatulate, irregularly dentate or pinnatified leaves grow in a rosette from the milky taproot, which also sends up one or more naked flower stems, each terminating in a single yellow flower. The familiar puffball that succeeds the flower is a globular cluster of achenes, each of which is fitted with a parachute-like tuft. Dandelion is grown commercially in the United States and Europe. The leaves and root are used in herbal supplements