Dandelion also known as lion’s tooth and wild endive, is a perennial herb native to the northern hemisphere. Dandelions dot the lawns of most North Americans and Europeans, and are more often thought of as a weed and a nuisance to those striving for a well-manicured lawn.
Benefits
Bone Health: Dandelion is rich in calcium, which is
essential for growth and strength of bones, and is rich is anti oxidants
like vitamin-C and Luteolin, which protect bones from age related damages
due to free radicals, such as weakening and loss in density.
Liver Disorders: Dandelion can help liver in many ways.
While its anti oxidants such as vitamin-C and Luteolin keeps it functioning
in full gear and protect it from aging, other compounds in it help treating
hemorrhage in liver, maintaining proper flow of bile etc. It also stimulates
liver and promotes digestion.
Diabetes: Dandelion juice can help diabetic patients by
stimulating production of insulin from pancreas and thus help keeping low
the blood sugar level. Since it diuretic in nature, it makes the diabetic
patients urinate frequently which too helps remove the extra sugar from the
body. Moreover, diabetics are prone to renal problems. The diuretic
properties of dandelion can help removing the sugar deposition in the
kidneys through urine. Moreover, dandelion juice is slightly bitter to
taste, which also effectively lowers sugar level in the blood, as all bitter
substances do.
Urinary Disorders: Dandelion is highly diuretic in
nature. In fact, its French name literally means “urinate in bed”. Thereby
it helps clean deposits of toxic substances in the kidneys and the urinary
system. Moreover, its disinfectant properties inhibit microbial growth in
the urinary system.
Skin Care: Dandelion sap, also known as dandelion milk,
is useful in treating skin diseases which are caused due to microbial and
fungal infection, as this sap is highly alkaline and have germicidal,
insecticidal and fungicidal properties. Care should be taken while using
this sap as to avoid its contact with eyes. This sap can be used on itches,
ringworm, eczema etc. without risk.
Acne: Dandelion juice is a good detoxifier, diuretic,
stimulant and anti oxidant. These four properties make it a good treatment
for acne. Before we know how it treats acne, we must know what causes it.
Acne is caused mainly during teens, when the body undergoes many
physiological and hormonal changes. The hormones, which bring about changes
in the body, if do not maintain proper ratio among themselves or are not
regulated properly, tend to deposit as toxic substances in the body which
tend to come out with sweat through the sweat glands or sebaceous glands on
the skin. Now, during these changes, these glands secret more oils which,
mixed with dead skin, block the pores and the secretion is obstructed. Due
to this, these toxic substances cannot escape and result in acne. This is
further worsened by the microbial infections on the effected places.
Dandelion juice, being a stim