Dandelions, One of the Joys of Spring

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, there was a light breeze, well almost. Being in Wyoming the light breeze was more like a mild storm. It was so windy the little ones had a hard time walking upright. Still, it was a lovely day and we decided to enjoy the warmer weather by taking a walk. The kids were so excited when they saw the fields full of dandelions. They preceded to run around like crazy, picking bouquets of flowers and presenting them to me with huge, happy grins. Good thing I like dandelions better than roses, huh!

I remember one of my younger brothers running across the yard with a fist full of dandelions held behind his back. He found mom and proudly  presented her with a handful of...... stems. He had picked dandelions that had already gone to seed and as he ran around looking for mom, all the fluffy white seeds had flown away. The look of shock on his sweet little face when he stood there wondering what had happened to his pretty  flowers was precious. Mom very graciously thanked him for his gift, while I quickly snapped a picture. We all waited till he left the room to have a good laugh at his expense.

While children love dandelions, most adults spend a great deal of time and money trying to rid their yards of them. If they only knew! Dandelions are very nutritious, containing many vitamins including vitamin A, B complex, vitamin C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and zinc. They can make a tasty addition to salads or sandwiches, and can also be steamed and eaten like spinach. Dandelion root can be dried and used to make a coffee like substitute and the flowers are used to make wine. Make sure to pick the young leaves, since the older ones are bitter. Always be careful to pick dandelions in an area that you are sure hasn't been sprayed with weed killer or other pesticides.

Dandelion leaf tea stimulates  the release of bile from the liver into the gallbladder, making it easier to digest fat. It is also cleansing to the liver and can help to improve skin problems. Dandelion is a diuretic but since it also contains potassium it doesn't deplete your body as most medical diuretics would. Dandelion is used to treat indigestion and can be mixed with peppermint or ginger if bloating is a problem. It can also be used to help dissolve uric acid kidney stones. Dandelion is safe, although since it's a diuretic, large dosed should be used with caution during pregnancy.

Tea is the easiest way to get the medical benefits from dandelion. Teas are best made from dried herbs. When herbs are dried the plant cells are broken making the beneficial parts more permeable to water. To make dandelion tea heat one cup water to a boil, add 2-3 teaspoons dried herb, cover and let steep for at least fifteen minutes. Strain and sweeten if desired.


                        
Here's a few fun recipes that use fresh dandelions.

You can buy dried dandelion, ginger and peppermint here.





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Red Rooibos Spicy Chai Tea

I recently started drinking red rooibos tea daily. I like the almost sweet, slightly nutty flavor but wanted something a little more exciting. I decided to try and make a chai tea using red rooibos. After a few experiments I came up with a spicy, tasty tea that the whole family enjoys.

Mix together

1/4 cup red rooibos

1 tablespoon dried cut ginger (not powdered)

1 dried and crushed orange peel

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 crushed bay leaves

1/8 teaspoon whole or slightly crushed peppercorns

Brew one rounded tablespoon in 1 1/2 cups water. Strain and add 1-2 tablespoons coconut milk or cream. Sweeten to taste.

Red Rooibos is grown in Africa and was first drank by the Khoisan, a tribe of bushmen. The tea is chopped and bruised before being fermented. It is then dried in the African sun, where it turns from green to a brilliant orange-red. Rooibos is full of antioxidants and minerals, contains alpha-hydroxy and is naturally caffeine free.

Making Herbal Tea

Making tea is a regular part of my morning routine. I fill my pan with water, and while it comes to a boil, pick out the herbs I want for our breakfast tea. If my oldest daughter could choose we would have peppermint everyday while my younger ones prefer elderberry with a little licorice. One of our favorite combos that the kids call gingerbread man, is ginger and cinnamon with a little honey. A few other fun things we have tried are adding spices like cinnamon or cloves and even dried orange or lemon peels to our herbal blends. For iced teas I sometimes like to add a little fruit juice. I’ll admit though, that I’m usually more focused on the medical benefits of my teas, and making really tasty blends is not something I feel I’ve completely mastered yet. I’ve been looking for new inspiration and found quite a few yummy looking ideas at herbgardens.about.com

Besides tasting good, herbal teas are a very healthy habit to start. Herbs release their water-soluble beneficial properties into the hot water making their nutrients easily assimilated by your body. Depending on the herbs you choose, teas can be calming and relaxing, help your immune system fight off a cold, and even be a good afternoon pick-me-up.

To make tea, heat your water until it boils, add your herbs, remove from heat and cover. Covering the pot helps to prevent the herbs volatile oils from escaping with the steam. Let the tea steep for about five minutes before straining. A good rule of thumb is to use one to two teaspoons of dried herbs, or four teaspoons fresh herb per cup of water. If you are using roots, bark or seeds to make your tea, let them simmer for ten to twenty minutes before straining. Many times I use a combination of leaves and roots for my teas. In that case simply go ahead and simmer the roots/bark, then add the herb leaves and remove from heat to let them steep.

Here’s a few herbs to try in you teas…

chamomile is relaxing, rich in essential oil, good for your skin and digestive track.

Ginger makes a strong-tasting tea but has powerful medical properties. It’s an anti-fungal and very soothing for an upset stomach. Studies have shown ginger to very effective against nausea .

Peppermint is good for all digestive problems, excellent for colds and flu, and is a stimulant.

Mullein is very effective at expelling mucus making it a great herb to add to your tea if you are congested and fighting a bad cough.

Alfalfa is super rich in vitamins and minerals such as , iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, and potassium. It also contains all eight essential amino acids and has the highest chlorophyll content of any plant.

For those of you that like to garden, visit Gardens Ablaze to learn about herb gardening.