Found in warm climates all over the world dandelions are bright and cheery yellow flowers. Drive through the countryside, and you’re bound to see a field of dandelions somewhere during your trip.
While dandelions are pretty flowers, many gardeners consider them invasive species that require removal from the garden. After the dandelion sheds its yellow petals, it starts to develop unique white seed stems within days.
These white seed stems blow off the plant in high wind conditions, falling to the earth in nearby areas. It’s for this reason that many gardeners find it hard to control the spread of the flowers.
While dandelions may be a gardener’s worst nightmare, they offer plenty of medicinal benefits when consumed internally. Dandelions have mild analgesic properties that assist in pain relief, making them a valuable addition to supplements and health products that treat sore muscles or aches and pains. Here are eight health benefits of dandelion.
1. Dandelion Tea
One of the best methods for making use of dandelions – is to brew tea with the flowers. Dandelion tea is easy to make; all you need is a mason jar and a kettle. Bring some water to a boil, then let it cool for two minutes. Pack the dandelions in the mason’s jar, then pour in the water. Let the flowers infuse for 10-minutes, then strain the tea and drink. Store the tea in the fridge for use as a tonic.
Dandelion tea is excellent to add to your detoxification protocol. The polyphenols found in the flowers detoxify the bloodstream and help to increase metabolic rate, solving issues of fatigue, sluggishness, and acne associated with a slow metabolism.
Dandelion tea has laxative properties, so make sure you don’t drink too much of it on your first experience with the tea, or you might be running to the bathroom for the duration of the morning.