Dolly Garton Well Being

Everywhere you look at the moment Dandelions are coming up in their plenty. Although a weed to gardeners, they are fabulous all round cleansers! Through the ages, traditional medical healers from different parts of the world have respected them for their curative properties.

The root has more of an effect on the liver, promoting bile flow and so clearing a sluggish liver. Bile being a natural laxative means that Dandelion also helps with clearing the colon. A substitute for coffee is made with the root for people who want to avoid caffeine.

Danidelion leaf on the other hand has more of a diuretic effect. In fact it is commonly known in France as 'pis-en-lit', which literally translates as 'piss in the bed'. Containing Vitamins A, B and C and rich in nutrients such as potassium, a couple of leaves added to your salad will prove a valuable addition.

The name Dandelion itself also derives from French, the leaf thought to resemble lion's teeth or 'dent-de-lion'. Maybe the next time you pull out that weed of a Dandelion from your garden, you will give it more credit!