Dandelion pickin' time !

[Old Herb Lady]

Uhh these little bursts of sunshine, I just love 'em ! Mmmmm.
Hard work digging the little suckers & then cleaning them, but so worth it !
(alot of people harvest them in the fall, but I do both spring & fall on a wet day so they're easier to dig)




Dandelion: The Liver Cleanser
by Sue Sierralupe and Candace Hunter

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, aka Fairy Clock

Few plants can fill the herbalist's heart with such joy as the common dandelion. Dandelion's sunny yellow flowers open every morning with a familiarly radiant head on their own hollow stems. The stems ooze a caustic white latex milk when snapped that has been used to treat warts. The toothed green leaves grow in a rosette form on most lawns and byways. These leaves have a smooth texture that is pleasing in spring salads or with other cooked greens. The long fleshy taproot defies most gardener's shovels, but the herbalist waits patiently for the first fall rains to loosen the soil of second-year roots for harvest.


Dandelion's Medicinal Properties and Actions

Dandelion's Long TaprootThe high amount of vitamins, calcium, potassium and other trace minerals in Dandelion's root balance the diuretic effects herbalists utilize when controlling a patient's blood pressure. Healers also count on dandelion's highly volatile and bitter constituents in the root to isolate toxins in the body and flush them from the system. It's ironic that the poisons gardeners use to eradicate dandelions are the same toxins this plant offers to weed from our bodies.
All parts for the dandelion have a bitter bite. This taste comes from the flavonoids that give dandelion its well deserved "blood purifying" properties. These compounds work in the digestive system to increase the flow of urine. Unlike other diuretics, dandelion contains vast amounts of potassium that restores the mineral balance in the kidneys as toxins are flushed out.

Dandelion is in most liver tonics due to the oils, the bitter resins that stimulate the digestive system. The fiber in the whole plant is described as viscous because of its astonishing ability to absorb and transport toxins from the bowels out of the body, balance intestinal flora, and soothe the digestive tract in the process.

People have used the caustic latex from dandelion stems to burn off warts.

The essential oils within this common weed are documented as having both bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties to name a few. The intensity of these components means that patients using prescription antibiotics would be wise to avoid dandelion until they have finished their treatment.

Conditions Helped By Dandelion

Detoxification is the word that most people think of if they are familiar with dandelion's herbal applications. There are few detox formulas on the market that don't make use of this plants toxin elimination abilities. Dandelion is my best friend when recovering from illnesses. It revives me after flus and colds have taken their toll. People with liver conditions, skin conditions, changes in hormones such as menopause or adolescence and arthritis (including gout) can benefit greatly from dandelion.

Dandelion is also useful for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and unstable blood sugar levels. This plant is full of bitter constituents are not only excellent for stimulating the digestive system but offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Dandelion is also helpful as a lactation stimulator.


List of Dandelion's Actions:
Leaf: Diuretic, bitter and choleric
Root: Bitter, Cholagogue and mild laxative

Medicinal Processing for Dandelion Leaf and Root

Tincturing fresh Dandelion in alcohol is the best way to preserve its medicinal values. Eighty to eighty-five percent of fresh Dandelion is water, which carries with it some valuable constituents as it evaporates. Happily, making Dandelion tincture is a fairly simple process.
Ideally, the root and leaves should be separated and processed in different batches. Roots are starchy and break down much slower than leaves, thus Dandelion leaf tincture will be ready for use sooner than Dandelion root tincture. After both tinctures are finished, they can be recombined for a whole dandelion tincture finished product.

Both root and leaf may be processed with a 1:1 plant weight to solvent weight ratio. Both root and leaf are also processed with about 50 percent water to 50 percent pure alcohol. The range is flexible with this plant so feel free to play around with what suits your needs best. Whiskey is a perfect alcohol with which to to process Dandelion since it is generally around 100 proof so it needs no watering down.

It is wise to collect and dry extra leaf and root to add to the tincture after the first straining to give the fresh tincture a boost. See Tinctures for information on the basic process and tips on making tinctures.

For general use, the entire plant may be collected in the spring. Since this is the time that garden beds are prepared, simply collect the Dandelion that have strayed into your beds and set those aside for medicine or food (see The Practical Herbalist Recipes) instead of throwing them in the compost. If you want to make a stronger, more medicinal tincture of the root, use root that was collected in the fall shortly after the first frost when the inulin levels are higher.

Dandelion leaf may be hung to dry after cleaning. Dry Dandelion leaf should still be green and crumble when crushed.

Dandelion root should be scrubbed, chopped, and dried in an oven or a food dryer. The outer flesh of the dry Dandelion root will have a dark color when dried while the inner flesh will retain the creamy white color.

Especially for beginning herbalists, we recommend using dry Dandelion for making glycerites. The ratios of plant weight to glycerine and water weight is about 1:5. Mix 2/3 glycerine and 1/3 water with the weighed plant. If you plan to use fresh plant material, adjust the water-to-glycerine ratio to accommodate the water contained in the fresh plant. See Glycerites for more information on the basic process and tips for making glycerites.

Dandelion adds pizazz to apple cider vinegar. Since it is so high in vitamins and minerals, how could any herbalist resist adding it to vinegar? Any part of the plant may be used depending on the action or flavor you desire. Both the leaf and root are bitters, which stimulate the digestive system, but the starchiness of the root lends a sweet, smoky taste to vinegars. The whole plant may be used, too. See Making Herbal Vinegars for information on the basic procedure and tips on making herbal vinegars.

Gardening, Growing, and Gathering Dandelion

Dandelion roots grow deep, as just about any gardener can attest to. While that drives many folks crazy, it's truly a blessing to our lawns and gardens. Dandelion roots burrow deep into the soil, breaking up compacted areas, which makes it easier for dandelion's less tenacious companions to dig in as well. Dandelion draws up nutrients that have been washed deep into the soil, replenishing the upper layers so more shallow-rooted plants can use them. In addition, they create a micro-climate that draws earth worms, who help break-up compacted soil and spread those nutrients around.

These tough, healing plants are welcome in my garden. They're hearty and easy to propagate from either root division or seed. Best of all, they take the place of less useful, less invasive plants who would otherwise take over the open spaces. When I need space for a new herbal friend, I kindly thank Dandelion for preparing the soil. Then, I harvest the whole dandelion plant and use it for food or medicine, depending on the season and my family's needs, and get on with filling the freshly worked space.

If you're still not sold on letting Dandelion into your garden, you have some natural options for preventing them from growing in your space. First, you can pull them as soon as they begin to grow, which is a lot of work but can be effective if you're quite thorough and can yield a great deal of good food and medicine for your larder. Second, you can decrease the acidity of your soil. Dandelions like to grow in slightly acid soil, so using lime to neutralize your garden and lawn soil can deter them from growing while supporting the growth of other landscaping plants like turf grass, which likes a pH of around 5.5 to 6.

Identifying and Gathering Dandelion

Dandelion, a member of the Asteracea (or Sunflower) family separates itself from the multitude of lookalikes by its smooth, toothed leaves, milky stem sap and fleshy taproot. This root, which can grow to up to one foot in length, is one source of this species' strength. It's a busy chemical factory, gathering nutrition from deep within the soil and absorbing pollutants.

Because dandelion is one of the detoxifying plants, it's a good idea to gather dandelion away from high-traffic areas if you can. If you're buying dried dandelion, look for leaf that is crisp and bright to deep green and root that has bits of both white and dark brown.




http://thepracticalherbalist.com/component/content/article/40-herbal-encyclopedia/46-dandelion-the-liver-cleanser.html

[Old Herb Lady]

I get so offended when the gubbermint calls them noxious weeds. That'd be like calling an apple tree a threat to humanity..... oh wait....



http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k575/utahbushwhacker/BUSHCRAFT/dandelion2.jpg


http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm15/leahspics_bucket/Garden%202008/root.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc383/JennaMaeWilson/Photography/A_flowery_bed_by_KairiStrife90.jpg

[EE_]

Dandelions good!
I've eaten the leaves in salads, just not the flower or root. Do you eat the flower?

[Old Herb Lady]

Yes EE ! Throw some of the flowers in your salad, too !


Or try some iced tea-
What you Need:
■ 1 quart of dandelion flowers (or more)- Pick them fresh and use immediately so they don’t wilt! Get only the yellow parts, and pull off any leaves (use in salads) or stems
■3 quarts of cold water
■1 cup of hot (not quite boiling) water
■the juice of 3-4 limes
■2-3 tablespoons dried stevia leaf (available here) or sweetener or choice (honey, cane sugar, etc, to taste)
■1/2 cup dried red raspberry leaf (optional)

How To Make Lime & Dandelion Tea:

Pick the dandelions fresh and put in a colander. Rinse well with cool water. (Don’t pick dandelions from areas where pesticides have been sprayed or animals may have pooped!)

In a jar or cup, pour the hot water over the stevia leaf and dried red raspberry leaf (if using) and stir well. If using another sweetener, put it in the warm water instead. Let steep 5-8 minutes and then strain off the herbs.

Pour the sweetened liquid from the stevia/raspberry leaf into a gallon size glass jar. Add the juice of the limes, and then the cool water and stir well.

Add the Dandelion flowers and mix gently. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or until completely chilled and serve. You can strain out the flowers or pour them into the cups. Bonus points if you freeze them into ice cubes for decoration!

Use within 36 hours for best taste.

************************************************** *****************************************


Lots of other idears ....

Dandelion coffee, wine, jelly, hot teas, tinctures, fritters, vinegars, syrup, cookies & much more ....there's dandelion cookbooks too ...


jelly is soo yummy.....

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/shenneferh/wild%20foods/Dandyjelly.jpg



To make the jelly you will need: 4 cups of Fresh Dandelion Blossoms, 2 T. Lemon Juice, 5 1⁄2 cups Sugar, and 1 3⁄4 oz. Powdered Pectin.

First, gather your 4 cups of dandelion blossoms. Spend some time on this step, enjoying the spring day and maybe eating a few of the blossoms as you pick.

What other plants are poking their spring shoots out of the ground?


Eventually you will have to pull yourself back into the kitchen if you want to finish your jelly.

If you would like to can your jelly, start the water to sterilize your jars boiling now. You will need about 6 half-pint jars for this recipe.

Put the blossoms in a saucepan, and pour 1½ quarts of water over them. Bring the water to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for another 10 minutes.

Strain the water into another pan, using cheese-cloth so that you can squeeze all the liquid from the flowers.

Measure 3 cups of the liquid into a saucepan or kettle. Add the lemon juice and pectin, and bring this mixture to a boil.

Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a gentle boil and stir for 2 ½ minutes more. (We actually simmered ours for quite a bit longer thinking that it would set up during the heating process. However, we discovered that it gels as it cools. If you want to be sure yours is set, take a small portion in a jar and put it in the freezer for a few minutes to see if it is jelly consistency.)

Remove from the heat and pour into jelly jars. Keep one open to enjoy right away with butter on bread or toast.

Cap the rest with canning lids and water-bath or steam can until sealed. We did a ten minute canning process in our steam canner, putting them in the pantry to enjoy in the weeks to come.

http://www.learningherbs.com/herbal_branch_38.html

[Awoke]

THanks so much, OHL. I throw bag after bag of dandylions away every summer! They love to grow on my lawn! Maybe I will try some of these things out.

[ximmy]

I need to have more love for the Dandelion...

[Old Herb Lady]

Dandelion Coffee


(first you have to grind the roots like coffee grounds)


Interestingly, dandelion root has been used to make a coffee like beverage for centuries. It has a taste very similar to coffee.
It makes an excellent, caffeine free substitute when roasted and brewed.

You will need to harvest the dandelion roots when the ground is soft, as after a rain.
The taproot can go down nearly a foot (in a soft soil) so just digging it out of hard dirt is not really possible.

Dunk the roots in a bucket of cold water until the water is muddy. Pour the muddy water off and refill with clear water. Continue this process until the water is clear.

Now, cut the roots up. Let them soak in a bowl of cold water until it becomes cloudy. Repeat until it is clear.

Roast the roots by spreading them on a cookie sheet and baking them at 250F until roasted and dry. You will need to keep turning them so they can roast evenly.

Grind the roasted roots until they are a coarse powder. Simmer one tablespoon of roasted dandelion in one cup of water until it reaches a strength you like, about 10 minutes.

The roots are rich in vitamins A, B, D, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, sodium, calcium and silicon.

(The leaves are rich in Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E , Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Iron, Potassium and Manganese.)





Dandelion Chai

•1 cup roasted dandelion root
•¼ cups cinnamon bark
•¼ cup ginger root
•¼ cup cardamom seeds
•2 Tbs star Anise
•2 Tbs.black peppercorns

Mix together and keep in a tightly covered glass jar. For every cup of water use 1 to 2 tablespoons mixture. Simmer until it is the strength you like (10-15 minutes) and then strain. Add cream and honey or sugar to taste.

Dandelion root tea is an excellent beverage, medicinal herb, as well as being a great way to add nutrition to your diet for free. Rather than throwing chemicals on the so called weeds in your lawn you can use them to your benefit.

[Old Herb Lady]

Dandelion Tincture

First, gather yourself as much dandelion root as you want—a cup or two is probably enough to start. Clean your roots and slice them relatively thinly.
Then put them in an appropriate size Mason jar (or whatever jar you happen to have) and cover with 100 proof vodka.
Set the jar in a cool, dark place and within 8 weeks, you'll have a very strong tincture that you can take a couple times a day by the dropperful (with water) as a health tonic.


Dandelion Vinegar

Here's another easy one. You can use flowers or leaves (or both) for this one. Just gather your dandelions, chop the leaves if you're using them, and strip the stems from your flowers. Place in a large jar and cover with a bottle of good cider vinegar. ( I like Bragg's ) In 4 weeks, you will have a mildly flavored, healthful vinegar to use in salads, cooking, or as a tonic beverage mixed with a couple teaspoons of honey and some distilled water.

[Old Herb Lady]

DANDELION COOKIES


Easy dandelion cookies


Ingredients:
•1/2 cup oil
•1/2 cup honey
•2 eggs
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1 cup unbleached flour
•1 cup dry oatmeal
•1/2 cup dandelion florets (You need to remove the florets from their base. Hold the florets with one hand and pinch the green flower base very hard with the other, give a little twist and that should do it.)

Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F. Blend oil and honey and beat in the two eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, oatmeal and dandelion florets. Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool and eat!

[osoab]

My chickens are digging the dandelions.

[Neuro]

I read a year or less ago that Dandelion root was good against certain types of cancer... I researched it for one of my wife fathers friends who had some type of lymph cancer, unfortunately he went down the medical chemotherapy venue, with increasing dosages, and he is no longer with us, it took about 6 months... Of course I don't know if the outcome would have been better if he had followed my advice, but I am pretty sure it wouldn't have been worse... However if he had died following my advice I might have been blamed, if I had pushed it hard...

[osoab]

I read a year or less ago that Dandelion root was good against certain types of cancer... I researched it for one of my wife fathers friends who had some type of lymph cancer, unfortunately he went down the medical chemotherapy venue, with increasing dosages, and he is no longer with us, it took about 6 months... Of course I don't know if the outcome would have been better if he had followed my advice, but I am pretty sure it wouldn't have been worse... However if he had died following my advice I might have been blamed, if I had pushed it hard...

He didn't take your advice and still died. It's the chance one takes.

[Neuro]

He didn't take your advice and still died. It's the chance one takes.
Yes, shit happens I guess, I think it was the chemotherapy that did him, not the cancer...

Here is some more info on how to prepare Dandelion root powder, and the treatment of Cancer. http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer02/DandelionRoot.html
The guy is not an educated scientist (obviously), but science has picked up on the anti-cancer properties of Dandelion root. And IMO it is stupid to discard anecdotal evidence in favor of goldstandard double blind clinical trials with a good measure of statistical truth twisting (I have read plenty of those)...

[PatColo]

I was thinking of starting a thread on this question, but I'll just piggyback here. Re: Milk Thistle Root (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_thistle) (processed/tablet form as herbal supplement).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Silybum_marianum_2004.jpg/404px-Silybum_marianum_2004.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Silybum_marianum_2004.jpg)

I recently bought some, as it's demonstrated to be effective as liver cleanse and measurably improves liver function. Good thing to consider for those of us who may have ah, abused our liver a few times [kof kof]. :)

Guess the question is, anyone have any experience or special insights on this herbal remedy? I've only opened a few articles on the web about it, here's a Startpage search for "liver milk thistle root" (https://startpage.com/do/search?cmd=process_search&cat=web&query=liver+milk+thistle+root&language=english&no_sugg=1&ff=).

^ first result I get on that search is
Milk Thistle & Dandelion Root (http://www.viable-herbal.com/combos/herbs/c840.htm)

which says both roots are popular as liver cleanses. The tablets I bought are brand "Samarin" 140mg - they also sell a 70mg. Pharmacist I bought from sells them by the 10 tablet palate, so I got no usage guide, but he tells me verbally take 2x/day. Friend tells me no, 1x/day is fine. So far I haven't found any discussion about dosage in the handful of web articles I've opened on Milk Thistle Root, only high-level discussions of its benefits, some of those from conflict-of-interest parties like herbal supplement sellers- though I also found articles from neutral parties saying the same things.

[Canadian-guerilla]

and when the sheeple are fighting each other over a can of beans in the city
i'll be out in the bush deciding what wild edibles i'm going to dine on that day

[Old Herb Lady]

Dandelion-root extract a cancer-killer in lab

By: Beatrice Fantoni



WINDSOR, Ont. -- Cancer researchers in Windsor hope to start clinical trials soon to find out if dandelion root extract can kill cancer cells in humans without harming healthy cells.
"We are very excited," said Dr. Siyaram Pandey, a biochemist at the University of Windsor, describing the result of lab tests that so far confirm dandelion-root extract kills cancer cells from leukemia blood samples.
He and oncologist Dr. Caroline Hamm of Windsor Regional Hospital are submitting their application to Health Canada for approval of a stage 1 clinical trial to determine what dose of dandelion-root extract is tolerable and effective in patients with an aggressive form of leukemia known as chronic myelomonocyctic leukemia (CMML) and other cancers, including pancreatic cancer and melanoma.
The research could lead to a cancer treatment that is non-toxic and not derived from synthetic chemicals.
"It triggers a very specific kind of suicide," Pandey said of the process in which the dandelion-root extract causes cancer cells to die.
"The fantastic observation was that it was very selective to cancers."
In other words, the extract only targeted cancer cells and not healthy cells.
This is a contrast to current chemotherapy treatments, which are very toxic and damage normal cells in the process of killing cancerous ones.
Pandey said the same cell-suicide result was observed when the dandelion-root extract was applied to other types of cancers, including bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer and neuroblastoma.
Research conducted in mice has shown no toxicity either, Pandey said, and it showed the dandelion-root extract had no side-effects.
The team's latest findings were published Friday in the journal PLoS One.
Another paper is to be published next month in the journal of the American Pancreatic Association.
Pandey and Hamm came to this research about three years ago after a handful of Hamm's leukemia patients started drinking dandelion-root tea as an alternative therapy when their chemotherapy stopped working.
A few of those patients went into remission for a few months and then relapsed, Hamm said, but she brought the subject up with Pandey, who has conducted similar research with Hawaiian spider-lily plants.
One of Hamm's patients has been in remission for three years, she said, after a steady intake of dandelion-root tea.
She called the change "remarkable."
"It's not a home run," Hamm said of the tea, but the lab results warrant a clinical trial.
Financial support for the research was scarce, at first because of skepticism.
The Knights of Columbus started by making a grant in 2010. Over the years, this was followed by funding from the Seeds4Hope program and the family of Kevin Couvillon, a young man from Windsor, who died of leukemia in 2010.
The Couvillon family recently made a second gift of $20,000 to support Pandey's research.
"We are so grateful," Pandey said of the generosity of the family, adding the papers published on the topic have been dedicated to Kevin.
Pandey said all the funding for the research is local.
He and his team have patented a system to extract the compound from dandelion roots to make it as concentrated and powerful as possible.
Pandey said he hopes to meet with Health Canada in the next few months to discuss the potential for the clinical trial on humans.
"We're early on," Hamm said, adding if Health Canada does approve the clinical trial, she expects it will go quickly because there will be a lot of interest.

-- Postmedia News


http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/dandelion-root-extract-a-cancer-killer-in-lab-148364365.html




Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 21, 2012 A31

[Awoke]

My yard is full of Dandelions right now.

I just don't know where to start, if if I should just pluck them and toss them.

[Neuro]

I was thinking of starting a thread on this question, but I'll just piggyback here. Re: Milk Thistle Root (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_thistle) (processed/tablet form as herbal supplement).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Silybum_marianum_2004.jpg/404px-Silybum_marianum_2004.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Silybum_marianum_2004.jpg)

I recently bought some, as it's demonstrated to be effective as liver cleanse and measurably improves liver function. Good thing to consider for those of us who may have ah, abused our liver a few times [kof kof]. :)

Guess the question is, anyone have any experience or special insights on this herbal remedy? I've only opened a few articles on the web about it, here's a Startpage search for "liver milk thistle root" (https://startpage.com/do/search?cmd=process_search&cat=web&query=liver+milk+thistle+root&language=english&no_sugg=1&ff=).

^ first result I get on that search is
Milk Thistle & Dandelion Root (http://www.viable-herbal.com/combos/herbs/c840.htm)

which says both roots are popular as liver cleanses. The tablets I bought are brand "Samarin" 140mg - they also sell a 70mg. Pharmacist I bought from sells them by the 10 tablet palate, so I got no usage guide, but he tells me verbally take 2x/day. Friend tells me no, 1x/day is fine. So far I haven't found any discussion about dosage in the handful of web articles I've opened on Milk Thistle Root, only high-level discussions of its benefits, some of those from conflict-of-interest parties like herbal supplement sellers- though I also found articles from neutral parties saying the same things.

I am curious here, why would you buy a supplement that you easily could make yourself for free?

[PatColo]

^ not easy to find where I'm livin'!

separately, & re #3 following, I heard a recent Rense show with guest Katherine Albrecht (http://www.katherinealbrecht.com/), who's battled breast cancer; they both agreed on the consumption of tumeric as a cancer preventative/treatment. Rense mentioned at one point that "they" were giving lab rats tumeric, and they couldn't give the rats cancer no matter what they tried. I think I get a good deal of it, coz I eats a nice bowl of spicy green curry soup (w/chicken & veges) almost daily, mmmm. :D

http://alexastuart.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/green-curry.jpg


Wonder how cancer rates in India stack up against the rest of the world?

4 Natural Liver Cleansing Foods (http://naturalsociety.com/liver-cleansing-foods/)



http://naturalsociety.com/wp-content/plugins/max-banner-ads-pro/max-banner-ads-lib/include/impression.php?ids=23Anthony Gucciardi
NaturalSociety
May 29, 2012
http://naturalsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/livercleansingfoods-235x153.png
Liver health is directly tied to your overall health, and poor liver health could very well be the root cause of many diseases that currently affect millions of people worldwide. Often assaulted with toxic substances like high-fructose corn syrup, which can ‘overburden’ the liver and subsequently lead to complications, it is very likely that your liver has experienced at least some degree of damage due to dietary and environmental factors. In fact, the only way to avoid the buildup of toxins in the liver would be to eat a nearly perfect diet free of additives, fillers, modified ingredients, or chemicals — virtually the opposite of the average American diet, which critically lacks any liver cleansing foods.


Thankfully, it is very possible to repair your liver naturally and help release excessive toxin buildup through the power of healing foods. Here are 5 natural liver cleansing foods:

1. Cleanse Your Liver with Avocados

Avocados have been shown to naturally protect and repair your liver. Containing a high amount of glutathione-producing compounds, avocados can actually help boost the ability of the liver to cleanse itself. Astonishing research (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/12/001219074822.htm) has even shown that consuming one or two avocados per week for as little as 30 days can make a serious difference in the state of your liver health. The best part? Avocados can be enjoyed with virtually any meal, and are available throughout the world. Try adding in some fresh, organic avocados with your next meal to reap the benefits of liver cleansing foods like this one.

2. Garlic

The superfood garlic, which is known for (http://naturalsociety.com/garlic-provides-natural-protection-against-cancer-and-infections/) its ability to fight against cancer and infections naturally, is also among the many great liver cleansing foods as it is very useful in repairing a compromised liver. While the benefits of garlic (http://naturalsociety.com/benefits-of-garlic/) for liver health and beyond are many, one reason for its superior effects have to do with the fact that garlic contains numerous sulfur-containing compounds that are known to activate the liver enzymes responsible for expelling toxins from the body. Another lies in the presence of both allicin and selenium, two important nutrients that play an integral role in the protection of the liver from damage.

3. Turmeric

Turmeric can uniquely assist the enzymes that are responsible for flushing out known dietary carcinogens. The result is enhanced protection against liver damage, and even regeneration of affected liver cells. Turmeric is also notably responsible for improving the health of the gallbladder as well. These benefits are in addition to the shocking ability to turmeric to combat cancer in a number of studies. Researchers at the UCLA also found that curcumin (http://naturalsociety.com/curcumin/) — the ‘key’ compound within turmeric — exhibits cancer-blocking properties (http://naturalsociety.com/turmeric-curcumin-naturally-block-cancer-cells/). The lab found that the enzymes in the patients’ mouths responsible for promoting cancer spread and growth were inhibited by curcumin supplementation. The ingestion of curcumin intake even blocked the spread of the malignant cells.

4. Lemon and Lime

While not exactly one of the liver cleansing foods, warm water with lemon (http://naturalsociety.com/water-with-lemon-each-morning-fights-fat-boosts-immunity/) or lime each morning could be one of the simplest and most advantageous methods of improving the health of your liver. High in vitamin C and potassium, lemons can help regulate biological functions. Some experts, such as A.F. Beddoe — who wrote the book Biological Ionization as Applied to Human Nutrition, have also stated that the liver produces more enzymes in response to water with lemon than to any other food.



Explore More:


Livatrex Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse Review (http://naturalsociety.com/livatrex-liver-and-gallbladder-cleanse-review/)
Cancer Fighting Foods – 4 Anti-Cancer Foods (http://naturalsociety.com/cancer-fighting-foods-4-anti-cancer-edibles/)
Natural Cancer-Fighting Spice Reduces Tumors by 81% (http://naturalsociety.com/curcumin-turmeric-spice-reduces-tumors-by-81-percent/)
Turmeric Among Natural Cures for Sinus Infection (http://naturalsociety.com/turmeric-among-natural-cures-for-sinus-infection/)
Vitamin E Shown to Fight Type of Fatty Liver Disease in Children (http://naturalsociety.com/vitamin-e-shown-to-fight-type-of-fatty-liver-disease-in-children/)
Turmeric for Acne | Natural Alternatives (http://naturalsociety.com/natural-alternatives-turmeric-for-acne/)

[palani]

Is there any benefit at all for sour doc root? Every year it seems I dig up a couple hundred pounds of them and it is a shame to see them go to waste.

[Old Herb Lady]

I was thinking of starting a thread on this question, but I'll just piggyback here. Re: Milk Thistle Root (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_thistle) (processed/tablet form as herbal supplement).



I recently bought some, as it's demonstrated to be effective as liver cleanse and measurably improves liver function. Good thing to consider for those of us who may have ah, abused our liver a few times [kof kof]. :)

Guess the question is, anyone have any experience or special insights on this herbal remedy? I've only opened a few articles on the web about it, here's a Startpage search for "liver milk thistle root" (https://startpage.com/do/search?cmd=process_search&cat=web&query=liver+milk+thistle+root&language=english&no_sugg=1&ff=).

^ first result I get on that search is
Milk Thistle & Dandelion Root (http://www.viable-herbal.com/combos/herbs/c840.htm)

which says both roots are popular as liver cleanses. The tablets I bought are brand "Samarin" 140mg - they also sell a 70mg. Pharmacist I bought from sells them by the 10 tablet palate, so I got no usage guide, but he tells me verbally take 2x/day. Friend tells me no, 1x/day is fine. So far I haven't found any discussion about dosage in the handful of web articles I've opened on Milk Thistle Root, only high-level discussions of its benefits, some of those from conflict-of-interest parties like herbal supplement sellers- though I also found articles from neutral parties saying the same things.

Pat, yes milk thistle is a fantastic liver cleanse. I have never ever heard of milk thistle root being sold in capsules.
The milk thistle seeds are the part normally used medicinally. The roots are still edible just as the above-ground parts of the plant are, too.
I am so very sorry to tell you, Pat, you know I luv ya, but that Samarin that you bought is GARBAGE.
It is manufactured by a pharmaceutical company (Berlin Pharmaceuticals) and those tablets could cause worse liver problems, IMHO.
Please never buy an herb from a pharmacist. That'd be like buying your gold from a gumball machine or cracker jack box.

Here's some real/natural ones ....you take them like 3 times a day ( normal/average amount when using an herb for a cleanse)

http://www.herb-pharm.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=134
http://www.herb-pharm.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=343

Then there are formulas......a mix of different liver cleansing herbs ........
http://www.mynaturalmarket.com/dr-christopher-liver-gall-bladder-formula-100-caps.html
http://www.herbsfirst.com/descriptionsformulas/liverformula.html



Part Used: The seeds.
Constituents: Flavolignans; the mixture of these is known as "silymarin" and composed mainly of silybin (=silibinin), with isosilybin, dihydrosilybin, silydianin, silychristin, and in some varieties at least, silandrin, silymonin, silyhermin and neosilyhermin.
Actions: Hepatic, galactogogue, demulcent, cholagogue.
Indications: Milk Thistle can be used to increase the secretion and flow of bile from the liver and gall-bladder. Its traditional use as a liver tonic has been supported by research showing that it contains constituents which protect liver cells from chemical damage. It is used in a whole range of liver and gall bladder conditions including hepatitis and cirrhosis. Historically this herb has been used in Europe as a liver tonic and current phytotherpy indicates its use in a whole range of liver and gallbladder conditions including hepatitis and cirrhosis. It may also have value in the treatment of chronic uterine problems. A wealth of research done in Germany is revealing exciting data about reversal of toxic liver damage as well as protection from potential hepatotoxic agents.

A number of chemical components of herb are now being shown to have this protective effect on liver cells. They are all flavones and flavo-lignins, the best studied being silymarin. Silymarin has been shown to reverse the effects of highly toxic alkaloids, such phalloidine and [[alpha]]-amanitine from the Avenging Angel mushroom (Amanita phalloides) as well as protect liver cells from their impact. The pharmacodynamics, site and mechanism of action of silymarin are becoming well understood, providing insights into the metabolic basis of this herbs activity., an activity long known and used by medical herbalists. As its name implies, it promotes milk secretion and is perfectly safe to be used by all breast feeding mothers. Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto l teaspoonful of the ground seeds and let infuse for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. Tincture: l-2 ml three times a day.

[PatColo]

I am so very sorry to tell you, Pat, you know I luv ya, but that Samarin that you bought is GARBAGE.
It is manufactured by a pharmaceutical company (Berlin Pharmaceuticals) and those tablets could cause worse liver problems, IMHO.
Please never buy an herb from a pharmacist. That'd be like buying your gold from a gumball machine or cracker jack box.

Thanks so much for that guidance OHL. And to think I was just putting on my to-do list, picking up some more SAMARIN from the shop,:o Any further elaboration possible there, IE they're garbage & perhaps harmful because .... ? I won't pretend they've revolutionized my life/health- frankly I notice zero diff whether I take them or not- guess it just stems from a guilt/reconciliation feeling following my occasional episodes of drinking to excess, :|~ I also try to offset damage there with B-complex tablets, and banana and/or OJ for potassium.:D

So what if it's off season for your herb of choice, or it just doesn't grow in your area? And imagining you get fresh'uns, once your elixir is created (ground w/boiled water etc), is there a shelf life as far as the drink's effectiveness? Refrigeration help or hinder? Ice?

I recall a few years back when I lived in Boulder CO, I went on a liver-cleanse kick, and went by "Vitamin Cottage" to see what the had for that. There must've been a dozen or 20 choices in their liver-cleanse area, and I got dizzy deciding! They did have several ingredients in common, milk thistle root being one IIRC.

One big choice was, tablets vs liquid, the latter in little bottles with eye-dropper lids, and they advised for example, 4-5 drops in water/etc, drink up. I bought one of the liquid potions, added perhaps 10 drops to a liter of water, and sipped through the day at my desk. It was a dark liquid in color, but so diluted, it didn't really discolor a liter of water.

Do you reckon that, given that tablet vs liquid choice for a given herbal supplement, liquid is better?

[Blink]

There is an abundance of natural food around us that the PTB don't want you to know about. They classify them as "weeds", invasive plants or some other bs so that we poison them with toxic chemicals. They've trained us to destroy our own food source. Pretty f*cking sad............

http://northernbushcraft.com/index.htm

[PatColo]

^ egggzactly :) just line up & buy that Monsanto "Round Up" glyphosphate, see how fun it is with the point-N-squeeze trigger, 24 hours later the undesirable is gone, ROOTS & ALL! :D

*caveat: around 10 years ago when I was a sheeple, I bought the generic Round Up knock-off in large (1/2 Gallon?) concentrated form, & attached a Dial-A-Spray bottle to garden hose with the concentrated glyphosphate, and hosed down a large weed/crabgrass dominated yard with it-- to kill everything, in prep for a new lawn. Rototilled everything a few days later with peat moss as soil amendment, flattened it all out again, and grew a new lawn from seed.

I was naive in hindsight WRT the glyphosphate usage ("harmless to the soil!" Round Up touts), but the good news was, I was halfway progressive on the lawn species choice-- I was on a "xeriscaping (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeriscaping)" kick at the time, and grew "buffalo grass (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouteloua_dactyloides)", which grew native in CO's high desert clay soil. Doesn't need mowing (maybe 1 mow per season), no supplemental water. Drawback was, it's only "green" 4-5 months a year, ~Apr-Sep; goes a uniform wheat color when the cool/cold season began.. But I loved it! The neighbors all had the standard suburban Kentucky bluegrasses & fescues, thirsty as hell all hot summers- soak daily or die!, needed weekly mowing. Oh and did I mention the hundreds of crocus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus) bulbs I peppered around the buffalo grass? Awesome show they put on every late winter, popping up through any snow... :D

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Krokusse_im_Schnee.jpg/400px-Krokusse_im_Schnee.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Krokusse_im_Schnee.jpg)
Crocus appearing through the snow

[Canadian-guerilla]

There is an abundance of natural food around us that the PTB don't want you to know about. They classify them as "weeds", invasive plants or some other bs so that we poison them with toxic chemicals. They've trained us to destroy our own food source. Pretty f*cking sad............

http://northernbushcraft.com/index.htm

when i made my caches in the past
they were mostly tuna/salmon and oatmeal

i've been doing the wild edilbles thing for the last 4-5 years
now when i make my caches, i just go with tuna/salmon
and my wild edilbles knowledge will round out the rest

********

there are two types of wild food enthusiasts,
one picks for enjoyment of adding something to a meal,
and the second is the person who lives mostly on ( wild ) edibles
- Lydia

********

Knowledge without experience is just information

don't just read a wild edibles book, get out there and live/eat it

[Old Herb Lady]

Thanks so much for that guidance OHL. And to think I was just putting on my to-do list, picking up some more SAMARIN from the shop,:o Any further elaboration possible there, IE they're garbage & perhaps harmful because .... ? I won't pretend they've revolutionized my life/health- frankly I notice zero diff whether I take them or not- guess it just stems from a guilt/reconciliation feeling following my occasional episodes of drinking to excess, :|~ I also try to offset damage there with B-complex tablets, and banana and/or OJ for potassium.:D

So what if it's off season for your herb of choice, or it just doesn't grow in your area? And imagining you get fresh'uns, once your elixir is created (ground w/boiled water etc), is there a shelf life as far as the drink's effectiveness? Refrigeration help or hinder? Ice?

I recall a few years back when I lived in Boulder CO, I went on a liver-cleanse kick, and went by "Vitamin Cottage" to see what the had for that. There must've been a dozen or 20 choices in their liver-cleanse area, and I got dizzy deciding! They did have several ingredients in common, milk thistle root being one IIRC.

One big choice was, tablets vs liquid, the latter in little bottles with eye-dropper lids, and they advised for example, 4-5 drops in water/etc, drink up. I bought one of the liquid potions, added perhaps 10 drops to a liter of water, and sipped through the day at my desk. It was a dark liquid in color, but so diluted, it didn't really discolor a liter of water.

Do you reckon that, given that tablet vs liquid choice for a given herbal supplement, liquid is better?

Pat, since that brand is made by a pharmaceutical company & made into a tablet immediately tells me that it is adulterated. It's dead...it has no life of the plant in it.
I would love to know the ingredient list of it. I only say it could cause damage because it's pharmaceutical schtuff/ chemicals/ additives/ preservatives/ etc.
A capsule with the dried herb in it is the only way I'd take a "pill form" of it. Also for B Complex you mentioned --that stuff is NO GOOD either, I'm so sorry. (same as the above)
For B-Complex , herbs like nettles ,red clovers, red raspberry leaves , oatstraw etc, are good. Let your plants supply your B Complex ....the chemical kind just put a hard
strain on the kidneys and you get the chemical yellow-orange-fluorescent urine.

I make tinctures all the time, from the herbs I pick around here & from the ones I order from suppliers. The tinctures last practically forever. ( I've never had one go bad ?)
Teas you can put in the fridge for a couple of days. There's lots of good suppliers...Frontier Herbs, Starwest Botanicals, Mountain Rose Herbs, Bulk Herb Store etc.

And yes, I definitely prefer liquid over any other way next to eating the herb itself. ( Some of the palatable ones ! )
But I won't take a liquid elixir into my body unless it is in its wholesome state. No chemicals added or nothng that has been isolated out of a plant.
Tablets are basically a "NEVER ". The ingredients used to make that tablet are nasty for us !!!
I have only found ONE whole food "tablet" in my life that has no added garbage in it & it breaks & crumbles in your hand if you squeeze it,
but I still don't even take that because it comes in the powdered formula, too.

So , I would say tinctures, teas, capsules in their wholesome state , YES !

Hope that helps.

PS-- ANYBODY can make tinctures, teas, capsules......it's all soo simple and sooo fun !!

[Glass]

Based on your OP OHL, I kept an eye out for some dandelion "stuff" while I was out and about. I came across some Dandelion Tea which I purchased and promptly forgot about. I found it a week or so ago and decided to make some tea. It's called Symingtons brand.

The mixture is a ganulated type of thing. Looks a bit like an instant coffee. A bit like Nescafe, if that is really coffee. 1 Teaspoon or more to taste.

This stuff looks very dubious, dark and granually. It smells interesting. A hint of earth but sweet. Mixed up it is very dark. A bit like coffee but more like a Bonox or Bovril looking drink. You can have with milk and add a sweetner if needed.

I don't think it needs sweetning or milk, it just needs to rest for a few minutes until the temp is right. You could add a drop of honey which I think would be nice. The flavour is just like the aroma. It tastes slightly earthy and has a faint nectar kind of sweetness to it. It's quite an acceptable tasting drink even if it looks a bit unappetizing. It's possible you could drink it cold like a summer tea. It is very much like a ginger tea which I like a lot.

It has a nice calming affect to the stomach and digestion, just like ginger tea. Not unpleasant and another keeper. Thanks for sharing the info.

Having read the product speil I am a bit concerned by the sugar types. Should I be?

you crave that cup of tea or coffee as it takes no longer to prepare than a normal cup of instant coffee. New stocks of this product are now LACTOSE FREE, the product has been reformulated using dextrose and glucose instead of lactose but the Strength of Soluble Dandelion root has not changed and so the quality and beneficial effects of drinking Symington's remain the same with only a small change to taste

[Neuro]

Just want to say thanks to Old Herb Lady for starting this thread!

My dad was diagnosed with metastatic malignant melanoma past Friday. It has metastazised to a lymph node, the lung and the liver according to the contrast CT. The prognosis according to statistics is very bad, most would not even survive 6 months with this combo. Chemotherapy, which is the standard medical approach, has no positive impact on survival, strangely I have read that they use it as a palliative measure, which I find very odd, since cytotoxins generally make people feel very sick... Anyway I did research on the subject, and it seems that the most useful herbs are indeed dandelion root and turmeric, and milk thistle was mentioned as well. My father hasn't been called by the oncologist yet, but I managed to get him to go and buy dandelion roots at the health food store, and I told him to start taking 4-5 teaspoons of dandelion root in tea 4-5 times a day, and if he can tolerate that I will tell him to increase the dose.

Strangely he doesn't have any symptoms of cancer yet, apart from the skin "bumps" on his back (which doesn't have any discolorations). He did have one earlier though, which was blue, but it was excised a month ago, and sent to the lab for analysis, where to the surprise of the dr came back as malignant melanoma, a couple of weeks later, upon which he was sent for the CT scan. I am thinking that possibly because the lesion was excised as a fat nodule, iow close to it, the melanoma cells got carried in the blood vessels to the lung and the liver, and since the cancer cells are very aggressive, it created tumours in the liver and the lung quickly, but they have not yet created any symptoms.

I expect the oncologist to give him a bad prognosis (since it is according to my research), and I hope he will choose the non-allopathic herbal route, in dealing with this, as I think it will at least offer him a small chance of surviving this, with no real downside as it is.

If someone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. And I would certainly like to see OHL back!

[osoab]

Sorry to here about your dad Neuro.

If it was me, I would be looking at laetrile, vitamin B17. Buy the powder form of B17 and buy apricot kernels. Tell your old man to chow down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeYMduufa-E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeYMduufa-E

[Santa]

I bet your Dad is really proud of you, Neuro. You're smart and have a good heart.

[osoab]

I just remembered a thread we had in the nutrition forum.

Something about making the body less acidic. Cancer cannot survive in a high ph environment.

I haven't searched through this one yet. Possible treatments for CANCER (http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?26070-Possible-treatments-for-CANCER)



edit.

Should also add Gerson Therapy.

[LastResort]

Bump for OHL!

Did some dandelion picking last weekend.

[sugar plum]

Neuro, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I saw this thread yesterday when horseshoe was logged in, and I began to think about what I'd recently read that might possibly help your situation, if your dad is willing.

I just found out about Dr. David Brownstein, a holistic doctor who makes perfect sense in his infomercial (hopefully you'll be able to click on the link below):

http://w3.newsmax.com/newsletters/brownstein/video_cancer.cfm

I'm sorry if this is repeat information for anybody.