Dandelion Root Tea Recipe
Dandelion is one of the best herbs for cleansing and detoxification with laxative and diuretic properties. Europeans have used dandelion for anemia, diabetes and liver disease. This cleanse is great for liver cleansing.
The directions here are for the do-it-yourselfer, but you can also purchase bags of dehydrated chopped dandelion roots in your local Health Food Store. Of course, doing it yourself is virtually free!
How to dry your own dandelion roots
- Harvest Dandelion Roots in the fall after flowering, although any time is fine.
- Wash the roots well and dry.
- Crush them into pieces the best you can or slice thinly.
- Spread the dandelion roots on a baking pan or dehydrator rack
- Bake at a very low temperature (200 – 250 degrees) and bake until they are dry, or dehydrate until dry – it may take a long time. If baking in the oven, leave the oven door open slightly so the moisture can escape. Stir occasionally to make sure the roots are drying evenly. Cool.
- Store dried dandelion roots in an airtight container/package.
Directions for dandelion tea
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of dried roots
- 1 cup of hot water
Let steep for 5 minutes.
Drink dandelion tea hot or cold.
Tips for Dandelion Leaves and Dandelion Tea Cleansing:
- Make sure you harvest Dandelion Roots from a place that has not been poisoned, sprayed, near traffic, or near animals.
- Look for a large, mature clump of dandelion leaves to find the longest, fattest root.
- Dandelion leaves are a great spring tonic – cut up the young leaves into a salad for extra nutrition
- You can eat Dandelion leaves cooked like spinach or beet greens. You must acquire a taste for the bitter flavor and actually enjoy them.
- For Super Nutrition, add dandelion leaves when you juice vegetables.
- I have made dandelion hot drink (coffee substitute)!! Roast the dried roots in the oven until toasty, place them in a coffee grinder and grind to a fine powder (coffee). Add a cup of boiling water to 1 tsp of the dandelion powder. Add honey to taste. It is a taste you must acquire, but knowing it’s so good for the liver is encouraging!
- Dandelions help to detoxify the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, blood, aid the digestion, help the endocrine system and tissues that have had toxic buildup over time. Dandelions also have been known to help with water retention. Dandelion greens are best eaten raw and fresh for maximum benefit, while the roots are best when made into a tea.
Cleansing for Beginners
The word cleanse means to remove dirt from, to free from dirt, and to purify.
Years of improper bowel habits, eating habits, and lack of exercise bring on diseases. When we cleanse out the garbage (with parasites and other invaders), we can begin to get energy, vitality and feel and look younger.
Two main factors affect our health are TOXICITY and DEFICIENCY. Toxic overload includes pollutants and parasites. Nutritional deficiencies are the nutrients your body is lacking.
The colon is really the body’s sewage system. If the sewer backs up, toxins become trapped, and are reabsorbed into the blood stream.
Signs & Symptoms of Toxicity
How do you know if your body is toxic? Or, how do you know if you could benefit from Cleansing?
You may not recognize the interesting possible signs and symptoms of toxicity in your body.
Toxicology textbooks list the first symptoms of chronic poisoning as low energy, fatigue, muscle weakness, inability to concentrate and intestinal complaints. These symptoms are virtually identical to those experienced by the chronically ill.– Jeffrey Bland, PhD, The 21-Day Rejuvenation Diet Program, p. 23
Some of the symptoms of toxicity you should look out for are:
