DAMIANA / Turnera diffusa. Previously known as Turnera aphrodisiaca. Mexico, Southern USA & West Indies. Traditionally for Men but also works well for Women. Product: Leaves & Stem used and harvest when flowering. Actions: Anti - Depressant, Aphrodisiac qualities possibly best and most effective known, and a beneficial Tonic for Female Organs. Dosage: 1 teaspoon to a cup of boiling water. Used to Treat: Debility: Exhaustion: Influenza: for assisting recovery. Impaired Sexual Function: Inhibited Sexual Desire in Women: Nervous System: Specific as a Tonic. Reproductive System: Specific as a wonderful Tonic. Senility: Spirits: raises.
DANDELION / Clocks & Watches / Fairy Clocks / Wet the Bed / Caput Monachi / Taraxacum officinale - Turneraceae - Asteraceae. Wild Herb. Temperate Climate. *Known as the Royal Herb it is a storehouse of Enzymes, Minerals & Vitamins and especially high in Potassium and a variety of active compounds including Carotene a form of Vitamin A. Affects the Kidneys, Gall Bladder, Liver, Pancreas & Blood and contains the active compounds Taraxin, the Monohydric Alcohols, Traxasterol & Homotarxasterol, Fatty Acid, Sugar & Insulin. Main Use: It is a great Liver & Kidney cleanser and the main Tonic herb as it is good for the Digestive System and has many added benefits as a general Tonic that increases overall well being. Combines with Buchu, Couch Grass, Corn Silk & Yarrow. Improves Metabolism, balances Digestion and is also a Tonic for Bladder, Kidneys & Spleen. Leaves: are Diuretic as they contain Potassium and assist the Kidneys and can be picked anytime of the year. Root: Diuretic, Depurative, Laxative & Hepatic. N.B: Do not use more then for Culinary use if Pregnant or Breastfeeding.
Actions: Alterative, Anti - Rheumatic, Cholagogue, Depurative, Diuretic, Hepatic, Laxative & Tonic. As a Chologogue & Hepatic it assists the Liver and stimulates the Gall Bladder encouraging Bile Flow and the Digestion of Fats.
Constituents: Albumin, Calcium Salts, Caotchouc, Cholin, Essential Oil, Gluten, Gum, Iinosite, Inulin, Levulin, Mannite, Minerals, Mucilage, Pectin, Potash, Provitamin A, Resin, Sugar, Tannin, Taraxacerin, Taraxacin, Taraxastirol, Vitamins B, C & D. high in Calcium, Magnesium Potassium & Sodium and is therefore useful as a natural Electrolyte. It is also high in Choline, Iron, Silica, Sulphur, Vitamins A & D.
Cultivation: A Perennial with a rosette of soft coarsely - toothed Leaves that are also used for Salad Greens, with Flowers on a single hollow stem coming up from a rosette of Leaves and grows near civilisation not out in paddocks. Has a long deep fleshy Root, and flower stalks with bright yellow flowers with the Leaves lying flat close to the ground coming from the top of the Root and form a clump from which rises the Single Hollow Stem that contains a crisp White liquid with a Bitter taste. On top is either the Golden Yellow Flower / or its Bud rich in Pollen and Nectar with the Seeds later in a White Puffball - Clock - Father Christmas, which are dispersed by the Wind. Cut the spent Flowers to prevent reseeding, if required. The Seeds are sown in Spring and it dies back in Winter. The Leaves are prone to Mildew late in the Season and to harvest blanch them for Culinary use by covering from the light for 2 - 3 weeks before harvesting in Late Spring and before flowering. Root rot can occur in poorly - drained soils as it has a long tapering Taproot, which is often divided and breaks easily and must be removed with a proper fork by lifting the whole thing and remove the earth and clean. To get substantial Root growth Dandelion must be left in the ground until the end of the second Season to achieve a better size and the soil dug deeply and enriched with rotted - compost in a sunny place with a neutral to Alkaline soil. Clean and remove the outer Skin, which is tough. Chop finely and roast until dry & crisp and grind to a Powder and roast again to ensure the surface is done then cool the Powder and put in an airtight container. Only dig up in late - Summer when the Roots are at their bitterest and split longitudinally to dry and collect the Leaves anytime. Use the whole herb above the ground, Leaves, Flowers & Root, with ther Leaves and Roots also dried for herbal use. The dried Root is use as a substitute for Coffee but contains no Caffeine. Keep the Leaves and wash and use as a Salad and mix with other Leaves to cover the taste, fresh or dried. Combines well with Bayberry & Milk Thistle. The Roots can also be combined with Burdock Roots and fermented to create a fizzy natural drink similar to Root Beer & Sarsaparilla.
Used to Treat: Alzheimer's Disease: are one of the best sources of Lecithin and also contain Choline and Lecithin increasing concentrations of Acetylcholine in the Brain and improves Memory. Appetite: as it stimulates. Bladder Infections: is a potent Diuretic that does not cure Infection but flushes Urine out of the Bladder taking Bacteria with it as it contains Eudesmanolides & Germacranolides along with Potassium. Breastfeeding - Engorged - Tender: by heating and mashing the whole plant in a little Oil before using as a Poultice to reduce the pain and swelling. Congestive Dyspepsia: Chronic Inflammation of the Liver: Chew 5 to 10 Flower Stems daily. Chronic Joint Inflammation: Chew 5 to 10 Flower Stems daily. Coffee - Caffeine: to act as a substitute and remove from the diet. Constipation: as it prevents this Condition because of Bile Flow stimulating the Peristalic - wave like action - in the Digestive Tract. Debilitated: Chew 5 to 10 Flower Stems daily. Diabetes: Chew 5 to 10 Flower Stems daily. Digestion: aids. Female Organs: as it has a Tonic effect. Fluid Retention: with a Dandelion Tea or a Salad made of young Leaves as it is a Diuretic to aid Urination and prevent and because of the high Potassium content also prevents Potassium depletion caused by other Diuretics. Gall Bladder: as it stimulates the flow of Bile to the Gall Bladder and a Dandelion Tea or a Salad made of young Leaves can be used. Gall Stones: with a Tea to reduce, and the young Leaves can be eaten as part of a Salad that will assist to prevent. Gout: with a Dandelion Tea, or a Salad made of young Leaves. Hives: with 56ml of this herb combined with 28ml Yarrow, 28ml Nettle and 7ml Golden Seal and cover and simmer in 1 litre of water. Dosage: take 1 Tablespoon every 4 hours. Inflammation: assists to prevent. Jaundice: assists to prevent. Kidney & Liver Conditions: One of the most reliable remedies. Dandelion Tea (Bitter) made from the Leaves, which can be picked at anytime of the year, is good for the Kidneys. Kidney Tonic - Stones: use 14ml of this herb, combined with 1:1 fluid Extract 14ml Corn Silk, 14ml Parsley, 14ml Uva Ursi and add 28ml to 600ml of distilled water and simmer for 20 minutes. Dosage: take 1/2 to 1 cup of Tea 3 times a day after meals. Liver Conditions: with the Root and mainly used for this Condition with the Leaves eaten as part of a Salad and they will assist to prevent. As a Diuretic it stimulates the Liver increasing its detoxifying action and because of this it is a valuable Blood purifying herb and may be used also in some Skin Conditions. As a Diuretic it is much safer than Juniper Berry as it is a non - Irritant to the Kidneys. A Dandelion Tea or a Salad made of young Leaves can also be used. Muscular - Rheumatism: as a Tea to reduce the symptoms. Pancreas: as a Tonic. Pneumonia: is effective against Bronchitis, Pneumonia & Upper Respiratory Infections. Cook the Greens & Roots and drink the Juice that remains after the Greens are cooked or drink the Tea made from the dried herb or take in Capsules. Osteoporosis: the Shoots are second to Cabbage for Boron with 125 parts per million and also has 20,000 ppm of Calcium. 10gm / 7 Tablespoons of dried Dandelion Shoots could provide 1mg of Boron and 200mg of Calcium and it also contains Silicon that assists to strengthen Bone. Overweight: it prevents Fluid Retention and increases Toxin loss and Tones the Body's System. Rheumatism: with a Tea to reduce the symptoms. Skin Conditions: As a Diuretic it stimulates the Liver increasing its detoxifying action because of this it is a valuable Blood purifying herb and is used as a cleansing wash where Sores are present. Infuse the Leaves & Root to create a Lotion to revive the Skin as it has a mildly Astringent & Stimulating effect. Skin - Inflammation: can neutralize Eczema. Spleen: as it has a Tonic effect. Swelling: a potent Diuretic to remove excess Fluid that causes Swelling. You can eat the fresh Roots, Leaves & Flowers or make a Tea from them or take Capsules. Tonsillitis: simmer an ounce of the Root in 2 - 3 cups of boiling water until only half of the Liquid remains and use the Syrup. Toxins: The Root eliminates in the Intestines and reduces the formation of new ones. Urinary Tract: A Dandelion Tea or a Salad made of young Leaves can be used. Warts: The White Sap can be used daily for the long - term removal. Herbal Tea: Add 1 Cup of water to 2 to 3 teaspoons of the Root and bring to the boil and gently simmer 10 - 15 minutes and drink 3 times a day. (Will only keep for a few hours.) Tincture: Can last a long time - Use 5ml / 1 teaspoon - 10ml / 2 teaspoons 3 x times a day. Syrup: 2 heaped double handfuls of Dandelion Flowers in 1 Litre of cold water and slowly bring to the boil, remove from the heat and leave overnight. Next day, strain and press the Flowers out. To the remaining Liquid add 1 kilo raw Sugar and 1/2 of a sliced Lemon. Put on the stove without a lid and simmer on a low heat so the Vitamins are not destroyed. Should be the same consistency as Honey and can be eaten as a substitute for Honey. Dandelion Salad: 100gm of fresh raw Leaves and combine with 100gm of Lettuce Leaves and wash and tear into small bits and put in a salad bowl and add a few Sprigs of Lovage and the Leaves of a bunch of Celery chopped. Make a dressing of Olive Oil & Apple Cider Vinegar. Sweeten with 1/2 a teaspoon of Honey and add fresh herbs such as Tarragon & Oregano and season to taste with Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper.
Horses: used as a Liver Tonic for Tying Up, detoxification, rehabilitation from Illness and as part of a mixture to improve general health and well being. N.B: Not to be confused with the False Dandelion - Flatweed - Cat's Ear / Hypocheris Radicans - associated with Stringhalt in Horses, as is Capeweed. Cat's Ear has shiny, hairy and slightly succulent Leaves that grow close to the ground, with multiple flower heads, and with stems that divide and grow profusely out in paddocks. Horses only eat these when there is nothing else or are trying to find Minerals missing from their Diet or are in need of a Purge. Do not allow Horses to graze on it and if they do seek it out find what it is they are lacking?
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