by Melissa Chichester
You might say daffodils, tulips, or hyacinths. And if you’re thinking about lawn care, dandelions may come to mind. Many people think of dandelions as pesky weeds, but these bright yellow blooms have been traditionally used for their health benefits.
Dandelions evolved 30 million years ago in Europe and Asia and are one of the most recognizable plants on the planet. Since humans have been making records of food and traditional health practices, dandelions have been part of those records for most of history.
According to the conservation group James River Association, dandelions were originally brought to the United States on the Mayflower for health purposes. Not only are they an excellent food source for bees and insects, but dandelions are also edible for humans.
Here are some ways to dandelions have been used in the culinary arts:
Oils infused with dandelion flowers are also used in body care products, such as balms, salves, and soaps.
In recent years, dandelion supplements have also become a popular choice for wellness.*
The most common part of the dandelion that is used in dietary supplements is the root. Our Dandelion Root is a traditionally used whole herb. The capsules contain ground plant parts to provide naturally occurring components found in nature. This 500 mg formula contains a three-month supply of capsules.
Dandelion root is also combined with milk thistle in our Milk Thistle Liver Complex. Used in Greek health practices for thousands of years, milk thistle has traditionally been used for liver health.* It also has antioxidant properties that help fight against free radicals and supports overall wellness.* Throughout history, all parts of the milk thistle plant have been used in human wellness practices.
The liver is the largest internal organ in your body and plays a critical role in maintaining optimal health. It helps detoxify compounds circulating in the blood, produces hormones, and more. It also produces bile, important for digestion and absorption of fats, and is involved in nutrient storage.
The primary compound in milk thistle that supports liver function is silymarin.* Milk Thistle Liver Complex is standardized to 80% silymarin, guaranteeing the potency of the active silymarin nutrient. This supplement also contains dandelion root and licorice – an herb with a long history of use by Chinese herbalists.
Interested in seeing what dandelion root can do for you? Discuss dandelion root with your personal physician before choosing dandelion supplements.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
