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At the end of the XNUMXth century, scientists became interested in the healing properties of the polysaccharide inulin. It turned out that this substance promotes bone tissue regeneration, strengthens the immune system, lowers blood sugar, removes toxins, including radionuclides and salts of heavy metals, helps restore the microflora of the large intestine. Inulin began to be added to baby food and products for diabetics.
The record holder for the content of a miracle polysaccharide is the familiar, ubiquitous dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, or Dandelion officinalis). In autumn, inulin in the roots of the plant is 4–6 times more than in chicory. To improve your health, it is not at all necessary to buy ready-made dietary supplements: it is much cheaper to prepare dandelion tincture at home.
Healing properties of dandelion
Dandelion is widely used in folk medicine in many countries. Special plantations have been created in France, Germany, Austria, Holland, India, Japan and the USA.
In addition to inulin, dandelion contains:
- vitamins A, B2, B4, C, E, PP;
- rubber substances that gently cleanse the intestines from toxins;
- trace elements: copper, phosphorus, manganese, iron, calcium, potassium, boron, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum.
Phytoflavonoids, which are part of the plant juice, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and have a beneficial effect on the state of the cardiovascular system.
The effect of preparations from dandelion:
- choleretic;
- diuretic;
- hematopoietic;
- blood-purifying;
- expectorant;
- antipyretic;
- diaphoretic;
- laxative;
- pain reliever;
- soothing.
Preparation of dandelion tincture
All parts of the plant have healing power: flowers, leaves, roots – it is only important to collect them at the time of the year when they are most useful.
For the preparation of medicinal dandelion tinctures, only dandelions that grow in ecologically clean places, at a distance of at least 2–3 km from highways and industrial enterprises, are suitable.
Dandelion flower tincture
Dandelions fade quickly: only 3 weeks in late April-early May, and instead of golden suns, fluffy balls will appear in the grass, and the stems become much less juicy. Therefore, the preparation of tincture will have to hurry.
The flowers are collected together with the stems on a sunny day, in the morning, after the dew dries, but before they are dusted with dust: then you can not wash the dandelions, but immediately put them in a jar. Due to this, the maximum of useful substances is retained in the tincture.
If, nevertheless, it is decided to wash dandelions, this should be done quickly, in cold water. Then the flowers are laid out in one layer for 4-5 hours on a cloth or white paper so that they dry out a little. You need to dry dandelions in a dark place (for example, in the kitchen under the table, having previously closed the curtains).
Prepared flowers, along with the stems, are placed in a glass jar, tamping tightly. When they occupy ¾ of the container, they are filled with vodka or alcohol. The vessel must stand in a shaded place for at least 21 days. Once every one or two days it is shaken. After 21 days, the tincture is filtered and stored in a dark place.
Dandelion Root Tincture
In spring, dandelion roots contain only 2% inulin, but in autumn this amount increases to 24-40%. Therefore, the roots of the plant are dug up in October – early November, as close as possible to the first snow.
The roots are thoroughly washed and dried. For tincture, both fresh raw materials and dry ones are suitable. Fresh roots will need 100-120 g, dry – 50 g. The crushed root part is placed in a jar and poured with 500 g of vodka or 250 g of alcohol. Insist in the same way as flowers, after 21 days filter and store in a dark place.
canned dandelion juice
The advantage of dandelion juice is that it can be harvested throughout the summer. Of course, the best juice is obtained in the spring, during flowering, from the stems and young leaves. Closer to August, the leaves lose their juice, but from May to July they can still be harvested.
The leaves are quickly washed in cold water, dried for several hours on a cloth or white paper in a dark place, then ground in a meat grinder and squeezed. The resulting juice is diluted with vodka in a ratio of 1: 1, poured into sterile jars and closed with lids. Store the tincture in a cool dark place (in the cellar or in the refrigerator).
If you want to make a less strong drink, you can add 500 ml of alcohol or 100 ml of vodka to 200 ml of juice. However, then the drug will have to be stored in the refrigerator for the whole year. After a few months, it may develop a sour taste, but this will not impair the healing qualities.
What is better to insist on dandelions
Dandelions are allowed to insist on:
- vodka;
- moonshine;
- food alcohol;
- triple cologne.
Of all the options, the triple cologne tincture is the most dubious. It can only be used externally, and not everyone can tolerate the smell of the product. In addition, in this case, you will have to make two tinctures: for external and internal use.
Tincture on food alcohol must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 2 before use, otherwise it can burn the throat or skin.
It is best to make a dandelion tincture with good vodka or high-quality, purified moonshine: such a remedy is guaranteed not to hurt, even if you have to rub it on the delicate skin of a child.
External use of dandelion tincture
Tincture of flowers or roots is used as an ointment for muscle pain, gout, arthritis, osteochondrosis, and other diseases of the bones and joints. Inulin strengthens bone and cartilage tissue, and alcohol contributes to the rapid access of the substance under the skin.
Ointment is used for pain or as a permanent remedy for long-term treatment. In the latter case, rub sore spots once or twice a day: in the evening, and if possible, then in the morning. After the procedure in the cold season, you can not go outside for at least 3 hours. The best effect can be achieved if, in parallel with external use, take the tincture inside.
Also, the tool is suitable for warming compresses for colds.
Lotions from canned juice are made in places of mosquito bites. The remedy relieves itching.
Cosmetic procedures
Dandelion juice and tincture have a whitening effect. Using this tool, you can get rid of freckles and age spots. Juice and tincture are diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:3 (for 50 ml of the drug – 150 ml of water) and wipe the face every evening.
With prolonged use of the lotion, rashes, acne, red streaks from burst blood vessels disappear, and the complexion improves. Dandelion juice contains substances that promote accelerated tissue regeneration, so even acne marks are healed. This lotion is especially good for oily skin. If the skin is dry or sensitive, then 20-30 minutes after treatment with the product, it is necessary to lubricate it with a nourishing or moisturizing cream.
To get rid of warts, lotions from dandelion juice (fresh or canned) are put on them. Lotions are changed every two hours.
Internal use of dandelion tincture
All preparations from dandelions have a laxative effect. Therefore, they always start taking it with a small dose (10 drops), gradually, as the body gets used to it, increasing it to the recommended one. The juice is bitter, before drinking it is diluted in 50–100 ml of water, it is allowed to sweeten the drink with honey or sea buckthorn jam.
For colds, coughs, bronchitis, take 20–30 ml of dandelion tincture with vodka (10–15 ml for alcohol) or canned juice three times a day half an hour before meals.
Treatment regimen for other diseases:
- 20-30 ml of tincture or juice three times a day half an hour before meals;
- course duration – 21 days. The interval between courses is a week;
- 3-4 courses are carried out in a row, then a break for a month.
According to this scheme, take a tincture or juice when:
- anemia;
- fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- rehabilitation after fractures and dislocations;
- atherosclerosis, weakened vessels;
- excessive nervousness;
- epilepsy;
- lung diseases, up to tuberculosis;
- after taking a course of antibiotics;
- chronic constipation and flatulence;
- hypertension;
- puffiness;
- metabolic disorders, obesity;
- as a general tonic for weakened immunity.
Dandelion juice is good for rehabilitation after a heart attack or stroke. But canned juice contains alcohol, so it can be taken no earlier than a month after discharge from the hospital, and only after consulting with your doctor.
Dandelion juice for visual impairment
There is a case when Ibn Sina (Avicenna) cured a patient with a cataract with dandelion juice. For those who want to part with glasses, there is an old recipe for improving vision:
- 50 ml dandelion juice (fresh or canned);
- 100 ml freshly squeezed carrot juice;
- 1-3 teaspoons honey (to taste)
Take in the morning, half an hour before meals. The course is three months. It is recommended to combine the intake of funds with the implementation of a set of exercises for the eyes, developed by Professor V.G. Zhdanov.
Contraindications for taking dandelion tincture
You can not take tincture with:
- pregnancy and lactation (fresh juice without alcohol is possible);
- cholelithiasis;
- gastritis and stomach ulcer during the period of exacerbation;
- individual intolerance;
- patients with gallbladder removal.
Attention! Self-medication can be dangerous, consult your doctor.