Two Little Angels And A Garden Of Fairies

There are still plenty of cheerful yellow dandelions around; their uplifting splashes of colour replaced the daffodils as they faded. Many dandelions are now in seed with their puffball heads full of “fairies”, ready to be carried off by the wind.

 This week I purchased The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by Michael Green which has a good section to encourage one to go and meditate with one’s herbal ally, listen to your plant and it may tell you the name it calls itself and what you may use it for. It is quite inspiring and made me think that maybe I was not connecting enough on an energetic level with my ally, the dandelion, as I haven’t been hearing anything.

 Yesterday I had my two little granddaughters for the day, Rebecca, four, and Freya coming up to two. We decided to have lunch in the garden, “a picnic”, as it was a nice day and I’m not bothered about two tots running round dropping food and knocking drinks over if we’re outside. In my untamed flower borders, dandelions are ruling the roost this year and the children started to pick them. Rebecca showed Freya how to blow the “clock” and send the fairies on their way; Freya struggled, got fluffy dandelion seeds stuck all round her mouth, gave up and started pulling them off with her fingers instead and humorously repeated this several times. I tried to show the girls how to tell the time by how many times you needed to blow to get rid of all the seeds and found it wasn’t as easy as I’d remembered from childhood and I needed a 24 hour clock! Rebecca is also a champion fairy catcher.

 When I looked back I thought I don’t always need to be in solitude and quiet, straining my ears and my consciousness. I don’t think yesterday’s dandelions cared what name we gave them, they invited us to have fun and be carefree and they are very clever, as thanks to our fairy clocks I’ll have another good crop to have fun with next year!

Dandelion Infusions

 Yes, more dandelion, this concludes my reporting of my February work! As I couldn’t find any Burdock or Mullein I have kept myself occupied with my herbal ally.The second Herbal Ally Challenge from Dancing With A Field of Tansy suggests making an infusion of your ally and drinking it every day for a week and noting any experiences or effects. In my case this is meant using a dandelion infusion.

Felt a bit apprehensive about drinking this, what if I didn’t like it, what if it has strong effects on my digestive system; I didn’t want a laxative effect before I started a 12 ½ shift at work!

I first tried a cold infusion, quite refreshing and calming and weakly bitter but definitely bitter. A slight bitter taste remained on the tongue afterwards; I also became aware that my tongue felt a bit dry and furry.

 I thought the infusion had done this to my tongue but when I got up the next day my tongue felt the same so I think the infusion just helped me to become aware of this. I looked in the mirror and saw a thin white coating on tongue; I have heard that the appearance of the tongue can indicate the health of the body which prompted me to search on the internet for tongue diagnosis. I decided my tongue looked pale, had some red spots on the tip and had a thin white coating, was I seriously ill?!

 I found some information from the Daily Mail with the view of a naturopath and traditional Chinese herbalist.

Pale colour:

 The naturopath says: If the tongue appears pale this could mean that your blood is lacking in haemoglobin - the iron-containing protein found in red blood cells. This will often result in tiredness and lethargy. Eat a well-balanced diet containing plenty of iron. This is possible, as a vegetarian of 23 years I am sometimes a bit anaemic.

The Chinese herbalist says: In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) this means you have a cold tongue and you probably lack energy or feel tired. White is the colour of metal element and in TCM this refers to the lungs and colon. A pale tongue could indicate problems in these two organs. Treat with warming herbs such as garlic, ginger and cinnamon. I have been feeling tired and run down, I like ginger tea so will try some, but not until my dandelion week is over or I won’t know which herb has helped.

Red spots:

 The naturopath says: A strawberry-like patch on the tip of the tongue is often caused by hot drinks. This sounds probable; my husband says I have an asbestos mouth when it comes to hot drinks!

The Chinese herbalist says: Patches of spots on the tongue reflects an allergic constitution, such as eczema and asthma. A Chinese herbalist may prescribe a mixture of herbs such as Devil's Claw, Red Clover and garlic for eczema and liquorice or Gingko for asthma. My only allergy I’m aware of is hay fever.

White coating:

The naturopath says: A thin coating on the tongue is healthy and normal. A heavy white plaque however could indicate candidiasis or oral thrush - a fungus infection of warm, moist areas of the body.

To clean the tongue use a natural mouthwash twice a day. Mix cider vinegar with two cloves of garlic, one teaspoon of dried sage and one table spoon of honey poured into one pint of boiling water. Store in the fridge and use within three days.

The Chinese herbalist says: This reflects the state of the digestive system. If the tongue lacks coating, it means the stomach enzymes which break down food in the digestive system are not functioning properly. The coating of the tongue should be thin and white.

So a thin white coating is normal! I like the mouth wash recipe but wouldn't use it when I needed to breathe near anyone else!

 The next day I tried the infusion at room temperature, the flavour seemed stronger. I tried a cool one later and enjoyed it more; I felt a warm sensation just above my naval while drinking it and warmth in my stomach and gall bladder area nearly an hour afterwards. This was a bit confusing as bitters are supposed to be cooling, maybe the dandelion found my gall stones.

 Kristine Brown used dried herbs, I used fresh as this is what was available to me. I have watched Susun Weed’s You Tube video on herbal infusions, she uses dried herb and lots of it so I’m not sure if my infusion was strong enough. I can’t say I felt a big difference over a week, I did seem to have more energy by the end of the week. I never expected to be looking into tongue diagnosis when I started this task, it's funny where life takes us.

Dandelion Properties and Actions

One of Kristine Brown’s Herbal Ally Challenges is to list your ally’s properties and actions, so here’s my effort. I have listed properties I have found attributed to dandelion in books and internet articles and put in an explanation of the term and examples of other herbs with the same properties. It’s amazing how many properties are attributed to dandelion, some just to specific parts of the plant.

Alterative: gradually restores the proper function of the body, increases health and vitality by doing so. Helps the body to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. Thins fluids and reduces heat

Also: Black Cohosh, Boneset, Buck Thorn, Burdock, Cleavers, Echinacea, Golden Seal, Kelp, Liquorice, Nettle, Red Clover, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

Anodyne:  (flower) pain easing when applied externally.

Also: Chamomile, Meadowsweet, Mugwort.

Antibilious: helps the body to get rid of excess bile.

Also: Golden Seal, Wormwood.

Anti-inflammatory: help the body to combat inflammation.

Also: Ashwaganda, Calendula, Chamomile, Cleavers, Liquorice, Meadowsweet, St. John’s Wort, Wormwood.

Antirheumatic: relieves or protects against rheumatism.

Also: Celery, Kelp.

Aperient: gentle laxative, usually a bitter herb that stimulates the production and release of bile which lubricates the digestive tract.

Other examples: Oregon grape and Yellow Dock.

Astringent: causing contraction of tissue which can also reduce secretions.

Also: Cleavers, St. John’s Wort, Yarrow.

Bactericide: stopping growth of bacteria or creating an environment in which they cannot survive.

Also: Burdock, Echinacea, Garlic, Thyme

Bitter: herbs that taste bitter and stimulate the digestive system. They improve digestion, stimulate the appetite and the liver, relax muscle spasms, dispel gas in intestines and break down fatty foods.

Also: Blessed Thistle, Buckthorn, Burdock, Chamomile, Golden Seal, White Horehound, Wormwood.

Cardio-tonic: acts to improve heart function.

Also: Hawthorn, Kelp, Motherwort.

Cholagogue: promotes gall bladder contraction and release of bile.

Also: Angelica, Calendula, Celandine, Golden Seal, Horehound, Milk Thistle, Oregon grape, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

Choloretic: encourages bile production in the liver and flow to the gall bladder to increase.

Also: Angelica, Calendula, Celandine, Golden Seal, Horehound, Milk Thistle, Oregon grape, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

Depurative: removes impurities and cleanses the blood.

Also: Black Walnut, Blessed Thistle, Blue Flag, Buckthorn, Burdock, Elder, Oregon Grape, Red Clover, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

Diuretic: increases the flow of urine and in doing so can help in removal of toxins/waste products from the system. Dandelion acts by affecting reabsorption and secretion of fluids in the kidney.

Also: Angelica, Blue Flag, Buckthorn, Burdock, Celandine, Celery, Cleavers, Hawthorn, Marshmallow, Yarrow.

Emollient: soothes, moistens, protects.

Also: Burdock, Liquorice, Marsh Mallow, Plantain

Fungicide: Destroys fungus or creates an environment in which it can’t survive.

Also: Thyme

Galactagogue: (leaf) promotes milk production.

Also: Dill, Fennel, Marshmallow, Nettle

Hepatic: strengthens and tones the liver and stimulates the flow of bile.

Also: Buckthorn, Celery, Cleavers, Fennel, Golden Seal, Milk Thistle, Motherwort, Oregon grape, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

Hypnotic: producing sleep.

Also: Hops, Passion Flower, Skullcap, Valerian.

Laxative: promotes evacuation of the bowels.

Also: Boneset, Buckthorn, Burdock, Cleavers, Golden Seal, Liquorice, Oregon grape, Yellow Dock.

Lithotriptic: breaks down stones such as kidney stones.

Also: Cleavers, Horsetail, Parsley, Nettle.

Sedative: reduces nervous excitement.

Also: Chamomile, Hops, Motherwort, Passion Flower, Skullcap, St. John’s Wort, Valerian.

Stomachic: easing stomach pain.

Also: Chamomile, Fennel, Ginger.

Tonic: strengthens and tones either specific organs or the whole body through nutritional stimulation.

Also: Angelica, Black Walnut, Boneset, Calendula, Chamomile, Cleavers, Echinacea, Fenugreek, Golden Seal, Hawthorn, Liquorice, Milk Thistle, Motherwort, Red Clover, Skullcap, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

Vulnerary: (flower) relating to the skin, wound healing.

Also: Calendula, Comfrey, St. John’s Wort

Dandelion, My Herbal Ally In January

I haven't done much with my herbal ally this month, it's been rather cold and damp to be sitting and meditating in the garden. It is dark when I set off to work in the morning and dark when I return at night, so although I know my ally is there, I haven't seen much of her.

 As I walk up the garden past my ally each day I say “Hello”, my dandelion is snuggled into the earth and sleepy at the moment. There is not much movement of energy yet she has remained green all through the snow and frost, so not totally asleep, just resting. Not many plants are as hardy as my little dandelion.

I'm not good with words nor am I much of a poet but I thought I would would try and get into the spirit of things and write a little ditty.

It’s cold, it’s January, and I’m almost asleep,

I hear you come and go and have a slight peep,

Not many others are as hardy as me,

But here in the garden I’m as snug as can be.

 I decided to look at dandelion facts this month to start off my quest to get to know dandelion and I must confess it's something I could do in the warm.

Dandelion

      Taraxacum Officinale                          Asteraceae Family

Other names: Lion’s Teeth, Golden Suns, Piss-a-bed, Blow ball, Peasant’s Clock, Crow-parsnip, Doon-head-clock, Wet-a-bed, Clocks, Devil’s milk Pail, Fairy clocks, Time-teller, White endive, wild endive, Time flower.

Description: Hairless plant growing up to 50cm tall with white latex in leaves and stems. Leaves are arranged in a basal rosette with uneven teeth. The flower heads are single and bright yellow, comprised of ray florets on a long single, hollow stem.  The seeds have long beaks and umbrella shaped pappus, forming a spherical “clock”.

Habitat: Lawns, fields and roadside verges.

Season: Flowers bloom mainly between late March and early May. The traditional day to pick the flowers is St. George’s Day, the 23^rd April. Leaves are best before flowering occurs, roots in autumn and winter.

Parts used: Leaves, roots, flowers and sap. Use flowers on the day they are picked before they close for the night.

Active ingredients: Bitters, tannins, some essential oils, flavonoids. High in minerals, especially Potassium, sodium, iron and calcium and vitamins A,B, C, D and K and also containing some protein (amounts vary in different parts of the plant).

Medicinal use: Most well-known for its diuretic property, hence the common name piss-a-bed. As a bitter, dandelion supports overall health by gently working to improve the functioning of the liver, gall bladder and digestive system. Sap is used on verrucae, corns and warts.

Culinary use: Leaves can be used in salad or cooked like spinach. Roots can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute. The flowers make a good wine.

Dye: All parts give a reddish-purple dye.

Animal uses: Wild birds and rabbits enjoy the seeds.

Toxicity: Not toxic but the cooked greens can have a laxative effect at first.

Dandelion facts: Dandelion pollen is used by more than 90 different insects including bees; dandelion is one the 5 bitter herbs of the Book of Exodus in the Bible; dandelions give out ethylene gas when growing which can slow the growth of nearby plants.