Dandelion: Detox With This Yellow Charmer

 Acupuncture
Mar 042019
 
Share

Next time you’re in a wide open field, pasture or meadow dotted with beautiful yellow dandelions, know that these prolific little delights are not only beautiful, but packed with nutrition and offer a host of healthy benefits. Let’s explore this amazing flower.

Dandelions are known as Pu Gong Ying in pinyin and are used frequently in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The name comes from the French “dent-de-lioun,” which translates into “tooth of the lion” due to its sharp leaves. They are known to aid the liver, kidneys and gallbladder in particular. In Chinese medicine herbs are used to heal, this includes flowers, bark, roots and seeds. For example, if an herb is considered “warming,” it is given for cold conditions. An herb that is bitter would clear heat and detoxify. If an herb is sour it benefits the liver. If an herb is red it benefits the heart and blood. TCM creates herbal formulas that use a combination of different herbs to balance the formula and keep it safe.

Dandelion is considered a cold, bitter and slightly sweet herb. Its milky juice clears heat, detoxifies blood, reduces swelling and helps the early stages of a cold. Dandelion helps the liver and gallbladder by increasing bile production, and helping in cases of jaundice. Often dandelion is combined with licorice, milk thistle and fennel.

Here are some other key benefits of this flower:

  • It is a diuretic and aids the kidneys, urinary disorders, and may prevent kidney stones
  • Lowers blood pressure (as a diuretic)
  • Weight loss (as a diuretic)
  • Helps digestion, promotes appetite, increases bile, is a mild laxative
  • Stimulates the production of insulin by the pancreas for diabetes
  • Has iron, vitamins and protein to help anemia

Dandelion can be eaten, taken in a tea or as a supplement. Be careful of picking dandelion on your own and ingesting it, the area it grows in may be sprayed with harmful chemicals.

It is not recommended to start taking dandelion without consulting a healthcare professional. Dandelion is considered safe, but may cause digestive upset if taken in large quantities. It is also not recommended to combine dandelion with other herbs without consulting an herbal specialist. In TCM, the practitioner will record a patient history and make a careful diagnosis before prescribing an herbal formula designed specifically for your constitution.

Smile next time you walk by a field of dandelions; these little beauties are lovely to our bodies.

Click for detailed story

Yellow Fish Curry

 Naturopathy
Feb 252019
 

Most of us struggle to include enough fish into our weekly menu rotation. The healthy benefits of eating fish is undisputed. They are a rich source of essential fatty acids that benefit every cell of our bodies. When buying fish, always look for local caught fish, or if you are buying frozen fish, ensure that is wild caught in a sustainable manner.

Yellow Fish Curry

Cook Time30 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 300 gm Firm white fish cut into chunks
  • 2 Tbs coconut oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 clove garlice minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger minced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp chilli flakes optional
  • 2 potatoes peel and diced
  • 1 zucchini diced
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 tsp tapioca flour
  • handful fresh coriander chopped

Instructions

  • Heat the coconut oil in a deep fry pan.   

  • Add the onion, ginger, garlic, cumin, ground coriander, mustard seeds, bay leaf, turmeric and chilli.

  • Sauté for a few minutes until it becomes fragrant.

  • Add the diced potato and zucchini and cook for around 5 minutes.

  •  Add the coconut milk and stir well to disperse the spices through the milk.

  • Bring to a simmer and add the diced fish.

  • Continue to simmer the curry for around 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.

  • Remove the bay leaf.

  • Sprinkle the tapicoa flour through the sauce and stir well until starts to thicken.

  • Taste the curry and season with a little sea salt and pepper to taste.

  • To serve sprinkle with fresh coriander leaves.

Click for detailed story