Foraging for Food - Dandelions!
Foraging for food - Dandelions
Dandelions are painting the countryside yellow just now - take advantage to add a fantastically nutritious herb to your meals, and let your pony take a healthy foraging break on your next hack!
The whole plant is very useful - flowers, leaves and the root. Dandelion are a ubiquitous weed, they are very plentiful so you don’t need to worry about digging them out by the roots!
The roots do need to be young roots though, dug up before the plant flowers, or they become very woody.
Benefits - almost too many to mention!
High in vitamins & minerals
Blood sugar and cholesterol regulation:
Dandelion leaves are especially good for helping regulate blood sugar - so good for laminitic ponies too!
Digestion & bowel health:
Dandelion leaves are also good for the digestion - high in fibrous prebiotics and as a mild laxative.
Liver function:
Dandelion root is good for liver function and bile production, and the leaves also aid good metabolism of sugars and fats within the liver, improving fatty liver states.
Promotes immune function:
Dandelion roots and flowers boost the immune system, showing anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity.
Diuretic:
High in potassium, it encourages your kidneys to release sodium and therefore also water. This may assist in lowering blood pressure.
How to use
Your horse or pony will happily munch through dandelion and even dig up its roots when they feel they need its benefits.
Our digestive systems are not quite as effective at breaking down such a fibrous plant so for us, it is best to cook it - steam or wilt, or simply add to a soup or stew.
You can also add it to a smoothie - but it is high in potassium so take care if your bowels can be reactive!
Make tea. A few leaves and flowers makes a pleasant instant tea (especially mixed with cleavers).
Or even coffee. Dandelion root was traditionally roasted and then boiled to make a coffee alternative.
Cautions:
Always consult your GP or professional health consultant before using herbs, if you are concerned about your health or currently taking medication.
N.B. Always choose your spots carefully for gathering herbs - this patch made a lovely photo, but I would actually avoid gathering too close to cultivated crops (unless you know they haven’t recently been sprayed) or next to busy roads. Look for unkempt, wild spaces!