The whole dandelion plant is a treasure. When is the best time to dig it up and harvest it?

Dandelion is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, used medicinally for its leaves or roots, with multiple effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, and the whole plant is a “treasure”. It grows in mountain forests and grasslands, by field edges and roadsides, on riverbanks and open plains, and is distributed throughout the country, with both wild and cultivated varieties available. So when is the best time to dig up and harvest dandelion?

When is the best time to dig up dandelion

In summer and autumn, dandelion has the best effects. After a summer of growth, dandelion has stored up enough nutrients, and after the weather turns cold in autumn, the plant's nutrients begin to move to the roots. At this time, digging up dandelion roots gives the best quality and medicinal effect.

When harvesting, depending on the purpose, you can choose plants that have not flowered, those that have flowered, or those whose leaves have wilted for root collection. Use a tool to dig them up with the roots and collect the whole plant. Do not wash the dug-up dandelions with water; after simple tidying to remove clumps of soil from the whole plant, spread them out in a ventilated place and let them dry gradually in the shade. Finally, put the shade-dried dandelions into bags to protect against dirt and moisture for later use. Note that when digging, avoid dandelions that have been contaminated.

In what season is dandelion harvested

1. Wild dandelion

It is better to harvest the whole plant in autumn, in August-September. This is because at this time dandelion is more bitter than in spring and has higher nutritional value.

2. Cultivated dandelion

Dandelion leaves can be harvested at short intervals, and the whole plant can be harvested in August-September.

When harvesting dandelion, depending on the purpose, you can choose plants that have not flowered, those that have flowered, or those whose leaves have wilted for root collection. Use a tool to dig them up with the roots and collect the whole plant. Do not wash the dug-up dandelions with water; after simple tidying to remove clumps of soil from the whole plant, spread them out in a ventilated place and let them dry gradually in the shade. Finally, put the shade-dried dandelions into bags to protect against dirt and moisture for later use.

What are the effects of drinking dandelion infused in water?

1. Clearing heat and detoxifying

Dandelion is very suitable for use in various heat-toxin diseases, among which its effect of clearing liver heat is very good. It is also very effective in treating some cases of severe redness and swelling caused by liver heat, as well as various diseases after wound infection or with suppuration.

Dandelion leaves can be soaked in boiling water and then taken, which can very well relieve some cases of dry mouth and tongue, and in addition has good therapeutic effects on various heat syndromes or suppurative diseases that occur in the body.

2. Treating oral ulcers

Recurrent oral ulcers are caused by hemolytic streptococcus lurking within cells, which triggers recurrent oral ulcers when conditions are suitable. This streptococcus can cause delayed allergic reactions in the body; it shares common antigens with the oral mucosal epithelium and triggers recurrent oral ulcers through cross-reactions. Dandelion can effectively kill hemolytic streptococcus, thereby inhibiting the allergic reactions caused by the pathogenic streptococcus.

Usage: chew dried dandelion for 5-10 min, swallow part of it and keep part of it between the teeth and cheeks, achieving the effect of both internal and external application; as a result, recurrent oral ulcers heal noticeably faster, and the pain during the course of the ulcers is reduced.

3. Reducing abscesses and dispersing nodules

If the body has persistent high fever or swollen sores and toxins, you can take more dandelion water. In addition, dandelion water has a very good effect on treating breast abscesses, and women after childbirth taking more of it can promote lactation.

4. Antibacterial

Certain substances contained in dandelion leaves have a certain inhibitory effect on Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, taking some dandelion infused in water when you have nothing else going on is very good for the body.

5. Protecting the stomach and killing Helicobacter pylori

Dandelion is an excellent remedy for treating stomach pain. It can be used for stomach pain, fullness and distension, vomiting and acid regurgitation caused by food stagnation transforming into heat, damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, liver depression transforming into fire, and excessive stomach fire. Yilin Zuanyao records that dandelion “tonifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, and drains fire”.