Can Dandelion Be Eaten? A Detailed Look at Its Medicinal Value and Whether It Can Treat Mastitis

Dandelion, of the Asteraceae family and the genus Taraxacum, is a perennial herbaceous plant, also known as Huanghua Diding, Popodding and so on. It is widely distributed, mainly in North China, Central China, East China, Northeast China and other regions, and can grow in all three seasons of spring, summer and autumn. So can dandelion be eaten? What are its effects and actions?

1. Can dandelion be eaten?

Dandelion can be eaten not only raw but also cooked. The root of dandelion can also be used as a substitute for coffee.

2. The effects and actions of dandelion

Dandelion has the effects of refreshing the mind, clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and dispersing nodules, and promoting urination to treat strangury. It is used for boils and toxic swellings, mammary abscess, scrofula, red eyes, sore throat, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, damp-heat jaundice, and painful, dribbling urination.

It mainly treats acute mastitis, lymphadenitis, scrofula, boils and toxic sores and swellings, acute conjunctivitis, cold with fever, acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, gastritis, hepatitis, cholecystitis, urinary tract infection and many other diseases.

Raw dandelion is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium, and also contains iron, calcium, vitamin B2, vitamin B1, magnesium, vitamin B6, folic acid and copper. The specific element content is mainly water. Every 60 grams of raw dandelion leaves contain 86% water, 1.6 grams of protein and 5.3 grams of carbohydrates, with about 108.8 kilojoules of calories.

3. How to eat dandelion

1. Pickling and steeping

Pickled and steeped dandelion flower buds, eaten regularly, have the effect of refreshing the mind.

2. Stir-fried shredded pork with dandelion

Stir-fried shredded pork with dandelion has the effect of tonifying the middle and boosting qi and detoxifying.

3. Making wine

The flowers of dandelion can be made into wine.