Dandelion has long been a remedy against stagnation through improving digestive function; treating liver, skin and rheumatic diseases in particular. Containing Taraxasterol, a phytosterol with antihyperglycemic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, alongside Inulin to help balance and encourage healthy gut microbiota, the root is a particularly useful as medicine for insulin-resistance, and now is the time of year to harvest it!

Dandelions produce taproots, which average a length of 20 cm, but which can reach 1 metre long! After rain when the soil is looser, dig down a little into the soil and pull up your root – don’t worry if it breaks, leaving some behind will allow the plant to grow again. Once you are finished harvesting, wash them thoroughly, slice lengthways if you can, or into 2cm slices if they are too narrow, and allow to dry out of sunlight somewhere warm and airy, or in a dehydrator on 45 degrees C. It is then up to you whether you decoct and drink as a tea, or toast and grind into a fine powder to store as a dandelion ‘coffee’.

The digestive stimulating activity is largely down to the bitter taste, yet an intriguing recent discovery showed bitter receptors are also present in certain cells lining the gastrointestinal wall, including in the stomach. In particular, bitter receptors have been found on specialised hormone-releasing cells of the upper digestive tract, meaning that while desirable for optimum results, bitter herbs do not necessarily need to be tasted to boost upper digestive function, so until you get used to the taste (or come to enjoy it!) adding a little honey to your roasted dandelion root, or taking it in a capsule, will still have a beneficial effect!

We are delighted to have collaborated with Institute Member, Jenny Carden-Porrett in our new monthly herbal series. Jenny has been working in Biosciences and with plants as medicine personally for over a decade, when her own chronic health issues were turned around by herbal medicine.

She wanted to do the same for others, and qualified as a medical herbalist in 2023. She combines this with a background in archaeology and a love of the outdoors, helping people get back to better health guiding walks on Dartmoor, whilst running a shop and herbal dispensary in Okehampton.