I absolutely LOVE Spring.It wasn't always like that. I was strictly a Summer/Fall kinda gal. I used to love the insane heat of the Summer. Laying by some sort of water source. Sun, SO MUCH SUN. Bonfires. Beer. Just being. Summer really is an essence. Fall, well, everyone loves Fall. I always saw Fall as magical. Pumpkins. Hayrides. The cooler air rushing in. The ushering in of literally all the best Holidays (except for July 4th). What is not to love? Spring though, I never really got excited for Spring until the last couple of years. Perhaps it is because I have gotten older and just don't tolerate the obscene amount of heat we get in the Summer anymore? Maybe though, it is because I finally started realizing the true beauty of Spring. The life it represents. The new cycle. The beginning of what will ultimately be a beautiful harvest. Spring offers so much to us. My only wish is that I had learned that sooner!
One of my absolute favorite early bloomers
of Spring is the dandelion. You truly either love dandelion or you hate it. There is absolutely no in between. I have always had a love for them even before I learned of how healing they were. As a kid, I remember making crowns out of them in the Spring. In early Fall, I remember blowing the seeds all over the place. I mean, seriously, what kid doesn't like blowing the seeds everywhere on those things? All the wishes were made. Not only are these beautiful flowers (Yes, FLOWERS) fantastic food for the early rising honey bees in the Spring, but they are also crazy medicinal! Quite frankly (even though I know it is debatable), the roots also taste fabulous.
So, what makes them so special? This incredibly versatile herb can be used for so many different things. Chalked full for vitamins and minerals, it is honestly great just on it's own for that. However, one of my favorite ways to use this herb is in the regulation of blood sugar. Dandelion (especially in the Spring) has components in it's genetic makeup that has been proven to actually reduce blood sugar. Personally, I have used this herb with several folks to do just that with quite a bit of success. Further, dandelion has also been proven to aid in the break down of cholesterol and the reduction of triglycerides, which are major components of heart disease. Also known as a gentle diruetic and blood cleanser, dandelion helps the body (and specifically the kidneys and liver) rid itself of waste. Honestly, these things just touch the surface. When you start getting into the weeds (pun definitely intended), you really see how wide reaching the impacts of this herb are. For example, being a gentle diruetic can help you to lose weight through the elimination of excess water. This is just one of so very many examples. For Just a weed... it sure does an awful lot. Not only that, this herb doesn't cost you a single thing. We are so blessed to to be able to go out into our backyard and pick a plant that will help prevent or treat heart disease, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, constipation, water retention, skin ailments and SO much more. So, get out there and pick the weeds. Don't pick them to get rid of them though. Pick them to heal and replinish the wonderful vessle you are using here on Earth. Xo.
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