Have
you wondered lately if there is a food that provides trace minerals,
contains more beta-carotene than carrots, more potassium than
bananas, more lecithin than soybeans, more iron than spinach, and on
top of all that, also provides a wonderful source of vitamin A,
vitamin C, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus, and
even magnesium? Well – wonder no more. There is and its name is
Dandelion! Most people think of the common dandelion as a weed. In a
sense, this is true when you consider what the renown writer and
philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson stated – “A weed is just a plant
whose virtues have not been discovered yet.” However, in the
dandelion’s cage, virtues need to be re-discovered. As early as the
10th century, Arabic writings discuss the various
medicinal values of dandelions. This trend continues with Welsh
texts from the 13th century and English herbal works in
the 16th and 17th centuries. However, the
Puritans (who are believed to have brought the dandelion to the New
World), only used it as a common vegetable and a source of food for
their European honeybees.
A native of Europe and Asia, the dandelion can
now be found in all 50 of the United States as well as in Puerto
Rico. However, it has not yet reached the Virgin Islands. The common
dandelion is a perennial plant, meaning it will come back every year
from its tenacious root system. This is the main reason it is so
hard to eliminate as a weed. The plant’s deeply serrated leaves are
what led to its common name. Dandelion is actually taken from the
French term dent de lion, which translates literally into tooth of
the lion. The dandelion’s scientific name Taraxacum officinale has
slightly more complicated origins. Taraxacum comes from the Greek
word taraxos and akos. Taraxos translates to disorder and akos to
remedy. When put together, we get something along the lines of
“remedy for disorders.”
When taking this into consideration, it is no
surprise to discover the dandelion is a relative of the purple cone
flower a.k.a. Echinacea, which is a well-known immune system
booster. While the dandelion is not known as an immune booster, it
does have substantial medicinal properties of its own. Dandelion
leaves are first and foremost known as a diuretic. A diuretic is a
substance that leads to increased urination. However, dandelion is
an unusual diuretic in that it actually provides the body with
potassium, while most other diuretics leach this important mineral
from the body.
Dandelion has also long been known as an
extremely effective detoxifying herb. It works as a detoxifier by
encouraging bile production in the liver and in the gallbladder.
This in turn hastens the body’s removal of toxic substances. In
China, dandelions have been used as a cancer treatment for
centuries. A recent study has confirmed that dandelion does indeed
have anti-tumor properties.
With all of the dandelion’s nutritional and
medicinal properties, one can easily see why growing this plant
commercially has crossed the multi-million-dollar-a-year threshold.
However, why run to your local grocery store when you can harvest
these wonders from your own backyard? Don’t have a backyard full of
dandelions – what about family, friends, and neighbors?
There are always three main rules to follow
when foraging for wild foods. 1) ALWAYS make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that
the area you harvest from is free of hazardous chemicals.
Pesticides, herbicides, and car exhaust are just a few to keep in
mind. 2) If it isn’t your land, make sure to get the owner’s
permission before you start gathering plants. 3) Don’t be greedy and
pick everything in sight. Always be sure to leave some for Mother
Nature’s wild creatures.
While dandelions are somewhat of an acquired
taste, they can make a healthy and unusual addition to the common
diet. As with trying anything new, make sure to do plenty of
research beforehand. It is also a very good idea to make sure you
are not allergic to dandelions before using them as a vegetable or a
supplement. By following the above guidelines, you and your rats can
begin to explore an entire new world of cuisine from your backyard
buffet.
References available upon
request.
Backyard
Buffet: Red Clover
By: Carrie Noring
© 2008
Trefoil,
Wild Clover, Cow Clover, Cow Grass, Purple Clover, Peavine Clover,
Meadow Honeysuckle, Meadow Trefoil, Cleaver Grass, Marl Grass,
Bee-Bread, and Trifolium pratense – so many names for such a
humble plant. It is considered a weed by suburbanites, excellent
forage by livestock, and a wonderful source of nectar for making
honey by bees. We are discussing the plant known to most of us as
the Red Clover.
Red Clover is considered a perennial, but a
short-lived one that is only around for about three years. It is
another plant that adapted very well from its natural habitat in
Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa. As well as the plant itself,
European settlers also brought over folklore regarding Red Clover.
According to the Natures Herbal website, “In the middle ages the
clover was considered a charm worn to ward off evil spirits and
witches. The four leaf clover was said to have even more power
against evil, a five leaf clover was said to be worn by witches to
give them evil powers, and a two leaf clover would give a maiden the
power to see her future lover.”
However, the clover has even more interesting
properties than those purported by folklore. Red Clover is
considered one of the richest sources of isoflavones. Isoflavones
are organic compounds naturally occurring in plants that mimic the
activity of the female hormone estrogen. Because of this, the plant
has been used to treat menopausal symptoms including osteoporosis.
Red Clover has also historically been used to treat
respiratory problems and skin irritations (such as eczema and
psoriasis). It is also thought to help cleanse the liver and thin
the blood.
In the vast majority of people, Red Clover has no
serious or harmful effects when used for short periods of time.
However, certain people should avoid Red Clover, including pregnant
and nursing mothers, people on hormone therapy, people taking blood
thinners, and those who have a history of hormoneinduced cancers.
Please note - when using any kind of an herb for selftreatment, it
is always wise to consult your physician beforehand. Infertility has
been noted in livestock that have grazed on large amounts of Red
Clover. So it would be a good idea to make sure any rats you plan on
breeding have not been fed Red Clover for at least a week
beforehand.
Along with the herbal properties described above,
Red Clover is also a nutritious plant that can make a great addition
to the diet as long as it is used in small quantities. Red Clover
provides us with minerals such as calcium, chromium, magnesium,
phosphorus, and potassium. It is also a source of protein, vitamin
C, niacin, and thiamine (also known as vitamin B1). Every part of
the plant is edible. Flowers can be eaten raw for a delicate
sweetness, and they seem to be most rats’ favorite part of the
entire plant. Foliage, which should be picked before the plant
flowers, should be cooked like spinach. The seeds can be ground into
flour or sprouted (sprouted seeds make a crunchy and robust addition
to salads). And lastly, the roots can also be eaten, but they should
be cooked first.
While not that common of a food, Red Clover can make
a healthy and unusual addition to our own diet, as well as that of
our rats. And one of the best aspects of the Red Clover is that it
is free when harvested from meadows and our own backyards. But
please remember to follow the three main rules of foraging from the
wild! 1) ALWAYS make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that the area you harvest
from is free of hazardous chemicals. Pesticides, herbicides, and car
exhaust are just a few to keep in mind. 2) If it isn’t your land,
make sure to get the owner’s permission before you start gathering
plants. 3) Don’t be greedy and pick everything in sight. Always be
sure to leave some for Mother Nature’s wild creatures.
As with trying anything new, make sure to do plenty
of research beforehand. It is also a very good idea to make sure you
are not allergic to Red Clover before using it as a food or an
herbal. By following the above guidelines, you and your rats can
begin to explore an entire new world of cuisine from your backyard
buffet.
References available upon
request.
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