It’s Spring!
No doubt you have noticed the coming of spring with plant life pushing upwards from the earth. The sun is rising earlier and we can too, to participate in the active nature of spring.
We can work with the profound cyclic effects of the seasons on our health and well-being. Living in harmony with spring is second nature to the balanced person. It is an opportunity for all of us to be aware of our own inner nature and give attention to self-awareness and self-expression.
Chinese medicine tells us that the sight of the green plants nourishes the soul through the eyes, so that the appetite for food decreases. In so doing, the body naturally cleanses itself, both of accumulated products of our own metabolism, and also of clogged emotions like dissatisfaction, impatience and anger.
Spring is the season to attend to the liver and gall bladder. By eating fresh greens and sprouts, sweet starchy vegetables like beets and carrots and putting aside the salty foods and sodium-rich heavy meats, we can clean out the liver.
In addition, I present here two of my favorite beverages for this time of year – both using the liver-cleansing dandelion root in delicious combinations. I crave these this time of year, as well, there may be other times the liver also needs some support.
I’m betting you will become a fan of these two beverages as you try them and keenly observe the effect they have on your well-being in body and mind.
How do I start my day?
With a cuppa DandyBlend – the full-bodied instant herbal beverage that satisfies me with its slightly sweet richness and energy without caffeine. Absolutely no acidity or bitter taste.
I used to be a fan of Pero and Caffix, other instant beverages made from roasted grains and beetroot. When I committed to eating gluten-free, I had to give them up, because the roasted barley retained traces of gluten. Not so with Dandyblend! It is carefully processed to water extract the roasted grain goodness, and leave behind the gluten. The manufacturers are so careful to guarantee it gluten-free that they have it tested in an independent facility.
The big difference is that DandyBlend also contains dandelion root. To Americans, dandelions may seem like a week to be pulled out of the lawn, but herbalists have known and used dandelion for ages. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is considered one of the top 6 herbs. Both the leaf and the root are used. And who remembers someone they know making dandelion wine from the flowers?
Dandelion root is both a nutritive herb and one of nature’s best medicines. Its main influence is on the liver and is useful when liver congestion is the cause of digestive upsets, blood sugar imbalances, and skin problems. It is used in a general way as a “liver cleaner” and “blood purifier.”
In combination with the dandelion root, DandyBlend has extracts of roasted barley, rye, chicory and beetroot. It contains over 50 trace minerals in each cup. The natural sweetness comes from the roots of chicory and dandelion.
Dandyblend is a helpful ally when weaning off coffee. Most people do not experience any withdrawl symptoms such as headaches when switching from coffee to Dandyblend. I recommend to a lot of my patients to reduce or eliminate coffee to facilitate healing their condition.
So, by recommending Dandyblend instead, they can still enjoy a morning ritual of the rich, full-bodied flavor, smoothness and texture of real coffee in a hot beverage. Many say that, because it lacks bitterness and acidity, it actually tastes better than coffee.
Did I mention its versatility? It can be prepared in any way coffee is served – hot or cold, black or with cream, as a latte or with flavoring, any way you can imagine! In fact, the instant powder can be used in cooking to give a coffee-like flavor. It has all the nutritional benefits of the dandelion root and none of the drawbacks of coffee!
And, it can be ordered on the internet at dandyblend.com and I have seen it locally at Natural Grocers.
It is available in different sized bags as well as single-serving packets.
What do I drink instead of soda pop?
As a kid, I loved root beer: the sweetness, the foam, the bubbles. I used to wonder what roots it really should have been made out of.
Well, years passed, and I found out. I am sharing with you a recipe for authentic roots made into a beverage – root beer.
Of course, the dandelion root is fantastic as a liver cleanser, but so are the other roots included here: burdock, sarsaparilla, and sassafras. Ginger root is known as a “carrier herb” that helps carry the herbal effects deep into the body
I found all these ingredients at the local health food store, and then stocked up on carbonated water. I make up 3 or 4 quarts, then refrigerate it for daily enjoyment.
Root Beer Revitalizer
At last! Real root beer.
These herbs are traditional
for spring cleansing.
3 oz. dry sassafras root, broken
2 oz. dry sarsaparilla root
1- 3” cinnamon stick, broken
1 oz. dry dandelion root
1 oz. dry burdock root
2 tsp. fresh grated ginger root
2 Tbs. fresh grated / 2 tsp. dry orange peel
Whole recipe makes about 3 gallons.
For smaller amounts, use ¼ cup of recipe mix to 1 quart water.
Put herbs in water and simmer on stove about 1 hour. Add a little extra water as it reduces while simmering. Remove from heat, let cool, and refrigerate.
Dilute to taste with carbonated water. Sweeten to taste. Watch for a little foam!
