Dandelion - Origin and Benefits
Dandelion, also known as bitter chicory, is such a common plant that few of us have even thought about its qualities. This wild plant has the facility to grow almost in any climate, and even in any hidden nook of any city. Perhaps that same characteristic is the reason why many gardeners consider it as weeds or weeds. But the truth is that this plant has ordinarily, as it has benefits.
First and foremost, it is an edible plant from flower to root, and that can be tasted in salads and infusions. Like all food, it contains a large number of nutrients such as vitamins A, B and C, iron and potassium, among others. In addition, the dandelion has always been used for medicinal purposes, as it is considered a purifier of the body for its detoxifying action, and has been used to treat kidney, urinary, gastrointestinal problems.
A peculiarity of this plant, which makes it so common does not lose its charm, is that it gives rise to a fruit whose most striking feature is that it has a kind of feathery hairs, which can be blown away, installing magic in front of our eyes.
There are multiple stories about how Dandelion originated. For example, according to the Nordic literature, these flowers are actually fairies that were disguised so as not to be ignored by humans. However, in Ireland, it is said that they were conceived by the elves to punish an old miser and share the wealth that he had found, transforming gold coins into our magic golden flowers. On the other hand, there is a legend of Greek mythology that says the Goddess Hecate gave to Theseus a salad based on Dandelion, attributing a divine character. Also, an indigenous story, tells that it arose from a terrible history of forbidden love, in which both lovers died in the name of their love, and a God to see such act of delivery decided to turn them into a flower that can grow even where it does not have space, and whose seeds can be scattered by the wind to reproduce in distant places.
It is difficult to know its real origin, it is not even real that we need to know it, maybe it's just a matter of blowing hard and making a wish, maybe it's about believing in magic again, or just that there is a natural mystic floating in the air.
Bogotá, Colombia
