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Page 2
Finally, completing its reputation for abundance, this humble plant has treated just about every physical disorder on record. It stimulates the kidneys, relieves both constipation and diarrhea, cleanses the blood, improves circulation, whets the appetite, relieves indigestion, eases upper respiratory infections, and betters liver and gallbladder function.
It's no wonder that Culpeper couldn't resist adding a postscript to his description of the plant. "You see here what virtues this common herb hath, and that is the reason the French and Dutch so often eat them in the spring; and now if you look a little farther, you may plainly see without a pair of spectacles, that foreign physicians are not so selfish as ours are, but more communicative of the virtues of plants to people." Dreaming of dandelions is supposed to be bad luck. But Matthiolus reports an old superstition that a person who rubs himself with the flower will be welcome everywhere. It is too bad that the dandelion itself is not always so welcome, because such a generous weed is, indeed, a gift of grace. Note: Second illustration is by National Geographic, courtesy of the SW School of Botanical Medicine at: http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE/... Go To Page: 1 2
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