Arkie
This is how to make dandalion root power and he says it will cure lung cancer 5 times out of 5.I am going to order some from a organic farm.
[Note: After the original article was published, I talked to him on the phone and he told me he had newer and better instructions. He sent them to me and they are below. However, cancer patients cannot wait months to pick the dandelions at just the right time and wait more months to freeze, plant and harvest a new crop of dandelions. In this new article, concentrate on the harvesting and processing of the dandelions, and hope they are in season when you need them.]
To make dandelion root powder, let's start at the beginning. This would be collecting the seed. The seed is at the base of the white fluffy crown that appears when the yellow flower matures. Blow on them and they fly away. These little seeds do not grow until the next spring. I collect the seeds in May and June, then I put them in the freezer. This way you fool Mother Nature as the seeds must freeze before they grow. This way you can grow the seed the same year you collect them. Work up the land where you are going to plant them and spread the seeds on top of the ground and rake them [into the soil] very lightly and water [them]. I usually plant the seeds in August.
I dig up the seedlings the next April. I try to do all my transplanting in April as by the end of April they start blooming which takes the energy away from making roots. It's a good thing to pick the buds off for the first couple of months. When I dig the seedlings up in April, I plant them about 6 inches apart in rows 18 to 20 inches apart. I hoe them when needed and keep the weeds and grass out of them. After about 2 months you won't be able to hoe as they will cover the ground. Then I pull the weeds and grass out of the bed. Water when needed.
I usually start digging them up in October. By this time some of the roots will be 1 inch in diameter. I shake off most of the dirt [but not all] and slice lengthwise the bigger roots to about 1/4 inch so they will dry evenly. To dry them I use a forced-air incubator without any water in it. I set the incubator at 100 degrees or a little less. It takes about 5 days until they are ready to grind. You can use a dehydrator set around 100 degrees. If it doesn't have settings, don't use it. You can also dry in the sun if you put them in something the wind can blow through, like a small potato or onion sack. Hang them in the sun but take them down in late afternoon and put in a plastic sack and tie it. If you don't they will pick up moisture and you will be back where you started. Then put them out the next day when the sun is up. Once you have heat in the house, it's no trouble as they will dry OK most anywhere there is heat, like near a register or stove. The excess dirt will pop off as they dry. Mother Nature knows how much to leave. If the roots are very clean, add a little dirt as this powder won't work without the dirt.
When you make powder, try not to lose anything. Pound the roots flat, then put in an electric coffee grinder for 25 seconds and you have powder. You can also keep pounding and crumbling until you have it the right fineness. What I did for a long time, a friend gave me a cast iron pestle and mortar. With this you can get it down as fine as you wish.
To store, put in an air-tight jar and fill as near to the top as possible. I've kept it 10 months this way. Also, keep in a dry place.
George Cairns