The Story of the Dandelion, Part Two

The Story of the Dandelion, Part Two

Image by myungho lee from Pixabay

With the coming of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the dandelion remained steadfast in its central role supporting our well-being. By that time, people were aware of the necessities of vitamins in maintaining health. And the dandelion would be key in an effort to avoid illnesses such as scurvy, which develops due to a vitamin C deficiency. Dandelions are a rich source of Vitamin C, amongst many others.

Meanwhile, as time progressed, with the continued rise of the middle class, society was changing. Some looked to the aristocracy of old for attributes that could assure one’s status. And that vast greenery sitting affront most homes in our towns and cities today is a remnant of one of those beacons of station—the ubiquitous every day lawn.

This feature of our lives in addition to an element of life we all take for granted—the pharmaceuticals we commonly obtain from the pharmacy—were central in the diminished role of the dandelion in our lives.

Green as Far as the Eye Can See

Centuries ago, around the village, cows, sheep, horses and other grazing animals were kept on what was known as the village green. In fact, the word “lawn” originates from the Middle english launde, meaning a glade or opening in the woods, that is, the village green.

Typical village green in Melmerby, Cumbria in England

(Source: Charles Rispin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikipedia).

Although popularised by the common folk, soon the aristocracy was similarly adopting a green space to surround their estates. It was apparently a nod to a good Christian life, replete with its sheep, shepherds and pastures.

Plus, they were making a quiet statement to their so-called lessers. It was possible to allow the land to sit idle, performing no particular purpose beyond merely providing a splendid vista.

The intention was for nothing to disturb this landscape, certainly not something as low brow, some now thought, as a field of dandelions. Remember, we’re emerging from a time when dandelions were casually harvested for their various nutritious merits.

Lawnmowers became popular in the 19th century (By Unknown author – Public Domain, Wikipedia).

And even when the worship of a lawn was bolstered with the invention of lawn mowers in 1830, the principle remained the same. Nothing must obstruct the vast green. Even with the row upon row of homes that comprise the modern-day suburb, the lawn still stands as statement of status.

Any dandelions present would be mowed with little disregard, leaving a landscape of green free of any golden blemish.

So, here we see the diminishing affection for a plant that had heretofore been central in our diets, rich in a multitude of minerals and vitamins as it was. The dandelion was a key player in maintaining our health until another set of changes worked to further degrade this plant in our eyes.

Turning Our Backs on Green

For centuries, plants had served as the foundation of health. The response to many complaints was a matter of finding a particular plant. Knowledge had been handed down over the generations that a plant could alleviate difficulties such as water retention or digestive problems. Find the plant, create a poultice and you’re good to go.

Portrait of Portrait of J. D. Rockefeller (Source: WikipediaPublic Domain).

Enter John D. Rockefeller, one of the world’s richest men, from the United States in the late nineteenth century, a crowned royal of the oil dynasties. By the turn of the 20th century, he controlled 90% of the oil refineries in the country. Although, Rockefeller and colleague Andrew Carnegie had other ideas. They would take steps to revolutionise medicine, not always for the best.

The intention was to pry medicine away from the nature-based curatives, free for the taking, that had been relied upon for centuries. Instead, remedies for our health problems were to be given over to drugs, ones for which people would pay.

At the time, researchers were conducting innovative work tied to health. The researchers had not only discovered vitamins, they also learned how those vitamins could be synthesized. In no time, the researchers had discovered how petroleum could play a central role in developing those vitamins and other medications. John D. Rockefeller, controlling, at one time, 90% of the oil refineries would be no doubt pleased.

To Rockefeller, this changed everything. If he played his cards right, it’d be possible to transform a medical industry that had, until then, been centred on natural and herbal medicines. As it turned out, Rockefeller did indeed play his cards right.

Changing Medicine

Abraham Flexner, an American educator, was hired to study and then submit a report to Congress in 1910 regarding the state of medical schools in the United States and Canada. The findings of the report stated flat out, there were too many doctors and medical schools in the United States.

Abraham Flexner (Source W.M. Hollinger, The World’s Bank Wikipedia

Moreover, the report concluded many of those medical schools were founded on what was considered to be unscientific information. The report recommended that medical education be standardised and only the American Medical Association would be able to grant medical school licensure in the United States.

The Flexner Report was based on standards in medical education and those they felt did not meet this standard were simply closed. The report also looked down on schools advocating alternative methods such as homeopathy or osteopathy.

And Rockefeller meant business. He exerted his control by providing a monetary surge to aid in the change to the medical schools, giving more than a $100 million to the colleges and hospitals to help pave the way for the transition.

Earlier, Rockefeller had founded the “General Education Board” in 1903. This was a funding board intended to bend and shape what was considered to be acceptable education. All was with regard to the beliefs of people such as the Rockefellers. It was in keeping with what they later did with the medical schools.

Dandelion’s Fall From Grace

The dandelion, along with numerous other plants, was caught up in this conflagration. Plants such as the dandelion had been used since time immemorial for their value as a means to remedy a variety of health issues. The dandelion’s fall from grace was ably aided by the efforts to abandon more natural (and free) remedies to treat and maintain health.

Dandelion going to seed (Image by StockSnap from Pixabay).

The fall of the dandelion had been ushered in by other developments. The changes to medical doctrine also opened the door for the pharmaceutical industry. It keenly married science and industrialisation. This further bolstered efforts that were underway to no longer rely on nature to alleviate our ailments.

Now drugs were being created to strengthen and maintain our health. There was no need for plants such as the dandelion. Morphine was the first, an extraction from the opium poppy. Many more would follow.

So, when seeking to right a vitamin deficiency or some ailment, the solution was not to seek the aid of plants such as the dandelion. It became solely a matter of finding the ideal drug. The fate of the dandelion was all but certain.

The worship of the lawn along with the efforts to shift the world to pharmaceuticals seemed to spell the end of the dandelion.

Regarded now as a weed, people have come to expend vast amounts of energy and money to rid their properties of the dandelion.

A quick look on the internet will offer an abundant number of methods for the do-it-yourself types. For those seeking outside help, one can find a host of companies ready to help kill plants such as the dandelion.

Resurgence of the Dandelion

But going against the grade, there are still some who eagerly speak up for the down-trodden dandelion. Society may have shifted, forgetting the unmitigated virtues of this plant.

However some websites offer a reminder for us, noting how much the dandelion is a powerhouse of nutrition. Although many disregard the dandelion as a forgettable weed, its merits are still delightfully remembered by others.

Showing a little dandelion love (Image by congerdesign from Pixabay).

Without question, the dandelion will remain unsurpassed in its ability to offer, free of charge, the vitamins and minerals we need to ensure our health and well-being. And why not also revel in the spin-off benefits—a panorama of a golden-maned floral extrusion?

Sources:

Adamant, Ashley 2020 “60+ Dandelion Recipes ~ Food, Drinks, Remedies & More” https://practicalselfreliance.com/dandelion-recipes/

Browning, Annette 2023 “Natural Dye from Plants: Yarn Dyeing with Dandelions” https://www.fiberartsy.com/natural-dyeing-dandelions/

Dyer, Mary 2017 “Dandelion Plant History And Facts” Gardening Know How https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/dandelion-plant-history-facts/

Down Garden Services 2023 “Dandelion” http://downgardenservices.org.uk/dandelion.htm

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 2015 “Natural rubber from dandelions” https://phys.org/news/2015-06-natural-rubber-dandelions.html

Heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador 2023 “Malnutrition in Newfoundland and Labrador” https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/malnutrition.php

Hunter, Candace 2023 “Dandelion History, Folklore, Myth and Magic” The Practical Herbalist https://thepracticalherbalist.com/advanced-herbalism/dandelion-history-folklore-myth-and-magic/

Kantham, Chris 2023 “How Rockefeller founded modern medicine and killed natural cures” World Affairs https://worldaffairs.blog/2015/10/20/how-rockefeller-founded-modern-medicine-and-killed-natural-cures/

Pharmaphorum 2023 “A history of the pharmaceutical industry” https://pharmaphorum.com/r-d/a_history_of_the_pharmaceutical_industry

Soschner, Christian 2020 “A Brief, Economic History of the Pharmaceutical Industry” Medium https://medium.com/illumination/a-brief-economic-history-of-the-pharmaceutical-industry-8feb603be4e3

the1millionproject 2020 “The Origin of Compulsory Schooling” Medium https://t1mproject.medium.com/the-origin-of-compulsory-schooling-cbef6a07777d

Velasquez, Jennifer 2023 “Uncovering The History Behind The Name ‘Dandelion’” Shuncy — Love the Green https://shuncy.com/article/why-are-dandelions-called-dandelions

Wikipedia 2023 “Taraxacum” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum

Winger, Jill 2022 “18 Dandelion Recipes” The Prairie Homestead https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/04/dandelion-recipes.html

Winters, Chris 2023 “Garden History — How Dandelions Went From Being Sought-After Medicinal Plants To Pesky Weeds” https://12tomatoes.com/dandelion-history/

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