HERB OF THE MOMENT

Latin name: Taraxacum officinale              Common name:  Dandelion

Family:  Compositae or Daisy                   Plant part used:  Leaf and root

This wonderful 'weed' is part of the daisy family and has long narrow leaves with lobes pointing backwards (looks like jagged teeth) towards the base of the plant.  The flowers are round and yellow and closes up at night.  When you pick the stem of Dandelion you will notice a white latex fluid oozing out.  This is part of the plant's medicine and can be rubbed on warts to heal them. 

Dandelion is an important nourishment for bees when most plants have died back during the autumn and early spring. Once the plant has matured, the seeds become a large gossamer ball which is blown off by the breeze to re-populate other areas from wayside paths and gardens to open fields.

Dandelion leaf is a potassium rich diuretic and useful in cases of water retention due to heart problems.   

Dandelion root is used for a variety of conditions.  It has an affinity for the liver and therefore will influence many other systems within the body such as the skin, digestion, muscles and bones. 

Use the root for skin problems such as acne, eczema and psoriasis, constipation, muscular rheumatism and detoxification.

Young Dandelion leaves can be chopped up and added to salads in the spring when we need a detox after the long winter or cooked as spinach . The root can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.