The Latin name of this plant is Taraxacum officinale.
Although many people consider dandelion a weed and make an effort to rid their lawns of it, this plant is great for your health! All parts of the plant can be eaten, from the flowers to the roots. Dandelion is in the daisy family, alongside another plant I highlighted recently - feverfew! It’s often dismissed as a weed, but this herb has some health benefits to it when eaten. The roots are known to aid in overall liver function and detoxification, and the leaves are known to detoxify the kidneys. The bitterness of the leaves also work to stimulate the digestive system and improve digestive health. Ounce per ounce, dandelion even has more nutrients than spinach!
When I began learning about plant nutrition, I had no idea dandelion was anything other than a pesky weed. But they even have dandelion leaves available in the produce section of some grocery stores, which is a good option if you don't want to gather a bunch yourself. If you’re foraging dandelion yourself, make sure the plants you harvest have not been sprayed with any weed killer chemicals and wash them well! You can easily include any parts of dandelion into salads, or put them in with your tea.
Have a magical day!
Jenny
PLANT INGESTION WARNING!
As with all herbs and plants you plan to ingest, never ingest them before doing your own research and/or talking with your doctor - it’s possible that medications you take or health conditions you have could have a negative effect if paired with dandelion. Better safe than sorry!
