(Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion, also known as Lion's Teeth, has long deeply toothed leaves with bright yellow flowers that looks like a Sun.

The word dandelion comes from the French "dents de lion," or "lion's teeth,"because of the shape of the leaves and their color.

Dandelion is a perennial herb native to the entire Northern Hemisphere. It is a member of the Composite family and it can grow up to 12 inches high.

Dandelion is not a hard plant to find because it grows pretty much everywhere. If you haven't cut your grass in awhile, I'm sure you can find plenty of Dandelions growing there.

Dandelion is a good source of potassium, phosphorus, calcium and vitamin A.

Take internally (tincture, tea, capsules, dried or fresh leaves or roots) for headaches, edema, PMS, heartburn, to treat anemia, to clean your bloodstream and liver, to improve the function of your kidneys and stomach.

Dandelion has a diuretic and weight loss effect on your body. The roots of dandelion has anti-inflammatory properties which make it useful for treating rheumatism. You can take 2-5 drops of tincture 1-3 times daily. Apply externally Juice) for treatment of acne, boils, cold sores and other skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis.

There are many ways you can enjoy dandelion. Cook fresh leaves and eat it or just add it to salads. Best is if you eat them while they are young. You can also use the root in soups. Parts used: Leaves, rhizome, roots.

The milky juice can lead to nausea, vomiting or diarrhea if it's sucked excessively by children. Don't take if you have gallstones.