Latin (botanical) name: Taraxacum officinale

Common names: Dandelion Plant

Description: Taraxacum is a native of western Europe where it grows in meadows, fields, and uncultivated land. It originated in Central Asia, but now grows almost anywhere in the world, preferring moist conditions. The common Dandelion is a perennial, herbaceous plant with long, lance-shaped, deeply toothed leaves. The leaves are 3-12 inches long. It has yellow composite flowers that are 1-2 inches wide and grow individually on hollow, purplish stalks 2-18 inches tall. Each flower head is made up of hundreds of tiny rays. All parts of the plant contain a sticky, milky white sap and when the flowers are picked, the bitter, milky juice comes out from the broken edges of the stem.

Use: Make a tea by pouring approximately 2 cups of boiling water over 2 heaped tsp of herb. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. In general, sip a cup before breakfast, and another 2 hours after dinner

Cautions & Interactions: Contraindicated in blockage of the bile ducts, acute gallbladder inflammation, and intestinal blockage. Keep out of reach of children.