Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion has to be one of the most iconic of the common garden herbs. It is prolific in lawns, fields and and verges. It’s cheerful yellow flowers bloom in early Spring and then transform into the seed headed ”clocks” children so love. 

It is also one of the most widely used plants in Western Herbal Medicine. Herbalists often separate the plant parts into two distinct medicines. The root for the digestion, liver and bowel, and the leaf as a stimulating diuretic. However the two can also be combined as one, whole plant medicine.

 ”If in doubt, give Dandelion” (Christopher Hedley).