Dandelion is used for the treatment of joint pain, muscle aches, upset stomach, intestinal gas, loss of appetite, gallstones, eczema and bruises. It’s been used to treat infection, especially viral infections and even cancer. It is also used as a blood tonic, digestive tonic, and skin toner. Dandelion greens can be eaten raw, chopped up and used as a garnish, or cooked to minimize their somewhat bitter flavor and added to a sauce.
The Chinese first used Dandelions to purify the blood and increasing the immune system. Next Arabic cultures used it to treat troubles of the liver and kidneys. Soon all of Europe was storing dried dandelion in their medicine cabinets.
Dandelions are high in vitamins, calcium, potassium and other trace minerals. The diuretic effects of its roots are used by herbalists to help control a patient’s blood pressure, isolate toxins in the body and flush them from the system. It’s been stated that the poisons gardeners use to eradicate dandelions are the same toxins this plant offers to weed from our bodies. Maybe that's why they are so hard to eradicate, they heal themselves. If they are so hardy, I'm willing to try this tenacious plant and hope to reap some of their health benefits.