The whole plant can be used as a medicine and is highly nutritious. The roots and leaves are best harvested in early spring. Dandelion is most famous as a gently detoxifying bitter tonic, increasing elimination of toxins, wastes and pollutants through the liver and kidneys, cleansing the blood and tissues. The bitters in both roots and leaves activate the whole of the digestive tract and the liver, increasing the flow of digestive juices, enhancing the appetite, easing digestion and cleansing the liver. Dandelion roots have been used traditionally for liver disease jaundice, hepatitis, gallbladder infections to dissolve gallstones.
Its stimulating effect extends to the pancreas, where it increases insulin secretion, helpful in diabete.
Dandelion, particularly the leaves is an effective diuretic, useful in water retention, urinary infections, and prostate problems. A decoction of roots and leaves has been used for dissolving urinary stones and gravels. While diuretic drugs leach potassium from the body, dandelion has a high potassium content, replacing that lost through increased urination. Dandelion roots help reset the filtering capabilities of the liver by expelling loose, rogue toxins inside it that haven’t yet been compartmentalized in storage banks. Purges the liver so it can expel these free-floating troublemakers and essentially breathe and focus more on its filtration responsibilities. It also supports the liver’s adaption strength. The liver’s ability to convert nutrients can restore while using dandelion root, plus bile strength increases.