In America, many plants are categorized as “invasive species” or weeds because they disrupt the monochromatic green of front lawns. But all these so-called weeds thrive due to the quality of the soil in the area, and many of them have great medicinal value. Dandelion is certainly one of them. 

The beautiful and resilient dandelion is a medicinal queen that can be consumed in its entirety. In Chinese materia medica, dandelion is bitter, sweet, and cold, and it functions on the Liver and Stomach channels. It clears heat, relieves toxins, resolves abscesses, and nodules. It is especially effective for breast abscesses, inflammation, and eye pain.

Please be mindful when you read about any herbs here or any where else, all the medicinal quality of herbs can only be used to treat diseases, if they are used properly based on your conditions and your constitution, otherwise they might also cause damage to your health. Therefore it will be wise to consult an herbalist or TCM doctor for using herbs to treat any symptoms. But if you are feeling healthy today, let’s add some bitterness of the wild grown to your salad, stir-fry or tea!