FAMILY
Compositae

SPECIES
Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia species

DESCRIPTION
This hardy herb has rosettes of oblong, deeply toothed leaves. Golden flowers, often striped with brown, appear from spring to autumn, and are followed by balls of tufted seeds.

USES
The flowers are made into wine, the buds are pickled, and the leaves, rich in vitamins A and C and minerals, are eaten in salads. The leaves are a powerfull diuretic, treating urinary disorders and fluid retention without depleting body potassium. They detoxify the blood, so are given for acne and eczema. the white sap treats warts, corns and verrucas. The root reduces inflammation and is a liver stimulant, used fro jaundice, gallstones, and rheumatism. the roots yield a magenta dye.

APPLICATIONS

LEAVES
Fresh: Add to spring salads as a cleansing remedy.

Juice: Liquidize the leaves when a diuretic action is needed. Take up to 20 ml juice, three times a day.

Infusion: A less effective diuretic than the juice, the infusiýn makes a cleansing remedy for toxic conditions including gout and eczema. Also use as a gentle liver and digestive stimulant. Make with freshly dried leaves.

Tincture: Often added to remedies for a failng heart to ensure adequate potassium intake.

ROOT
Tincture: Use the fresh root for toxic conditions such as gout, eczema and acne. Also prescribed as a liver stimulant in liver disorders and related constipation.

Decoction: Use for the same conditions as the tincture.