Dandelion is not a weed, but a wild vegetable, more nutritious than the broccoli or spinach that cleanse the blood and kidneys, reduces gas, blood pressure, fat and cholesterol and increases muscular strength, all this without side effects. In medicine, the roots are mainly used as an appetite stimulant, and for liver and gallbladder problems and the leaves are used as a diuretic to help the body get rid of excess fluid.
You can harvest the leaves and flowers from spring until autumn. The roots, the best time to gather the root is in November. If you live in a northern area, it must be harvested a little bit earlier as the snow and cold weather are coming earlier.
Dandelions have long been used to treat everything from warts and stomach upsets to purifying the blood. Eating the leaves could certainly be beneficial as they’re packed with vitamins A, B, C and D along with zinc and iron. They can also act as a diuretic.
If you choose to go dandelion-foraging, don’t pick any that grow by roadsides, or that may have been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides! These plants are extremely hardy and grow basically anywhere, so you’re best off planting your own so you know what they’ve been in contact with. Many other plants also resemble dandelions, so be absolutely sure you’ve IDed your potential meal correctly.
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