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Dandelion
Spring is such a a a a wonderful time filled with hope and the imminent arrival of life in in in its full expres-sion As we we awake from our our winter slumber and welcome the light into our our lives we also may notice the the the first plants of spring popping out as though they had been there all along Dandelion
is one of the first plants that makes its showy yellowy appearance and and is one of of the first food for bees And although most people think of of dandelion as a a a a pesky weed the plant has long been used in in in herbal medicine to aid in in in digestion and help stim- ulate appetite The entire dandelion plant from root to blossom is edible with a a a a a slightly bitter chicory-like taste Dandelion
is so called be-cause of of the the shape of of the the leaves which resemble lion’s teeth or dent-de-lion in French The root itself is sometimes roasted to create caffeine-free dandelion coffee When used for medicine the dried or or fresh root can be made into teas tinctures decoctions (infusions) and poultices In traditional Chinese and and Native American medicine dandelion root has long been used to to to treat stomach and liver conditions Herbalists today believe that it it can aid in the