Dandelion - one of the most common plants in the world. It is known like nettle or plantain. In therapeutic purposes its roots are mainly used. The roots contain sugar, protein (15%), bitter substances (10%), alcohol, choline, vitamin B2, and more good things. Inflorescences and leaves contain carotenoids, alcohol, choline, inositol vitamins (B1, B2, C, D, provitamin A). In seeds one can find up to 20% fatty acids. In the pollen of dandelion there is lots of boron, manganese.
In folk medicine, dandelion is recommended for liver diseases, spleen, chronic eczema, blood diseases, as a choleretic agent in the treatment of gall bladder, and as a laxative. People can use it as a sedative and hypnotic. Milky juice of dandelion is nice for removing calluses and a cosmetic product for getting rid of blackheads, freckles and age spots.
In food almost all parts of the plant can be taken. From young leaves one can make salads. The dried roots are used for chicory substitutes, that is, to make ersatz coffee. To remove the bitterness (due to the presence of magnesium), dandelion leaves are kept for half an hour in cold salted water, and roots are boiled in salted water for 6-8 minutes. Dandelion can be grown in the garden beds, by the way.
      Naturists like to put fresh dandelion leaves and flowers in their food from April to November, and in the winter they use this plant in dried form.