Dandelions have a very effective seed dispersal system, which means you will always have the chore of pulling these god-forsaken weeds out of your holy garden. Before you toss these weeds in the green waste, however, think about what this unwanted guest may have to offer.
Dandelion leaves serve as a diuretic, and can be a healthy addition to your salad. This is any easy way to help rid your body of excess sodium, which can lead to high blood pressure. It's easy to take in excess amounts of sodium because of its use as a preservative in a lot of processed and fast foods. Consider adding dandelion leaves to a salad to help counter this trend and improve your cardiovascular health.
The dandelion root is also beneficial as a detoxifier. It cleanses the liver and aides in kidney function to remove wastes and toxins from the body. It does this by helping the body get rid of liquids by way of urination and defecation, so stay relatively near a bathroom if you drink dandelion root tea.
You could very well by dandelion tea at the store, but since you will have an ongoing struggle with this plant in your garden anyway, save your money and treat this weed more as friend than foe.
I found this four foot behemoth hiding in my star jasmine bush yesterday. Of course I removed it, but I'll be mixing the leaves with some recently harvested beet greens. I'm going to make a tea out of the root and throw in some peppermint and spearmint for flavor.
When it comes to dandelions, try to see the silver lining. Perhaps it will make weeding your garden a little more gratifying.
Happy harvesting! Cheers!
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