Who would have ever thought those bright yellow nuisances of a weed that pops up on your freshly mowed green lawn could actually be the source of something good? In fact, dandelion root has been used for centuries to address various health problems. You may want to think about that the next time you set out to obliterate them!

The botanical name for Dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. This is an herb that grows year round in North America and Europe, its native place. Dandelions can be considered a kind of weed whose roots have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries as a blood purifier and to ward off liver diseases.

This herb is believed to originate in Greece. Many historical medical journals and books have referred to the medicinal properties of this root. The old books refer to the complexion-enhancing effects that this root has on the skin. Ancient times saw women boiling the root to create an infusion that they used for beautification purposes. In modern times, Japanese have been known to consume the root and sometimes the herb itself. People in America, Italy, France and India are no strangers to the properties of this well-known ancient herb.

The entire herb is believed to have many curative properties. For centuries, people have consumed the raw dandelion root as a tea by boiling it in water. Some people also boil the fresh Dandelion plant along with the root to obtain a cleansing effect on the system and to stimulate the urinary and digestive system. This root is also known to be a great blood thinner and is useful for heart diseases, as thinning of the blood can prevent clots that can cause a stroke.

Fresh Dandelion leaves are also great ingredients in a salad because they have a very distinctive and bitter taste and are a great source of nutrients, compared with spinach or tomatoes. Each 100 grams of Dandelion contains 45 calories. This amount also contains 2.8 percent parotids, 7.5 percent glucids and vitamins A, B2, C, D and G. The minerals found include sodium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron.

This herbal remedy is used to cure constipation, as it is a great laxative and a natural diuretic. It is also great when added to regular coffee. It can also be used separately as an alternative to coffee or tea, as it does not make much difference in the taste.

Edema is a condition in which patients suffer with too much water in the liver. The diuretic properties of this herb can alleviate the situation by helping remove excessive water from the system, thus improving the overall functioning of the liver.

The many benefits of organic Dandelion root, including bile stimulation, liver cleansing, diuretic properties, diabetic control properties, killing harmful bacteria, relief for heartburn and indigestion and flushing of particles from the gall bladder, have an overall cleansing effect on the bowels.

Dandelion root is perhaps used most widely as a powerful diuretic. This is why it is used as a detoxification agent by many practitioners the world over. Doctors have recommended the use of Dandelion leaves to cure fluid retention in patients and as a natural laxative. Given the power and the properties of the Dandelion root, it is advisable that it be used with a great deal of caution as contrary to the common belief, natural remedies do have side effects if not used properly.