Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) is one of the best teas to promote liver health. Those with any liver condition can use it continually to their benefit. It does also have a very mild laxative effect.

It is a common herb in food use, with the roots being used in salads or cooked as a vegetable or added to other vegetables, and the leaves are used as salad greens. It is sometimes brewed as a coffee substitute, an can be used in making root beer.

This is the same dandelion that is the bane of many homeowners, popping up in otherwise well-manicured lawns. If not exposed to pesticide, herbicide, or car exhaust, common dandelions can be harvested and used as salad greens. Dandelion is very rich in nutrients, including vitamins A, B, C, and D and minerals, particularly potassium and calcium.

Dandelion is also used as a natural dye plant, with the whole plant being boiled down to make a deep magenta colored dye.

Spearmint leaves (Mentha spicata) are used to brew a tea that is not only refreshing and flavorful, but has some medicinal properties as well. It is especially useful for soothing stomach upsets and can decrease stomach acids and bile. It is also helpful to drink when one has diarrhea. It can be helpful for jaundiced persons for its action on the liver.

Spearmint has many of the same properties as peppermint, but is milder and many people find it easier to use than peppermint, especially children or those not used to herbal teas.

Spearmint also has cosmetic uses. It can be used in the bath to soothe the skin, in steaming water for a facial, and also as an astringent to clean oily skin.

It is very commonly used in foods and drinks, adding a minty flavor or aroma to cold drinks, salads, jellies, meats, sauces, and many other dishes. Experimenting with spearmint in a variety of dishes and with different methods is likely to produce very good results, as it is complementary to so many kinds of foods.