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.