Medicinally it refers to the whole dried grass of a variety of species of Taraxacum in the family Asteraceae. The main species include Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz, Taraxacum ohwianum Kitam., Taraxeamum jsinicum Kitag., Taraxacum erpyhropodium kitag., Taraxacum heterolepis Nakai et H..Koidz., Taraxacum asiatisc Dadlst.(T. leucan-thum, and more. These species are slightly different from the common dandelion, visually and medicinally. Other names of it include Herba Taraxaci, Pu Gong Ying, Dent-de-Lion, Lion's Teeth, Lion's Tooth, and so on. It is usually collected in summer and autumn when dandelion's flowers are barely open. And then it needs to remove the impurities, wash with water, cut into segments, and dry in the sun. It is normally used fresh or raw.

Dandelion benefits
Now it is time to tell you the facts about dandelions. It is rich in minerals, especially potassium, sodium, phosphorus and iron. Dandelion leaves contain more vitamin A than carrots. Besides it contains some vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin D too. The whole dandelion plant is edible – leaves can be stir-fried like spinach or made dandelion salad; dandelion root can be also consumed as a vegetable or as a coffee substitute. If you buy dandelion from Chinese medicinal herbs shop, using it to make tea or cook gruel can be a good idea since it is dried herb. In a word, eating dandelions in a long run can be helpful to many ailments, such as acute mastitis, lymphadenitis, boils and Carbuncle, Acute Conjunctivitis, cold and fever, acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, Chronic Gastritis, Hepatitis B, Urinary Tract Infection, hot eyes, acute pharyngitis, difficult urination, and so on.

As a whole, dandelion herb can benefit in many ways. Also known as "bed-wetting weed", it is a good herbal diuretic. In Canada this herb is officially registered as a diuretic that can relieve Edema; it cares your skin and helps hair growth too. Clinically it gets rid of premature graying, prevents Hair Loss, treats skin problems like acne and dermatitis, and removes pigmentation rashes/patches and freckle on forehead, nose, and cheeks; it has a strong bactericidal effect on the resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. For that reason, clinically it is widely used in a variety of respiratory diseases and gastroenteritis; it has a wealth of vitamins A and C and minerals. Drinking dandelion tea before meals can improve indigestion and constipation.

In addition, different parts of dandelion have their own focus medicinally. Leaf is good at improving Eczema, relieving dermatitis, and getting rid of joint discomfort; root is skilled in treating gallstones and rheumatism because it has a very good anti-inflammatory effect; flower juice is adept at removing freckles.