Health Tips from Chinese Medicine
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One Heart Community Acupuncture 
Spring, Livers, and Taraxacum Officianale
Have you ever pondered the irony of the annual spring ritual of ridding one’s garden or yard of dandelions? Have you ever shuddered at your neighborhood spraying the bright yellow flower heads with Round-Up?
I have. I wish that instead of getting one’s Liver Qi all Constrained trying to rid one’s lawn (or garden bed) of these wonderful plants , the person would don a dandelion wreath, make dandelion wine, or pick the green leaves to eat instead.
Dandelion or pu gong ying is special to me for several reasons: a) The entire plant is edible from the flower head to the tap root, including its latex, b) its functions and organs affected according to the Chinese Materia Medica and the Western Herbal Tradition are very similar: for gallstones, liver complaints, to promote lactation and as a diuretic, c) it is native to both the Old and New World d) at this time of year, it’s ubiquitous.
Dandelions are a great herb to introduce to anyone at any age to get a person to look at backyard plants from a more scientific, medicinal, and holistic point of view –with a little herbal (Chinese or Western) education, it’s easy turn Taraxcum officianle from a “nuisance weed” into a “green ally.” Dandelion root, a digestive bitter and liver tonic, can be harvested from one’s own backyard or can easily be purchased at from a local herb store or online. Dandelion leaves, rich in iron and B vitamins, are also easily picked from one’s yard (or local P-patch) and are also available at this time of year at many grocery stores.
If I can convince just one person each spring to stop killing dandelions and starting wearing them, eating them, or drinking dandelion tea, I will consider myself a good acupuncturist!
by Molly DeFazio