This natural root can help detox and even alleviate pain. Find out how you can harvest dandelion and how to turn it into a detoxification agent. There's not much to it. Read more below!

When Should I Harvest Dandelion Roots?
Harvest dandelion roots from late fall through early spring, when the plant is dormant and has stored up energy in the root.  For medicinal use, most sources say fall harvest is best.

via: Common Sense Home

What’s the Best Way to Harvest Dandelion Roots?
To dig roots, use a dandelion digger or a sturdy fork. You want to break/damage the root as little as possible so you don’t lose much sap, which is where the medicinal properties lie. Deep, rich soil will produce the thickest, easiest to harvest roots.
How should I Preserve Dandelion Roots?
You can use dandelion roots fresh for cooking and medicine, or preserve them for later use. For long term storage, drying works best. Scrub roots well before cutting. Slice thick roots lengthwise into strips of uniform thickness to decrease drying time and encourage uniform drying.

Make Dandelion Coffee

To make dandelion coffee, start with dried roots. Chop or break into small, even pieces, roughly 1/4″ across. Spread on a roasting pan and bake in a warm oven (200°F, 93°C) for around 4 hours. Stir occasionally. The dandelion roots should be browned and dried completely through. Cool completely. Grind and use as you would regular coffee, or place 1 heaping teaspoon of ground root in a cup of water, steep for 10 minutes and strain. Store in an airtight glass jar and grind just before use for best flavor.

Don’t have time to dig or a clean spot to harvest from?
You can buy clean and prepped roots and leaves online, ready to use

How do I Use Dandelion Root?

via: Common Sense Home

Dandelion root is well known as a detoxifying agent, but has also been used to treat everything from arthritis to hangovers.

Fresh or dried dandelion herb is also used as a mild appetite stimulant and to improve upset stomach. The root of the dandelion plant may act as a mild laxative and has been used to improve digestion. There is some very preliminary research that suggests dandelion may help improve liver and gallbladder function, but the study was not well designed.

Make a Dandelion Root Decoction
A decoction uses water and extra heat, and is generally used for tough materials like roots and bark. To make a decoction, place one ounce of dried roots or two ounces fresh roots (by weight) in a pan with one pint of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and compost the spent roots. (From Dandelion Medicine.) Root decoctions can be used to make simple healing teas.

Looks like a dandelion root has a lot of uses. For healing everything from arthritis to hangovers and even an upset stomach, dandelion root is ideal. Get ready to harvest those roots!

For more on dandelion roots and how you can use them as treatment, visit Common Sense Home.

Featured Image via: Common Sense Home