Herbs and spices were used by ancient cultures to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Roughly 80 percent of people worldwide still use traditional or ancient medicine and more than 80 percent of pharmaceuticals are derived or developed from natural products, including plants. In this series, we will explore the healing power of herbs and spices while learning how to incorporate these ancient remedies into our daily diet.  Dandelions have been used as food and medicine for millennia. While many homeowners and gardeners consider dandelion an unwanted “weed”, this perennial herb was once revered for its many uses, such as: flowers for wine, leaves for cooking, and roots for medicinal remedies. Thought to be native to Asia and Europe, the oldest recorded use of dandelion is recorded in the Tang Materia Medica from 659 B.C.E. In the 10th century, Arabian physicians noted its use as a liver tonic, laxative, and diuretic. …