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Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion's name comes from the French "Dente de Lion" = Tooth of the Lion,
referring to the saw tooth leaves that sprout each spring. It is native to
the entire northern hemisphere, growing almost everywhere - meadows, lawns,
in driveways, gardens and yards. Some people enjoy Dandelion as food, eating
the leaves in spring salads, before flowering makes them bitter, and they
can be cooked as a vegetable. The flowers are made into wine and jelly. The
roots can be roasted, ground and used as a coffee substitute.
But the plant's main purpose is medicinal. Because of its well-balanced
medicinal ingredients, the Dandelion has played an important part in
traditional medicine. All parts of Dandelion are used, the leaves, roots and
flowers.
The properties of the plant are bitter-sweet and cooling, with diuretic,
laxative and anti-rheumatic effects. It stimulates liver function, improves
digestion and reduces swelling and inflammation. Dandelion is prepared for
use by making it into tea (leaves), decoction (roots), tincture, freshly
juiced or eaten raw.
The root juice and tea decoction are well-suited as a spring tonic,
especially as a remedy for liver or gallbladder dysfunction. Recommended
amounts: drink 1 cup of tea or 1 Tablespoon of root juice two times a day
for 4 to 6 weeks.
The LEAVES are used as a diuretic and to treat high blood pressure by
reducing the volume of fluid in the body. This is mainly due to its high
potassium content.
The ROOT - Because Dandelion is such a well-balanced and effective
detoxifying remedy, its root encourages steady elimination of toxins due to
pollution or infection. It works principally on the liver and gall bladder
to help remove waste products, and also stimulates the kidneys to remove
toxins in the urine. It has major therapeutic benefits for
conditions including constipation, eczema & psoriasis, acne, arthritis
(including osteoarthritis), jaundice, cirrhosis, dyspepsia with
constipation, edema associated with high blood pressure and heart weakness,
and gout.
The LEAF and ROOT have a marked action on the gallbladder, often used to
prevent gallstones. The leaf may also help dissolve existing gallstones.
In Chinese medicine it is used internally for breast and lung tumors,
mastitis, and abscesses, jaundice, hepatitis, and urinary tract infections.
Some information obtained
from "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants" by Andrew Chevallier,
"Encyclopedia of Herbs" by Deni Brown, and "The Complete Guide to Natural
Healing", section 1, card # 19
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