Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale
Revised 2007
Dandelion is a
common meadow herb of the Asteraceae or sunflower family, closely
related to chicory. There are about dandelion 100 species. Its name
is a corruption of the French "dents de lion", meaning "teeth of
the lion."
Dandelion has
been used for centuries by herbalists for general detox. These
herbalists particularly used dandelion for the
liver. Folk
names for dandelion include lion's tooth, bitterwort, wild
endive, priest's crown, doonheadclock, piss-a-bed, Irish daisy,
blow ball, yellow gowan, puffball, clock flower, swine snout, Pu
gong ying, fortune-teller, and cankerwort.
The generic name
derives from the Greek words taraxos, meaning disorder, and akos,
meaning remedy. The designation officinale indicates that Dandelion
was officially listed as a medicinal.
The Dandelion
grows to a height of about 12 inches in
temperate lands.
Although a fine herb by itself,
dandelion is one of many herbs which help the
liver.
History of
Dandelion
Dandelion has
a long history. Early colonists brought it to North America,
where indigenous people saw its
value and used it for its medical and nutritional
benefits.
Dandelion
leaves and roots have been used for centuries to treat liver, gall
bladder, kidney, and joint problems. In some countries, Dandelion
is considered a blood purifier and is used for ailments such as
eczema and cancer. Dandelion has also been used to treat poor
digestion, water retention, and diseases of the liver such as
hepatitis.
The first mention of
the Dandelion as a medicine is in the works of Arabian physicians
of the tenth and eleventh centuries. Thirteenth-century Welsh
medicine lauds its properties.
Active
Constituents Dandelion is a source of potassium, sodium, calcium,
phosphorus and iron. The leaves are a richer source of Vitamin A
than carrots and contain some amounts of Vitamins B, C and D.
The root contains bitter glycosides, tannins, triterpenes,
sterols, volatile oil, choline, asparagin, and inulin.
Actions Diuretic, hepatic,
cholagogue, anti-rheumatic, laxative, tonic, bitter. It is a
general stimulant to the system, especially to the urinary organs,
and is primarily used in kidney and liver
disorders.
The root is commonly
used as a hepatic - that is, to affect the liver. The leaf, taken
cool, acts as a diuretic.
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