Dandelion
Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale Compositae
AKA: Lion's teeth, blowball, priest's crown, puffball, cankerwort
Parts Used: Leaves, root
Active Compounds: Triterpenes, Vitamins A, B, C, and D, Sesquiterpene lactones, coumarins, carotenoids, potassium, taraxacoside, phenolic acids, calcium
Background: The dandelion is a plant that is often removed from lawns and is considered a weed. It grows widely all around the world. What many people don't know as they try to remove these pesky plants is that they have some great medicinal uses.
The leaves are edible and can be put in a salad to provide a diuretic effect. The root can also be used to improve the health of the liver.
Research has shown that it works well as a diuretic, but the mechanism for its work is not understoond. Research in Germany showed that it helped to detoxify the body and stimulate the production fo bile by the gallbladder.
Applications: Diuretic/Detoxifier
Dandelion leaf and root are primarily used as a diuretic and detoxification strategy.
Diuretic: The dandelion leaf can treat water retention. This property also makes it useful for lowering blood pressure. It can also reduce swelling and bloating caused by edema.
Detoxification: When the root of dandelion is taken, it can aid the liver and kidneys in the removal of toxic substances from the body. This action makes it useful for treating conditions that are caused by toxins such as acne, gout, and psoriasis.
Gallbladder: Dandelion root can help to prevent gallstones. In someone who already has gallstones, dandelion root may help to dissolve them.
Description:
Dandelions are perennial. They are short plants that usually don't grow larger than 2 feet high. They green stalks and leaves and yellow flowers. They grow wild in the spring. The leaves should be picked in the spring. The Dandelion roots can be harvested in late autumn. They should only be used from plants that are at least 2 years old.
Dandelion Dosage:
Dandelion can be eaten in a salad to help cleanse the body and provide a diuretic effect.
As a decoction of root, take 1/2 cup of Dandelion 3 times a day for acne.
As a juice, drink 20 ml 3 times of Dandelion daily for water retention.
As an infusion of leaves, take 500 ml daily for water rentention.
Tablets can be taken as well for diuretic purposes. Follow the dosage on the manufacturer's label.
Safety:
No negative safety information is available. Consult your health care provider before beginning use of any herb.

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