Dandelion
Latin Name: Taraxacum Officinale from the Greeks, meaning “the official remedy for all disorders”: in Latin taraxo means “disorders” and akos means “remedy” while officinale means “official” and “from the pharmacy.”
Common Name: Dandelion (English); Diente de leon (Spanish); Dentdelion (French); Pu Gong Yin (Chinese); Kanphool (Ayurvedic)
Plant family: Asteracae
Toxicity/Cautions: No known precautions
Habitat/Regions of Growth: As with other “weeds” Dandelion is best found in soil that has at some point been disturbed. Prolific; dandelion is found growing in a broad range of climates and habitats, in fact it is found growing on every continent except Antarctica
Botanical description: Dark green leaves thinner at base and broadening as they reach outward. Contains no stems; all leaves and hollow flower stems grow directly from the rootstalk. Irregular leaves radiate out from central taproot, growing in lengths from 6 inches to a full hand long. Flowers emerge from the center of the basal leaves; the plants attaining 6-24 inches in height.
Physical features: Bright yellow flowers atop jagged dark green leaves
History of Use: Used as a spring tonic since before the written word. Anglo Saxon tribes described the healing properties of dandelion before the time of Christ. Used in India, China, Russia and Japan for thousands of years for food and medicine
Properties & Actions: Aperient (mild laxative); Cholagogue (increases flow of bile from gallbladder into duodenum); Depurative (reduces impurities); Galactagogue: (stimulates flow of mothers milk); Hepatic (reduces congestion and drains the liver); Stomachic (strengthens and tones the stomach); Sedative (reduces anxiety, stress, irritability, excitement); Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and inflammation of the tissues)Properties: Bitter herb with sweet, pungent and cooling energetics. Clears heat and toxicity that arises from excess fire; Alterative (blood purifier), cholagogue, digestive tonic, diuretic, hepatoprotective
Energetics: Bitter with sweet, pungent and cooling energetics; drying, nourishing.
Optimal Harvest of leaves and flowers is in spring and summer, roots in fall; entire plant may be harvested any time of year
Growing: “Grows like a weed!” Show Dandelion your love by allowing a few plants to grow in your garden. It will pop up early, each year, providing the first feast of spring.
Folklore/Traditional uses: Leaves and root are safe diuretic, increasing both the water and waste products in the urine.
Constituents: Taraxasterol, taraxerol, fructose, inulin, choline, pectin, mannite (in spring); Leaves contain inositol
Known drug interactions: None known
Safety considerations: There is virtually no toxic potential to Dandelion; large quantities may be drunk (Moore, 1979)
Preparation and Dosage: frequent one fourth teaspoon doses of the fresh root tinctured may be used for kidney inflammations and for restorative therapy after hepatitis. All parts of plant have a mild stimulating effect on the liver.
Common Name: Dandelion (English); Diente de leon (Spanish); Dentdelion (French); Pu Gong Yin (Chinese); Kanphool (Ayurvedic)
Plant family: Asteracae
Toxicity/Cautions: No known precautions
Habitat/Regions of Growth: As with other “weeds” Dandelion is best found in soil that has at some point been disturbed. Prolific; dandelion is found growing in a broad range of climates and habitats, in fact it is found growing on every continent except Antarctica
Botanical description: Dark green leaves thinner at base and broadening as they reach outward. Contains no stems; all leaves and hollow flower stems grow directly from the rootstalk. Irregular leaves radiate out from central taproot, growing in lengths from 6 inches to a full hand long. Flowers emerge from the center of the basal leaves; the plants attaining 6-24 inches in height.
Physical features: Bright yellow flowers atop jagged dark green leaves
History of Use: Used as a spring tonic since before the written word. Anglo Saxon tribes described the healing properties of dandelion before the time of Christ. Used in India, China, Russia and Japan for thousands of years for food and medicine
Properties & Actions: Aperient (mild laxative); Cholagogue (increases flow of bile from gallbladder into duodenum); Depurative (reduces impurities); Galactagogue: (stimulates flow of mothers milk); Hepatic (reduces congestion and drains the liver); Stomachic (strengthens and tones the stomach); Sedative (reduces anxiety, stress, irritability, excitement); Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and inflammation of the tissues)Properties: Bitter herb with sweet, pungent and cooling energetics. Clears heat and toxicity that arises from excess fire; Alterative (blood purifier), cholagogue, digestive tonic, diuretic, hepatoprotective
Energetics: Bitter with sweet, pungent and cooling energetics; drying, nourishing.
Optimal Harvest of leaves and flowers is in spring and summer, roots in fall; entire plant may be harvested any time of year
Growing: “Grows like a weed!” Show Dandelion your love by allowing a few plants to grow in your garden. It will pop up early, each year, providing the first feast of spring.
Folklore/Traditional uses: Leaves and root are safe diuretic, increasing both the water and waste products in the urine.
Constituents: Taraxasterol, taraxerol, fructose, inulin, choline, pectin, mannite (in spring); Leaves contain inositol
Known drug interactions: None known
Safety considerations: There is virtually no toxic potential to Dandelion; large quantities may be drunk (Moore, 1979)
Preparation and Dosage: frequent one fourth teaspoon doses of the fresh root tinctured may be used for kidney inflammations and for restorative therapy after hepatitis. All parts of plant have a mild stimulating effect on the liver.
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