Dandelion. Benefits of Dandelion.

Characteristics of Dandelion plant. Scientific name. Identification, characteristics, origin, content and active ingredients. Medicinal properties attributed. Benefits and uses of Dandelion. Preparation and dosage. Benefits of dandelion tea, dandelion seeds.

Identification and origin of Dandelion

Scientific name: Taraxacum officinale W.

Other names: Taraxacum, Taraxacum vulgare

Acaulescent herbaceous, vivacious, from the Compositae family, has a long tap-root, highly variable plant, perennial up to 40 cm high.

The stems support the flowers without leaves. Basal leaves in rosette, ranging from the entire ones to the divided in triangular lobes and usually with winged petiole. Yellow buds up to 6 cm with long ligules and well marked bracts, with the outer curved back. The rosettes of cultivated varieties are much larger and can reach up to 50 cm in diameter.

The parts used are the leaves and the dried root harvested before flowering.

It grows in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is considered a weed and grows along roadsides, meadows and dry pasture.

Content and active ingredients

Roots:

Sesquiterpenes (bitter substances): taraxacin, germacranolides.

Triterpenes and sterols: beta sitosterol glycosides, taraxasterol, arnidol, faradiol.

Flavonoids: apigenin glucoside, luteolin glucoside.

Abundant mucilage and potassium salts.

Inulin (2% increasing to 40% in fall)

Leaves: flavonoids, coumarins, vitamins B and Vitamin C.

Health benefits of Dandelion

Its main pharmacological action is cholagogue (diuretic, hepatic renal drain).

The bitter principle is stimulating of the appetite and eupeptic; polyphenols are responsible for its choleretic and diuretic actions (action enhanced by inulin and potassium salts).

It is a mild osmotic laxative because of the inulin.

Indicated in:

Dyspepsia, urinary tract infections, complications of liver and gallbladder bile,loss of appetite.

It is also used in hemorrhoids, gout, rheumatism, eczema and other skin conditions and to fight the formation of kidney stones. Diabetic infusion is prepared from the roots and leaves.

In Chinese medicine is indicated in acute mastitis, urinary disorders and agalactia (lack of milk after childbirth)

In Hindu medicine is used for chronic ulcers, tuberculosis, flatulence, colic, kidney disease, gout, jaundice and gallstones.

For their purifying properties and hepatoprotective can be used to remove toxins from the blood and protect the liver from degeneration caused by food poisoning or chemical.

Apart from its diuretic properties, dandelion is an edible wild plant with very prominent appetizing properties, when taken in combination with other vegetables or wild plants in salads, in which case greatly improves digestion. The flower buds before opening and prepared in vinegar are delicious and appetizers. Indicated in cases of lack of appetite or eating disorders like anorexia.

Due to the amount of iron of the leaves it may be used for recovery of anemic.

Its content of helenin and vitamin A stimulates the uptake of light and is used in the treatment of night blindness.

Warnings. Contraindications

Its use is contraindicated in bile duct obstruction and empyema (accumulation of pus) in the gallbladder. The physician should be consulted if is necessary the presence of bile supplements.

The latex of the fresh plants can cause contact dermatitis.

May cause gastric hyperacidity due to the stimulating effect of gastric secretions, in these cases is recommended to use it along with a mucilaginous drug as the marshmallow. The drug has a low potential for sensitization reactions.

For its diuretic effect should always be consulted with your doctor if you suffer from hypertension or heart disease, given the possibility of occurrence of a tension decay.

Preparation and dosage

Internal use:

Infusion: take 1 or 2 teaspoons of finely split plant with 150 ml of boiling water. Stand for 15 minutes, strain and drink hot.

Decoction (roots and leaves): one tablespoon per cup, boil two minutes. Three cups a day before meals.

Tincture (1:10): 10 to 15 drops three times a day. Take a fresh cup of tea in the morning and afternoon.

Extract: Mix chopped root portion with 8 parts of water and a part of wine.

Dry extract (5: 1): 0.5 to 2 g per day (1 g is equivalent to 5 g of dried plant).

Fresh root juice: one to two tablespoons a day, along with an infusion.

REMEMBER to always consult your doctor before combining natural products with any other treatment.

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References

Budzianowski J, Coumarins, caffeoyltartaric acids and their artifactual estres from Taraxacum officinale. In: PM 63(3):288. 1997.
Della Loggia, R (cur) Piante officinali per infusi e tisane. Manuale per farmacisti e medici (Plantas oficinales para infusiones y tisanas. Manual para farmacéuticos y médicos), OEMF 1993; ISBN 88-7076 132-0
FDA. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Premarket Approval, EAFUS: A food additive database. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/eafus.html.
Fintelman V. Weiss R. Lehrbuch der Phytotherapie, Hippokrates 2002 ISBN 3-8304-5243-8
Larsson B, Jonasson A, Fianu S. Prophylactic effect of UVA-E in women with recurrent cystitis: a preliminary report. Curr Ther Res 1993;53:441-3.
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Maliakal PP, Wanwimolruk S. Effect of herbal teas on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001;53:1323-9.
McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.