Dandelion Root
Dandelion roots have been used for centuries to treat jaundice and remove toxins and poisons from the blood.
Latin name: Taraxacum officinale (Asteraceane family)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Known best in North America as a weed that pops up in freshly cut lawns,
dandelion grows wild in most of the world and is cultivated as an herb
in China, France, and Germany. Young leaves are picked in the spring for
tonic salads. In the early summer, before the plant blooms, leaves are
harvested for the manufacture of medicinal teas, and tinctures. The roots
of two-year-old plants are dug in the fall, when they have their greatest
concentration of the complex carbohydrate inulin,
for use in tablets and tinctures.
EVIDENCE OF BENEFIT
Dandelion leaves are a powerful diuretic. The roots act as a blood purifier
that helps both the kidneys and the liver to remove toxins and poisons from
the blood. The roots have been used for centuries to treat jaundice.
Dandelion also acts as a mild laxative and improves appetite and digestion.
It is useful for eczema-like skin problems, boils, and abscesses, and is
believed to help prevent age spots and breast cancer.
Benefits of dandelion for specific health conditions include the following:
• Anemia. Dandelion contains high levels of potassium, is a rich source
of iron and vitamins, and, ounce for ounce, contains more carotene than carrots.
Herbalists have used dandelion for generations to treat anemia due to
deficiencies of folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12.
• Bladder infection and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Unlike many
conventional diuretics, which cause a loss of potassium, dandelion leaves
are rich in potassium. Using the herb as a diuretic results in a net gain
of this vital mineral. Because of its diuretic effect, dandelion helps to
relieve fluid retention in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and counteract
urine retention in bladder infections. By increasing potassium levels,
dandelion aids in alleviating muscle spasms
and nighttime leg cramps.
• Constipation, hemorrhoids, and indigestion. German research
has shown that dandelion root is a mild bitter, or appetite stimulant.
Bitters of all types activate a reflex that increases the secretion
of digestive juices by the lining of the stomach. Dandelion root has
a significant cleansing effect on the liver by stimulating the production
of bile, which ultimately results in increased transport of a variety of
potentially noxious compounds to the stool. Increasing the release of bile
also relieves constipation without causing diarrhea and stops spasms of the
bile duct. Dandelion should be avoided, however, if you have gallstones,
since increasing the flow of bile could increase pressure against the stones.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IRS). Bulgarian studies of a five-herb combination
including dandelion found that more than 95 percent of IBS sufferers were
pain-free after fifteen days of treatment. This herbal combination also
improved regularity.
• Liver problems and gallstones. The bitter principles in dandelion increase
bile production and bile flow in the liver. This makes it useful for people
with sluggish liver function due to alcohol abuse or poor diet. It is
restorative to the liver and helps reduce the risk of developing gallstones,
but you should avoid it if you already have gallstones.
• Osteoporosis. Dandelion is a rich source of boron, which helps to raise
estrogen levels in the blood, and in turn helps preserve bone. It is also a
rich source of calcium and a fair source of silicon, which some studies
suggest helps strengthen bone.
• Overweight. European herbalists frequently prescribe dandelion tinctures
as a weight-loss aid. Dandelion reduces water weight through its diuretic
effect. It may also help the liver regulate blood sugars to avoid
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), frequently an immediate cause of binge
eating. Also, the increase in bile flow stimulated by dandelion helps to
improve fat metabolism in the body. In one laboratory study, animals that
were given daily doses of dandelion extract for a month lost up to 30
percent of their body mass.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR USE
Dandelion can be taken in tablet, tea, or tincture form.
Dandelion may cause increased stomach acidity and ulcer pain.
If you have gallstones or biliary tract obstructions, you should avoid this
herb. Dandelion should not be used as a substitute for pharmaceutical
diuretics for hypertension. If you are taking diuretic drugs, insulin,
or medications that reduce blood-sugar levels, you should use dandelion
only under a physician's supervision. People with known allergies to
related plants, such as chamomile and yarrow, should use dandelion with
caution.
Dandelion also should be avoided during antibiotic treatment, especially
treatment with ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin (Floxin), lomefloxacin
(Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and enoxacin (Penetrex), since it may
keep concentrations of these antibiotics from peaking in the bloodstream,
diminishing their ability to fight infection.
from Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis Balch, Copyright ©
January, 2002, Avery Books, a member of Penguin Putnam, Inc., used by
permission.
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Prescription for Herbal Healing
The most authoritative guide to more than 200 herbs and herbal
preparations.
This is brought to you by
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC.
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, has been a leading nutritional consultant for
more than two decades, and has spent more than twenty-five years
researching natural approaches to health and healing. She continues
to study nutrition-based therapies, procedures, and treatments in
the United States and abroad.
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Nothing in this essay or on this website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Dandelion Root has not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of any disease.
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