Dandelion and Taraxacum officinale.Dandelion extract.

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Traditional and Contemporary Use.

Dandelion root Extract INCI Name Taraxacum Officinale Extract CAS 68990-74-9 EINECS ELINCS No 273-624-6 Taraxacum spp extract photo picture image Traditional Use:

 Both dandelion leaf and root have been used for centuries to treat liver, gall bladder, and kidney ailments, weak digestion, and rheumatism. They are also considered mildly laxative. The fresh root or its preparations are thought to be more potent than the dried root. The leaves have traditionally been used as a diuretic.

 Digestive and hepatic tonic;cholagogue;diuretic;laxative;detoxifier,slightly aperient.Also used for the treatment of cardiac and hepatogenous edema (dropsy and ascites respectively), gallbladder inflammation and gallstones, fevers, boils, eye problems, diarrhea, fluid retention, liver congestion, heartburn, and various skin and breast problems, liver diseases, appendicitis, and digestive ailments (a bitter tonic in atonic dyspepsia, and as a mild laxative in habitual constipation.)

 Recommendation:As an addition to the daily diet, take three capsules three times daily,preferably with food.

 Dandelion root is recommended for the liver.Dandelion root also purifies the blood,increases bile production and improves the function of the spleen, pancreas, stomach and kidneys. It can be used for gout, anemia, rheumatism, cirrhosis, hepatitis, boils, cramps, fluid retention, constipation and breast tumors. This contains biotin, choline, fats, inositol, linolenic acid, pantothenic acid, lactupicrine, inulin, magnesium, niacin, PABA, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potash, sulphur, protein, calcium, chromium, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E and zinc.
 Dandelion root Extract INCI Name Taraxacum Officinale Extract CAS 68990-74-9 EINECS ELINCS No 273-624-6 Taraxacum spp extract photo picture image

 Folklore:

 Being a general stimulant and alterative, Dandelion's strongest influence is on the liver and kidneys. It is considered one of the strongest cholagogues of all botanicals. It has also been used as a high nutrient food, applied in cases of dyspepsia, as a mild laxative, to increase appetite and promote digestion. The latex is excellent for getting rid of warts (apply 3 times daily for seven days).

 Dandelion was used by Arabian physicians in the 10th-11th centuries. It was mentioned in Welsh herbals in the 13th century. It is prominent in Gerard`s Herbal (1597) appearing throughout herbals from the 16th to 18th centuries. Eclectics of the 1800's and the early 1900's also listed Dandelion as a major herb. This genus has been listed in Chinese medicine since the Tang Materia Medica (659 AD). It has had a significant history of use in Ayurvedic medicine also. Dandelion appears in the ethnobotanical literature of over a dozen North American Indian tribes, even as far afield as the Aleuts of Alaska. Its application is very broad but dermatological, analgesic and gastrointestinal problems seem to be prominent uses.

 General use of Dandelion:

 Dandelion has a long history of folk use. Early colonists brought the herb to North America. The native people soon recognized the value of the herb and sought it out for its medical and nutritious benefits. The entire plant is important as a general tonic, particularly as a liver tonic. It may be taken as an infusion of the leaf, a juice extraction, a root decoction, or a tincture. Fresh leaves may be added to salads or cooked as a potherb. The juice extracted from the stem and leaf is the most potent part of the plant for medicinal purposes. It has been used to eradicate warts and soothe calluses, bee stings, or sores. Infusions of dandelion blossoms have been used as a beautifying facial, refreshing the skin.

 Dandelion is a nutritive herb rich in potassium, calicum, and lecithin, with iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, proteins, silicon, boron, and zinc. Dandelion provides several B vitamins along with vitamins C and E as well as vitamin P. Chemical constituents in the leaf include bitter glycosides, carotenoids, terpenoids, choline, potassium salts, iron, and other minerals. The root also has bitter glycosides, tannins, triterpenes, sterols, volatile oil, choline, asparagin, and inulin.

 Many herbalists regard the dandelion as an effective treatment for liver disease, useful even in such extreme cases as cirrhosis. It cleanses the bloodstream and increases bile production, and is a good remedy for gall bladder problems as well. The herb is also a boon to such other internal organs as the pancreas, kidneys, stomach, and spleen. The dried leaf, taken as a tea, is used as a mild laxative to relieve constipation. Dandelion leaf is also a good natural source of potassium, and will replenish any potassium that may be lost due to the herb's diuretic action on the kidneys. This characteristic makes dandelion a safe diuretic in cases of water retention due to heart problems. The herb is useful in cases of anemia and hepatitis, and may lower elevated blood pressure. Dandelion may also provide relief for rheumatism and arthritis. Dandelion therapy, consisting of therapeutic doses of dandelion preparations taken over time, may help reduce stiffness and increase mobility in situations of chronic degenerative joint disease. The root, dried and minced, can used as a coffee substitute, sometimes combined with roasted acorns and rye.

 Dandelion leaves are commonly recommended as a food supplement for pregnant and postmenopausal women because of the numerous nutrients they contain. This plant produces a mild diuretic effect and reduces serum cholesterol levels. Dandelion root is used to improve appetite and minor digestive problems. Some modern naturopathic physicians believe that it can help detoxify the liver and gallbladder. It shows proven value as a diuretic, flushing excess water from the body. It is believed by many experts to promote the flow of bile and stimulates the appetite. Dandelion juice once was quite popular as a diuretic, laxative, and remedy for rheumatism.

 Dandelion is considered a remedy for the following conditions:  Appetite loss;Indigestion;Kidney and bladder stones;Liver and gallbladder problems;Urinary tract infections
 Dandelion root Extract INCI Name Taraxacum Officinale Extract CAS 68990-74-9 EINECS ELINCS No 273-624-6 Taraxacum spp extract photo picture image

 Current Uses of Dandelion:

 Currently, dandelion is used very little in Western herbal medicine. In the past and in other parts of the world, however, its flowers, leaves, and roots have been taken orally to treat a number of conditions that include arthritis, cancer, diabetes, gout, liver ailments, heartburn and rheumatism. Some evidence from case reports suggests that the roots of dandelion may have weak diuretic and laxative properties?which means that they may slightly increase the loss of urine and solid waste from the body. In a study conducted more than 40 years ago, high doses of dandelion leaf increased urination in laboratory mice. Due to this possible ability to increase water elimination from the body, dandelion root has been promoted for weight loss, even though dandelion leaves have also been used to stimulate the appetite and improve digestion. No human studies have been conducted to either support or challenge any of these findings, however.

 In laboratory animals, dandelion has been tested for lowering both blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Although one laboratory study showed potential ability for dandelion to increase the production of insulin, results are inconclusive for its actual effect on blood sugar. In one study, when rabbits that were not diabetic were given dandelion, a slight decrease in blood sugar levels was seen. Other studies found no effect on blood sugar in either diabetic or non-diabetic animals. A separate study found that an extract of dandelion lowered triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) while increasing the blood cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in laboratory rats with artificially-induced diabetes. Much more study including studies in humans is needed before dandelion can be recommended for treating diabetes, high cholesterol, or any other condition.

 Currently, topical use of dandelion is not common, but in the past, it has been used for treating bruises and other minor skin conditions. In folk medicine, warts are sometimes treated with juice made by crushing the leaves of the dandelion plant.

 Dandelion is extremely versatile, as the whole plant can be used for medicinal purposes as well as for culinary uses. As a medicinal plant, dandelion has been considered to be an aperient, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, and detoxicant. Dandelion leaves are unique as a diuretic. Dandelion leaves contain significant amounts of potassium, a mineral generally lost when using conventional medications. It is an ideal diuretic for heart problems and hypertension (high blood pressure). Dandelion is a natural diuretic that increases urine production by promoting the excretion of salts and water from the kidney. Dandelion tea has been used against fever, insomnia, jaundice, rheumatism, eczema and other skin diseases, and constipation.

 The dandelion sap, leaves, and root extracts are ingested for its diuretic properties. They're used to stimulate stomach secretions and aid in digestion, to relieve constipation and control diarrhea, to stimulate bile production, to treat liver disorders, to prevent or lower high blood pressure, to relieve the pain of endometriosis, and to inhibit plaque buildup on teeth. Leaves are also used to treat high blood pressure because of their ability to reduce the volume of fluid in the body. Fresh or dried dandelion herbs are also used as a mild appetite stimulant and to improve upset stomach. Dandelion cleanses the bloodstream and increases bile production, and is a good remedy for gall bladder problems. Dandelion root encourages steady elimination of toxins. It works on the liver, the kidneys and the gallbladder to accelerate the removal of toxins from the body. Dandelion also treats arthritic conditions, which include osteoarthritis and gout.

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Reference:

citations1.Dandelion and Taraxacum officinale.Dandelion extract.

last edit date:25th,May.2009.