Dandelion and Taraxacum officinale.Dandelion extract.

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Internally and Externally use of Dandelion.

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

 1.brightens the eyes
 2.helps clear skin eruptions
 3.helps eczema
 4.helps itchy, scaly rashes
 5.clears yellow skin

 Medicinal virtues: It has an opening and cleansing quality and, therefore, very effectual for removing obstructions of the liver, gall bladder and spleen and diseases arising from them, such as jaundice. It openeth the passages of the urine both in young and old and will cleanse ulcers in the urinary tract. For this purpose the decoction of the roots or leaves in white wine, or the leaves used as pot herbs are very effectual. It is of wonderful help in cachexia, the severe wasting condition in severe illness. It also procures rest and sleep in those with fever. The distilled water can be drunk in pestilential fever and he used as a wash for the sores. This common herb hath many virtues, which is why the French and Dutch eat them so often in the spring.

 Modern uses: Bile production by the liver and urinary output from the kidneys is increased with the use of this herb. As a diuretic, it is superior to many produced synthetically by pharmaceutical companies. The leaves are particularly strong, being equivalent to frusemide, a drug used to treat hypertension. The dried herb contains significant amounts of potassium, which people on long-term diuretic therapy need. Modern herbalists, therefore, have a safe, but powerful remedy, not only for hypertension but also for cardiac oedema, hepatogenic dropsy and water retention, due to stasis or congestion in the blood vessels serving the liver.

 The diuretic effect of Dandelion is helpful in the treatment of a number of other conditions, particularly chronic disorders like rheumatisrn, gout and eczema. A fluid extract is available from herbalists and the recommended dose is between one and two teaspoonfuls three times a day. The dried root taken in the form of a decoction is a powerful liver tonic - 1 oz (28 g) of the root is boiled in 2 pt (1.1 l) of water until the mixture is reduced to 1 pt (568 rnl). The dose is two to four teaspoonfuls three or four times a day. A Dandelion coffee made from the roasted roots is available from health stores. The fresh, clean young leaves can be added to salads in spring.

 Classical Applications:

 1.For treating carbuncles and furuncles, acute mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) and abscess of internal organs:

 (A) Skin and external diseases:Used with such herbs as mother chrysanthemum (Flos Chrysanthemi Indici), Chinese violet (Herba Violae), honeysuckle flower (Flos Lonicerae), etc., e.g., Wuwei Xiaodu Yin.

 (B) Acute mastitis:This herb can be decocted alone until thick for oral ingestion or the fresh herb can be blended into juice for drinking, with its residue to be applied onto the affected part. It can also be used together with such herbs as Mongolian snake gourd (Fructus Trichosanthis), honeysuckle flower (Flos Lonicerae), great burdock achene (Fructus Arctii), etc.
 (C) Abdominal pain:Used with rhubarb root (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), tree peony root-bark, peach kernels, etc.
 (D)Pulmonary abscess with pus in sputum:Used with houttuynia, Chinese waxgourd seed, common reed rhizome (Rhizoma Phargmitis), etc.
 (E) Sore throat:Used with dyers woad root (Radix Isatidis), Zhejiang figwort root (Radix Scrophularias), etc.
 (F) Snake bite:The fresh herb is applied onto the affected part.

 2. For treating strangury due to heat and jaundice due to damp-heat:

 (A) Strangury due to heat:Used with cogongrass Rhizome (Rhizoma Imperatae), loosestrife (Herba Lysimachiae), Asiatic plantain seed (Semen Plantaginis), etc., so as to enhance the effects of inducing diuresis and relieving strangury.

 (B) Jaundice due to damp-heat:Used with capillary artemisia (Herba Artemisiae Scopariae), gardenia fruit (Fructus Gardeniae), rhubarb rhizome (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), etc.

 3. Miscellaneous:

 In addition, this herb can clear heat from the liver and improve eyesight, so it is used to treat conjunctivitis caused by the flaming-up of liver-fire.

 It can be used alone by dripping its juice into the eyes or decocting it alone until thick for oral ingestion, e.g., Yiwei Pugongying Tang in the book 'Records of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Combination.' It can be used in compound preparations with chrysanthemum, selfheal spica (Spica Prunellae), skullcap root (Radix Scutellariae), etc.

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citations1.Dandelion and Taraxacum officinale.Dandelion extract.

last edit date:25th,May.2009.