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Dandelion
DANDELION
Taraxacum officinale
COMMON NAME: Dandelion, Lion's Tooth, Puff-Ball, Swine Snout, Wild Ednive, Blow-Ball, Priest's Crown, Sun In the Grass, Cankerwort.
FAMILY: Compositae.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Flowers and fruit, leaves, stem and root.
SOLVENTS: Boiling water and alcohol.
ACTIONS: Diuretic, choagogue, alterative, bitter tonic, lithotriptic, astringent, galactogogue, laxative.
NOTES OF INTEREST: The evil weed to lawn tenders everywhere, the dandelion grows all over the world. Native Americans recognized it great value and used it as a food and a medicine. The dandelion is one of the first greens of spring and the shiny green leaves contain Vitamin A, B, C, and G. It's good in salads or cooked as greens, like spinach.
PHARMACOLOGY: Sesquiterpene lactones (bitter substances), Triterpenes and sterols, Flavonoids, Mucilages and Inulin.
THERAPUTIC USES: Dandelion root is used internally for liver and gallbladder complaints, inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract, gout, rheumatic disorders, eczema and other skin disorders. Dandelion root also has a great effect as a detoxification agent for overeating fatty and fried foods. As a diuretic, dandelion root used with yarrow, is good for urniary tract infections, kidney stone formation and other bladder complaints.
Dandelion root can also be cut up and dried and used as a coffee substitute.
Snap a fresh dandelion stem and apply milkly substance to warts to help remove them.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Consult with a physician if you suffer from biliary ailments. No other health hazards are known in conjuction with the proper administration for theraputic doses.
DOSAGE: For a tisane, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of finely cut root with 1 cup of boiling water; strain and drink warm. The fresh tea can be taken twice a day. Usually morning and evening.
A tincture can be used, a recommended dose is 10 to 15 drops 3 times a day.