Name: Dandelion
Latin Name: Taraxaci offcinale
Pin Yin: Pu Gong Yin
Location: Former Yugoslavia, Hungary — main suppliers are Bulgaria, Northern Hemisphere, Poland, Romania, South America, U.K.

Overview: Dandelion leaf is a very powerful diuretic, its action comparable to that of the drug `Frusemide'. The usual effect of a drug stimulating the kidney function is a loss of vital potassium from the body, which aggravates any cardio-vascular problem present. With Dandelion, however, we have one of the best natural sources of potassium. It thus makes an ideally balanced diuretic that may be used safely wherever such an action is needed, including in cases of water retention due to heart problems. As ahepatic and cholagogue Dandelion root may be used in inflammation and congestion of liver and gall-bladder. It is specific in cases of congestive jaundice. As part of a wider treatment for muscular rheumatism it can be most effective. This herb is a most valuable general tonic and perhaps the best widely applicable diuretic and liver tonic. Ellingwood recommends the root for the following patholgies: chronic jaundice, auto-intoxication, rheumatism, blood disorders, chronic skin eruptions, chronic gastritis, aphthous ulcers.

History: 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.

Primary Uses:

• To remove toxic heat
• To cause subsidence of swelling and nodulation
• To relieve dysuria

Parts Used: Root, Leaves

Safety: Overdosing of this herb may cause mild diarrhea.

Safety: The juice squeezed from the fresh plants is applied directly to poisonous snake-bites as antidote.

Supporting Research:

• Dandelion is traditionally used as a tonic and blood purifier, for constipation, inflammatory skin conditions, joint pain, eczema and liver dysfunction, including liver conditions such as hepatitis and jaundice. An infusion of the root encourages the steady elimination of toxins from the body. It is a powerful diuretic but does not deplete the body of potassium like many other diuretics. It has such medicinal qualities as aperient, cholagogue, depurative, hepatic, laxative, stomachic, tonic.¹

¹Michael Belt, Nature Direct 2U