Taraxacum officinale

Taraxacum officinale [Image]. [2014]. Retrieved from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taraxacum_officinale_Weber.JPG

Common name: 
Dandelion   
(Bone, 2003, p. 173). 

Latin binomial:
Taraxacum officinale
(Bone, 2003, p. 173). 

Family: 
Compositae
(Bone, 2003, p. 173).  
 
Part used:
Leaf and root 
(Bone, 2003, p. 173). 

Active constituents:

• Glycosides
• Triterpenoids
• Choline
• Up to 5% potassium 

(Hoffman, 1983, 190).

Actions:

• Diuretic
• Cholagogue
• Anti-rheumatic
• Laxative
• Tonic 

(Hoffman, 1983, 190).

Indications:

• Dandelion is a very powerful diuretic, it is an ideally balanced diuretic that is used safely where ever such an action is needed, including the causes of water retention due to heart problems.
• As a cholagogue it may be used in inflammation and congestion of the liver and gallbladder.
• It is specific in treatment of congestive jaundice, dandelion is the most valuable general tonic and perhaps the best widely applicable diuretic and liver tonic.

  (Hoffman, 1983, 190).

 

Contraindications/ Cautions:

Both the root and leaf are contraindicated in closure of the bile ducts, cholecystitis, and intestional obstruction (Bone, 2002, p. 173).  

Dosage:

• Leaf: 6.0-11.5 ml of 1:1 liquid extract per day or 40-80ml of 1:1 liquid extract per week
• Root: 3 to 6 ml of 1:2 liquid extract per day or 20 to 40 ml of 1:2 liquid extract per week (Bone, 2003, p. 174).

 

Combinations: 

     For liver and gallbladder problems it can be used with Barberry or Balmony

For the use of water retention it may be used with Couchgrass or Yarrow 

(Hoffman, 1983, 190).

References:

Bone, K. (2003) A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs; herbal formulations for the individual patient. Churchill, Livingstone: Missouri.
 

Hoffman, D. (1983) The holistic herbal. Element books: Dorset.