Herbs - Dandelion - Ailments / Situations Where Used

It is quite amazing that one of the most despised "weeds" in the urban landscape is also one of the most healing, beneficial herbs. Best of all, it is readily accessible and requires no care! Some may not be so readily convinced, but before you release life-damaging toxins to conform to societal "norms", consider all that dandelions have to offer...besides sheer childhood joy of "popping off" heads ...

Dandelion root is an excellent liver tonic, clearing obstructions, reducing congestion, and stimulating the liver to eliminate toxins through the blood. It promotes bile flow, supporting digestion and it also has a laxative effect. Dandelion root clears obstructions in the spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and bladder, and works on enlargement of any of these organs.

In terms of benefiting the gall bladder, dandelion promotes bile flow and releases stored bile (referred to as a cholagogue effect), reduces bile-duct inflammation and gallstone formation and generally strengthens the gallbladder.

Dandelion's high mineral content makes it a natural blood purifier and builder. According to Jethro Kloss, this plant has 28 parts sodium, making it a natural nutritive salt for purifying and destroying acid in the blood. It is very useful in jaundice, skin diseases, scurvy, eczema, kidney and liver problems, and diabetes. The root is also helpful in lowering blood sugar levels. Dandelion contains anti-microbial properties and has been used quite successfully on many fungal and bacterial infections, including candida albicans.

Delicately avoiding the melodramatic, the possibilities of this plant are almost endless. Other conditions that benefit from dandelion applications include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney stones, and poor milk flow in nursing mothers. The root has been shown to work against some tumour systems by stimulating macrophage action, and by its immunostimulating constituent, inulin.

One remedy for an upset stomach is to drink an infusion of dandelion every half hour until the symptoms subside. This tea is very soothing to the stomach and intestines and helps the digestion, assimilation, and elimination of food.

Dandelion leaves are a great addition to a spring salad, are extremely high in vitamin A, and are a good source of some B vitamins, vitamin C and D, potassium, and iron. They are mainly used as a diuretic and are also used for cystitis, nephritis, fluid retention, hepatitis, and weight loss. Dandelion leaves replace the potassium that would otherwise be lost when using other diuretics.

The latex from the stem is said to be a good treatment for warts if used continually, three times daily, for a couple of weeks.

In China, a similar species, Taraxacum mongolicum, is used. The seeds are used as an antibiotic to treat infections, especially mastitis.