Dandelion, 1 oz

Primary Usage

Cleansing Allergies Acne Hepatitis C High Blood Pressure

Indications

Dandelion is a liver cooler for elevated liver enzymes hives allergies hayfever Hepatitis C and excess anger.

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Latin also known as lion&amprsquos tooth and wild endive is a perennial herb native to the northern hemisphere. Dandelions dot the lawns of most North Americans and Europeans and are more often thought of as a weed and a nuisance to those striving for a well-manicured lawn. Most people don&amprsquot know about dandelion&amprsquos long history of use in traditional herbal medicine&ampmdashNative Americans used it to treat kidney disease indigestion and heartburn traditional Arabian medicine prescribed it to treat liver disease and Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM uses dandelion in combination with other medicines to treat hepatitis and upper respiratory tract infections including bronchitis and pneumonia.

The medicinal properties of dandelion root and leaf are well known and commonly accepted throughout Europe&ampmdashthe European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy ESCOP recommends dandelion root for indigestion and loss of appetite and in Germany the expert panel known as Commission E recommends products containing dandelion for treatment of liver disorders appetite loss indigestion and fluid retention.

Women that suffer from premenstrual syndrome may find that the diuretic action of dandelion helps relieve symptoms of bloating and water weight gain.

Dandelion flowers also have medicinal properties. They are an excellent source of lecithin a nutrient that elevates the brain&amprsquos acetylcholine a substance that helps maintain brain function and may play a role in slowing or even stopping the progression of Alzheimer&amprsquos disease. Lecithin also helps the body maintain good liver function so it is no surprise that dandelion is widely recommended by herbalists and naturopathic physicians for liver detoxification.

Recent research supports the traditional use of dandelion for treatment of liver disorders one Japanese study showed that taking jiedu yanggan gao an herbal preparation containing dandelion root in combination with other herbs improved liver function in people with hepatitis B.

Preliminary studies indicate that dandelion may have other health benefits as well. One study found that dandelion inhibits the growth of Candida albicans the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections and another study showed that eating dandelion root may help decrease glucose levels.

Dandelion leaves are an excellent source of beta carotine vitamin a and vitamin c nutrients that act as antioxidants in the body. Laboratory studies have shown that dandelion flower extract has antioxidant properties and may even help inhibit tumor growth.

Dandelion is found just about everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. Use the leaves the younger the better in salads or saut&ampeacuteed in butter with garlic for even more antioxidant protection. Or you can put those pesky dandelion&amprsquos in the yard to good use&ampmdashdry the flowers and leaves yourself and use them in the bath to treat yeast infections or to make your own dandelion tea steep about 1 tablespoon of dried leaves in 1 cup hot water. Dandelion is also available at most health food stores in capsules tinctures and powdered form.

Dandelion is generally regarded as safe but some people report allergic or asthmatic reaction to this herb. Dandelion is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family and people that are allergic to chamomile chrysanthemums yarrow feverfew ragweed sunflower daisies or other members of the Asteraceae family may be allergic to dandelion as well. Dandelion is not recommended for patients with liver or gallbladder disease because of the traditional belief that dandelion stimulates bile secretion although there are no studies of animals or humans that support this belief.

Fresh Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale), Grain Alcohol, Deionized Water.

30-60 drops 2-3 times per day or as needed in juice or water.

Contraindicated in blockage of the bile ducts, acute gallbladder inflammation, and intestinal blockage.