DANDELION TARAXACUM OFFICINALE

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale G. H. Weber ex Wigger f.) +++

Synonyms :
- Leontodon taraxacum L., Taraxacum dens-leonis Desf., T. vulgare Schrank.

Activities (Dandelion) :
- Allergenic (1; CAN); Alterative (f; CRC); Antibacterial (1; CRC; WOI); Antidote (f; AKT); Antiedemic (1; CAN); Antiinflammatory (1; CAN; SHT); Antioxidant (1; CRC; FNF); Antirheumatic (f; CAN);Antiseptic (1; CRC; FAD); Antispasmodic (f; SHT); Antitumor (1; CAN); Aperient (f; SUW); Aperitif (2; AKT; BGB; JFM; KOM; PIP); Aquaretic (SHT); Astringent (f; PED); Bifidogenic (1; AKT; FNF); Bitter (1; APA; PED; SHT; SUW); Candidicide (1; CRC; FAD); Carminative (2; APA; KOM); Cholagogue (2; KOM; PH2; SHT; WAM); Cholekinetic (SHT); Choleretic (2; APA; KOM; SHT); Demulcent (f; FAD); Depurative (f; CRC; JFM); Detoxicant (f; AKT); Diaphoretic (f; CRC; KAP); Digestive (f; APA; SKY); Diuretic (2; AKT; APA; HH3; KOM; SUW; WAM); Hepatotonic (1; CAN; PED); Hypoglycemic (1; CAN; CRC); Lactagogue (f; CRC; LMP; PED; PH2); Laxative (1; APA; CAN; SUW; WAM); Litholytic (f; PED); atriuretic (f; JAD); Phototoxic (1; CRC); Prebiotic (1; AKT; FNF); Saluretic (2; BGB; HH3; PH2); Secretagogue (f; PH2); Sialagogue (1; APA); Stimulant (f; CRC); Stomachic (1; APA; CRC; PED); Tonic (f; BGB; CRC; SUW).

Indications (Dandelion) :
- Abscess (f; CRC; MAD); Adenopathy (f; JLH); Alactea (f; LMP; PH2); Alcoholism (f; SKY); Anemia (1; DEM; JFM; WAM); Anorexia (2; AKT; APA; BGB; JFM; KOM; PH2; PIP); Backache (f; DEM); Bacteria (1; CRC; WOI); Biliary Dyskinesia (2; PIP); Bladder Stone (2; KOM); Boil (f; CRC; LMP); Bronchosis (2; APA; LAF); Bruise (f; CRC); Cancer (1; CAN; CRC); Cancer, bladder (f; JLH); Cancer, bowel (f; JLH); Cancer, breast (f; CRC; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Candida (1; CRC; FAD); Caries (f; CRC; LMP); Cardiopathy (f; APA); Catarrh (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (2; BGB; CRC; HH3; KOM; PH2); Cirrhosis (f; SKY); Cold (1; APA); Colic (1; PH2); Congestion (1; PH2); Conjunctivosis (f; AKT); Constipation (1; APA; CAN; FAD; SKY; SUW; WAM); Cough (f; MAD); Cramp (f; DEM; SHT); Cystosis (1; WAM); Dermatosis (f; APA; BGB; KAP; KOM; PH2); Diabetes (1; CRC; JFM; KOM; MAD; PH2); Dropsy (1; BGB; DEM; KAP; MAD); Dysentery (f; AKT); Dysmenorrhea (f; DEM); Dyspepsia (2; APA; KAP; KOM;
PH2; PIP); Eczema (f; CRC; HH2; KOM; PH2); Fever (1; AKT; CRC; KAP; MAD); Flu (f; AKT); Gallstone (f; AKT; APA; CAN; PH2); Gas (2; APA; KOM; PH2); Gastrosis (f; APA; BGB; CRC); Gout (f; CRC; KOM; PH2); Gravel (1; BGB; HH2); Heart (f; CRC); Heartburn (f; BGB; CRC; SKY); Hemorrhoid (f; CRC; KOM; PH2); Hepatosis (2; JFM; KAP; HH3; KOM; PH2; SUW; WAM); High Blood Pressure (1; CRC); Hyperglycemia (1; CAN; CRC); Hypochondria (f; MAD); Infection (f; AKT; APA); Inflammation (1; CAN; PH2; SHT); Itch (f; CRC; LMP); Jaundice (1; CAN; CRC; MAD; PH2); Kidney Stone (2; KOM; PH2; X7860196); Liver Spot (f; DEM); Mastosis (f; APA; PH2); Mucososis (f; MAD); Nephrosis (1; BGB; DEM; PH2; SUW); Neurosis (f; DEM); Obesity (f; APA; FAD); Oliguria (1; CAN); Osteoporosis (1; FNF); Pain (1; BGB; DEM; MAD); PMS (f; APA); Pneumonia (2; AYL; LAF); Pulmonosis (f; DEM); Respirosis (2; APA; LAF); Rheumatism (f; APA; BGB; CAN; PHR); Scrofula (f; CRC; LMP); Side Ache (f; MAD); Snakebite (f; CRC); Sore (1; APA; CRC); Splenosis (f; AKT; BGB); Stomachache (f; DEM); Stone (2; PED; PHR; PH2;
SHT); Swelling (1; CAN; DEM); Toothache (f; DEM); Tuberculosis (1; MAD; PH2; WOI); Tumor (1; CAN); Ulcer (f; CRC); UTI (2 KOM; PH2; SHT); Vomiting (f; AKT); Wart (f; CRC); Water Retention (2; AKT; APA; HH3; KOM; SUW; WAM); Yeast (1; CRC; FAD).

Dosages (Dandelion) :
- 1 - 2 (for tea) to 3 - 4 (for decoction) tsp cut herb/150 ml water (PH2); 0.5 oz dry leaf/cup water APA); 4 - 10 g dry leaf as tea 3 ×/day (CAN); 4 - 10 ml liquid leaf extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2 - 5 ml leaf tincture 3 ×/day (SKY); 1 - 2 tsp root/up a.m. & p.m.; 0.5 - 1 g powdered root (KAP); 3 - 4 g powdered root (PIP); 1 - 3 tsp powdered root/cup water (APA); 0.25 - 0.5 cup fresh root (PED); 6 - 12 g dry root (PED); 9 g dry root:45 ml alcohol/45 mg water (PED); 3 - 5 g dry root 3 ×/day (APA); 2 - 8 g dry root as tea 3 ×/day (CAN); 28 - 56 ml root decoction (KAP); 5 - 10 ml root tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 10 - 15 drops root tincture (PIP); 1 - 2 tsp tincture to 3 ×/day (APA); 1 tbsp dandelion juice morning and evening (APA); 4 - 10 ml dandelion juice (CAN; PNC; SKY); 2 - 8 ml liquid extract (PNC); 3 - 4 g/day (SHT); 3 (510 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (NH).

Contraindications, Indications, and Side Effects (Dandelion) :
- Class 2d (AHP). Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages (PH2). Commission E reports contraindications: biliary obstruction, empyema of gallbladder, ileus; adverse effects: gastric complaints and ulcers (AEH; CAN; SKY). Other contraindications reported: biliary inflammation (AEH). CAN cautions that the sesquiterpene lactones are allergenic and may cause dermatosis. May interfere with diuretic and hypoglycemic therapies (CAN). Herbs with diuretic properties, such as juniper and dandelion, can cause elevations in blood levels of lithium (Depiro, 1997). Not for use with acute gallbladder problems (WAM). Use in cholelithiasis only under a doctors supervision (PIP). Blumenthal et al. (1998) caution that, As with all drugs containing bitter substances, discomfort due to gastric hyperacidity may occur (KOM). Do I need to write out this caveat for all the salubrious bitter herbs of the Bible; Warning: may cause hyperacidity and gastric distress? Flavonoids antiinflammatory; increase urine flow. Inulin and mucilage sooth digestive tract, absorb toxins, and regulate intestinal flora (help friendly flora thrive and inhibit unfriendly bacteria according to Pedersen (Id like to see the proof; it is part of the prebiotic/probiotic story)), and relieve muscle spasm (PED). PH2 says the amaroids (bitter compounds) in dandelion are cholagogue (agreed) and secretolytic (disagreed; I think they are secretagogue rather than secretolytic; PH2 also says the drug is secretion-stimulating ). Tillotson (AKT) notes that clinically, the leaf is a more effective diuretic than the root and a safer alternative to Lasix?. LD50 herb 28,800 ipr mouse (CAN); LD50 root 36,800 ipr mouse (CAN); Diuretic (herb>root).