Dandelion has been used in many herbal remedies around the globe, but Dandelion has been mainly used for two of them, as a liver cleanse and as blood purifier and diuretic [2][9]. Dandelion root helps the liver to produce more bile (choleretic property)[2][8], that later on is sent to the gallbladder to be used, helping the gallbladder to contract and release (cholagogue property) [2] this stored bile, which also helps to assimilate the fats.
The use of Dandelion root extract for the treatment of certain type of leukemia cells showed a certain effectiveness too.
DANDELION ROOT CHOLERETIC AND CHOLAGOGUE PROPERTIES
Dandelion root helps the liver to produce more bile (choleretic property)[2][8], that later on is sent to the gallbladder to be used, helping the gallbladder to contract and release (cholagogue property) [2] this stored bile, which also helps to assimilate the fats.
DANDELION ROOT BENEFITS FOR ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
Dandelion´s root has also many medicinal properties, some of them as important as the anti-oxidative function. Dandelion´s root and leaf have been scientifically proven as an herbal remedy against oxidative stress linked to arteriosclerosis [8].
DANDELION ROOT BENEFITS FOR DIABETES
Some other uses of dandelion root include its use as coffee substitute [3][4]. Less documented but still proven, dandelion root has also been used in Europe to treat diabetes [5][7], probably because of its properties as blood sugar stabilizer [10].
Dandelion root helps to decrease high blood pressure [9]. Dandelion root has also been used for its herbal properties to ease uterus cramps [10].

Terpenoids, triterpenoids, taraxerol, taraxacin, lactucin and taraxasterol.Chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, Carbohydrate as fructose, glucose, inulin and sucrose.
Flavonoid glycosides, taraxafolide (1) and (+)-taraxafolin-B (2) sesquiterpene, thirteen benzenoids, two indole alkaloids, one pyridine. Dandelion root contains a bitter principle called taraxin which is a mixture of sesquiterpene lactones and taraxacoside [2].
DANDELION AS LIVER CLEANSE - BLOOD PURIFIER
Dandelion has been used in many herbal remedies around the globe, but Dandelion has been mainly use for two of them, as herbal remedy as a liver cleanser and as blood purifier and diuretic [2][9].
KIDNEY - URINARY TRACT - ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Other uses of Dandelion include in fact its use to clean also kidney and urinary tract [6]. To this uses and facts we have to add some reported anti-inflammatory effects of Dandelion [7] extracts used in animal trials.
DIURETIC PROPERTIES OF DANDELION ROOT
Dandelion´s extracts have also been proven their diuretic effects in a case study [9], where patients having a daily intake of fresh leaf hydroethanolic extract of Dandelion showed an increased urinary frequency compared to those not having taken Dandelion´s extracts.
DANDELION ROOT ANTI-OXIDATIVE PROPERTIES - ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
Dandelion´s root has also many medicinal properties, some of them as important as the anti-oxidative function. Dandelion´s root and leaf have been scientifically p
Dandelion's anti-inflammatory properties help alleviate inflammation and muscle spasms, plus it acts as a mild laxative relieveing constipation. Dandelion, unlike some chemical diet supplements, will not deplete the body of potassium when used for weight loss.
Acts by straining and filtering toxins & wastes from the bloodstream. Dandelion exhibits hypoglycemic effects in experimental animals, and its beneficial effects on liver complaints have been well documented by both Asian practitioners and American physicians. It stimulates bile production, and helps the body get rid of excess water produced by the diseased liver. Dandelion extracts are said to also benefit the spleen, and improve the health of the pancreas. Dandelion root has also been shown to have potential for fighting cancer. It is important to note here that this herb has been shown to uniformly remedy chronic liver congestion, and has also been used in medical practice to successfully treat hepatitis, swelling of the liver, jaundice, and dyspepsia with deficient bile secretion.
For Dandelion root side effects and precautions see disclaimer below.
Please consider MY ONE OF MANY FAVORITES***dandelions (Taxacum officinale) nuisance plants, however; they are in fact cultivated commercially in Europe and the U.S. for their health benefits. Dandelions have been used for many years in herbal medicine for treating poor digestion, water retention and diseases of the liver, such as hepatitis. A wide range of compounds is found in its flowers, roots and leaves, including sesquiterpene lactones, phytosterols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals.
A water extract from dandelion leaves proved beneficial to diabetic rats in one study by correcting hyperglycemia (the presence of an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood) and preventing complications from exposure to lipid peroxidation and free radicals.
In Korea, dandelion roots are used to treat a variety of infectious viral diseases due to their ability to activate the production of nitric oxide, which is known to be effective against a variety of bacteria, parasites and tumors.
The presence of oligofructans in dandelion root extracts also enhances the growth of bifidobacteria making it a potential prebiotic.
Another study displayed the anticancer properties of dandelion roots because of their cytoxicity to human hepatoma cancer cells. Inducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-a and IL-Ia, dandelion roots caused the cell death or apoptosis of these cancer cells.
A recent Canadian study showed that dandelion flower extracts also have antioxidant properties. The phenolic compounds in the extracts studied were responsible for reducing the formation of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species in chemical and biological models, respectively. The latter are associated with the development of a variety of chronic conditions, such as cancer and coronary heart disease.
DANDELION greens are commonly used in treating anemia. They are a good source of iron, folic acid, calcium, potassium and trace minerals. Also a traditional remedy for osteoarthritis. Recommended a half-cup morning and evening. Dandelion is also a traditional remedy for healing rheumatoid arthritis and tendonitis; contains phytochemicals believed to deactivate the TB bacteria. Fights water retention.
REFERENCES
[1] The 4 Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan By Michelle Schoffro Cook
[2] The complete natural medicine guide to the 50 most common medicinal herbs By Heather Boon, Michael Smith
[3] The essential guide to herbal safety By Simon Mills, Kerry Bone
[4] Pacific Feast: A Cook's Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine By Jennifer Hahn, Mac (PHT) Smith
[5] Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of herbs By Claire Kowalchik, William H. Hylton, Anna Carr
[6] The Wild & Weedy Apothecary: An A to Z Book of Herbal Concoctions, Recipes and Remedies By Doreen Shababy
[7] The 150 healthiest foods on earth: the surprising, unbiased truth about what you should eat and why By Jonny Bowden
[8] The New Healing Herbs: The Classic Guide to Nature's Best Medicines By Michael Castleman
[9] The Way of Herbs By Michael Tierra
[10] Homoeopathic Materia Medica of Graphical Drug Pictures By A. Pulford.
[11] The efficacy of dandelion root extract in inducing apoptosis in drug-resistant human melanoma cells.
Chatterjee SJ, Ovadje P, Mousa M, Hamm C, Pandey S. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, Canada
[12] PUBMED. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root and leaf on cholesterol-fed rabbits.Choi UK, Lee OH, Yim JH, Cho CW, Rhee YK, Lim SI, Kim YC.
Pohang Center for Evaluation of Biomaterials, Pohang, Korea.
[9] PUBMED. The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day.
Clare BA, Conroy RS, Spelman K. Department of Herbal Medicine, Tai Sophia Institute, Laurel, MD 20723, USA.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Dena (i spelled your name wrong earlier!)
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog, you tell it like it is! I appreciate that you cite your sources so well. I will be sharing your blog with others.
Doreen Shababy, author
The Wild & Weedy Apothecary
No problem about the name thing.I dont sweat the little stuff..Glad you came good luck with my spelling/typing Glad you got passed it. Must have a sence of humor to over look it,,ha ha Please feel free to add anything you care to share with others. I welcome all info we are in it together. thx
ReplyDelete