Organic Connections Dandelion Leaf (Organic Loose) - 227g

Dandelion

By: Articles by a Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.)

Dandelions are more then just pretty weeds, they can also help improve your health ...
It's hard to believe that the "weed" that aggravates so many "lawn-artists" is actually an important medicinal herb. The proper name of dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. The leaves of the dandelion plant are hooked and pointed, a characteristic that allows this plant to be distinguished from wild lettuce, another common lawn weed. In fact, the name "dandelion" comes from the French "dents de lion", which translates to "lion's teeth", a reference to the shape of the edges of the leaves.

Both wild lettuce and dandelion leaves can be used to make a tasty garden salad, jam-packed with nutrients. The leaves and the root of the dandelion plant have different medicinal properties; the leaves are a diuretic that can help clean the urinary tract, while the roots are a digestive bitter.

Digestive Bitter

Dandelion roots and leaves have a bitter taste that stimulates the release of saliva and stomach acid, thus increasing appetite. It also triggers a cascade of increased secretion of digestive juices throughout the gastrointestinal tract including bile, and pancreatic secretions, both of which promote better digestion. For more information on digestive bitters, please click here.

Liver and Gallbladder Health

The dandelion plant is useful in the treatment of digestive disorders. The root of the plant stimulates the release of bile from the liver and gallbladder, which helps the body to digest fats. It also helps to flush the gallbladder and support the release of toxins by the liver. Because of this, dandelion is an excellent liver cleanser. At the same time, there is some evidence that dandelion may help to regulate cholesterol levels, which is also likely due to this bile flush response.

Urinary Tract Cleanser

The leaves act as a potassium-sparing diuretic, which functions equally to common prescription diuretics in studies. Thus dandelion leaf can be used to treat water retention such as retention that is due to PMS. This action also allows dandelion leaf to flush fluid through the kidneys making it a good herb for cleansing the urinary tract.

Antimicrobial

Dandelion has some antimicrobial properties that make it useful for infections like abscesses and boils. Because of this, and its liver cleansing abilities, dandelion can help to detoxify the body and reduce skin conditions like acne.

How can I take dandelion?

Dandelion leaf and root can be used as encapsulated herb, dried herb, tincture or liquid extract. The roots contain the medicinal constituents that support liver and digestion, while the leaf contains the substances that support the kidney and urinary tract. Dandelion root is found as a component of many intestinal and liver cleansing formulas. In order to help with digestion, bitter herbs must be tasted, like when you take them in a tincture or tea. Encapsulated herbs are swallowed, thus bypassing the taste buds, and will not stimulate digestion. The dose of dandelion root or leaf is 500 – 1500mg per day of powdered extract. Liquid can be dosed at 15 – 30ml of root extract, or 10-30ml daily of leaf extract. Dandelion leaf is often found as a component of kidney cleansing formulas.