botanical name(s): Taraxacum officinale, Taraxacum dens-leonis
synonyms: dandelion, blowball, cankerwort, lion's tooth, prient's crown, puffball, swine snout, white endive, wild endive, lowenzahn, dent de lion, pissenlit, diente de leon
part(s) used: root, leaf, whole plant
qualities: bitter
affinities: liver, kidneys
actions: alterative, antirheumatic, cholagogue, diuretic, galactagogue, laxative, tonic
dosage:
» powder: 300 - 1200 mg.
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
appearance:
» geographic tongue (Wood)
specific indications: anorexia, weak digestion, hepatic torpor, constipation (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1915)
therapy: chronic jaundice, auto-intoxication, rheumatism, blood disorders, chronic skin eruptions, catarrhal gastritis, aphthous ulcerations (Ellingwood p. 326); cholecystitis; gall stones; jaundice; atonic dyspepsia with constipation; muscular rheumatism; oliguria (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 208); edema; urinary tract infection in pregnancy; high blood pressure; water retention due to heart problems; inflammation of liver and gall bladder; constipation; premenstrual syndrome; menarche; menopause; benign prostatic hypertrophy (Anderson Geller)
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating:
» leaf: 1
» root: 2d
toxicity: 0
» contraindicated in acute stomach inflammation or bowel irritation due to its stomachic effect of stimulating gastric hyperacidity (Brinker, 1989; Felter and Lloyd; Wichtl)
» contraindicated in digestive weakness because of resulting dyspepsia, flatulence, pain, and diarrhea, possibly due to its choleretic and cholagogue effects on the liver and gall bladder (Felter and Lloyd; Brinker, 1995 & 1989)
» contraindicated in bile duct obstruction, biliary inflammation, gall bladder inflammation with pus, or gallstones due to cholagogue effect (Wichtl, De Smet, Brooks)
» contraindicated in intestinal obstruction (Wichtl, De Smet, Brooks, Felter and Lloyd) due to its gastrointestinal stimulation effect
» contraindicated in allergic hypersensitivity to other Asteraceae such as chamomile, yarrow, and/or arnica (De Smet)
constituents: sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenes, phenolic acids, polysaccharides: glucans, mannans, inulin; carotenoids, pectin, choline
footnotes
Anderson Geller, C. 1984-1989. Lectures in Botanical Medicine, National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Portland, OR.
Brinker F. 1995. Botanical Medicine Research Summaries. (from Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics, vol.11), Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Brinker F. 1989. To Health With Herbs (from Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics. vol. I, Alstat E (comp.)), Portland, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
British Herbal Medical Association. 1983. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. West Yorks, England: The British Herbal Medical Association.
Brooks S (ed.). 1995. Botanical Toxicology. Protocol J Bot. Med, 1:147-58.
De Smet PAGM et al. (eds.). 1993. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 2, Berlin: Springer-Verlag
Ellingwood, F. 1898. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Felter, H. W., and Lloyd, J. U. 1983. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Wichtl M (ed.). 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Wood, Matthew. 1992. The Admirable Secrets of Herbs, Roots and Barks: Western Herbal Medicine, A Materia Medica. Unpublished manuscript.