Medicinal properties of dandelion

Dandelions may have medicinal properties.

Definition
The common dandelion, taraxacum officinale, is a weed that is often considered a nuisance and to give lawns an unkempt look, but it is a versatile item in both the kitchen and as a medicinal herb.

History
The medicinal and nutritional uses for the dandelion are the main reasons there are so many dandelions today. Dandelions have been purposely cultivated and widely used throughout history. The Celts introduced it to the Roman legions when Caesar invaded the north. The Anglo-Saxons and the Normans used it to prevent scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) and monastery gardens used it for both food and medicine in the middle ages. The Puritans used it only as a vegetable. As different crops became more popular, dandelions were no longer considered a staple, primarily because of the bitter taste.

Medicinal uses
The dandelion is approved by the Commission E for dyspeptic, liver and gallbladder complaints, infections of the urinary tract, and loss of appetite. Other unproven uses include treatment of disturbances in bile flow, inflammation of the efferent urinary tract, dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, congestion in the portal system, gout, rheumatic disorders, eczema and other skin disorders.

The dandelion is considered to be very safe and sometimes carries the slang term, “pee in the bed,” referring to its diuretic ability in increasing water and waste products in the urine. Dandelion has a high potassium content and replaces potassium lost in normal urine secretion, leading to a net gain in potassium levels ; this fact is worthy of note because that is not the case with the use of over-the-counter diuretics.

Dandelions are also thought to be effective in helping to ease the ailments of many other conditions including herpes, genital warts, and even obesity. Studies on both rats and humans that involved injecting them with dandelion have resulted in them losing up to 30% of their body weight. [1]

Dosage and side effects
The dandelion is readily available in health and supplement stores in many different forms. To name a few, there are pills, teas, tablets and liquids.

Use of dandelions medicinally is not recommended when there is closure of the biliary ducts, gallbladder empyema, and ileus. There is a possibility of superacid gastric complaints upon use and a small possibility of sensitization reactions.

It has been shown, according to some, that Dandelion root is carcinogenic in rats.