Taraxacum officinalis

Latin Binomial
Taraxacum officinalis

Common Names
Chinese: Pu Gong Ying
English: Dandelion, doonhead clock
Finnish: Maitiainen
French: Pissenlit, Diente de leon
Arabic: Khas Berri
German: Kuhblume, Butterblume, Lowenzahn
Turkish: Kara Hindiba

Species Used

Family
Asteraceae

Habitat
North temperate zones in pastures, meadows and lawns.

Botanical Description
Well known because it grows virtually everywhere and is very hardy. Grows to 2-10 inches high with the deeply toothed, hairless leaves forming a flat rosette. The thick taproot is dark brown on the outside, white on the inside and may exude a milky substance, the latex, which is present in the whole plant. The flower stem arises from the middle of the rosette giving rise to a single composite head of smaller ligulate ray flowers. The flowers develop into pappus after blooming, which is scattered by the wind.

Parts Used
Roots, young leaves and flowers.

Historical Uses
Dandelion is native to Europe especially in the area of Asia minor. The first mention of dandelion was in the 10th and 11th centuries in Arabian medical texts. The flowers were often used to flavor beer and wines in Europe. The roasted roots have been used as a coffee substitute, and the leaves have been used as spring tonics in salads.

Constituents
Sesquiterpene lactones, triterpene steroids, (sitosterin, stigmasterin, phytosterin), phenolic acids, polysaccharides, carotenoids, proteins, sugars, pectin, choline, vitamins, minerals, bitter principle (taraxacin, taraxacerin), inulin.

Medicinal Actions
Leaf: Diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory.
Root: Choleretic, cholagogue, tonic, anti-rheumatic, bitter, alterative, mild laxative.

Medicinal Uses
Taraxacum is valued primarily as a liver and kidney tonic although it acts on the body as a whole by improving digestion and elimination. The leaf acts as a diuretic. Being high in potassium, this spares the body's potassium, which tends to be excreted with diuretic use. The effect is more therapeutic and beneficial overall. The young leaves that come up in the spring may also be added to spring salads for this benefit.

Taraxacum root contains bitter elements that may stimulate digestion through the stimulation of gastric and salivary juices. Taraxacum also stimulates the liver and gall bladder. Considered one of the best liver tonics, it stimulates the liver to create bile and stimulates the gall bladder to release the stored bile. This increased flow of bile, combined with the action of the triterpenes that may increase the solubility of the bile, makes Taraxacum a good herb for cleansing and removing of toxins from the digestive tract. Because of its effect on the flow of bile, Taraxacum is a mild laxative.

Inulin contained in the root acts by way of a reflex action on the immune system ( inulin is not absorbed in the body ). The inulin activates the complement cascade, one of the non-specific barriers against infection.

Taraxacum is indicated in a number of conditions that point to liver congestion, for example, poor absorption of nutrients and skin conditions. Although Taraxacum is a safe herb, please consult a practitioner before use.

Please Note: The information contained in this section of the web site is directed toward people with technical knowledge in the botanical medicine field. We provide this information as a service to naturopathic physicians, pharmacognocists, pharmacists, midwives, plant chemists and medical herbalists and we encourage health professionals to obtain a more general education in the area before applying treatments to themselves or their patients. Bastyr University assumes no responsibility for the results obtained from using this information. If you have a serious or lingering health concern, it is important to discuss it with a health care provider.