Botanical Index No. 331

Dandelion

taraxacum officinale

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Allergenic, Alterative, Antibacterial, Antidote, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Aquaretic, Astringent, Bifidogenic, Candidicide, Carminative, Cholagogue, Cholekinetic, Choleretic, Depurative, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Hepatotonic, Hypoglycemic, Lactagogue, Laxative, Litholytic, Natriuretic, Phototoxic, Prebiotic, Saluretic, Secretagogue, Sialagogue, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abscess Adenopathy Alactea Alcoholism Anemia Anorexia Backache Bacteria Biliary Dyskinesia Bladder Stone Boil Bronchosis Bruise Cancer bladder bowel breast liver spleen Candida Caries Cardiopathy Catarrh Cholecystosis Cirrhosis Cold Congestion Conjunctivosis Constipation Cough Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Eczema Fever Flu Gallstone Gas Gastrosis Gout Gravel Heart Heartburn Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hyperglycemia Hypochondria Infection Inflammation Itch Jaundice Kidney Stone Liver Spot Mastosis Mucososis Nephrosis Neurosis Obesity Oliguria Osteoporosis Pain PMS Pneumonia Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Scrofula Side Ache Snakebite Sore Splenosis Stomachache Stone Swelling Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer UTI Vomiting Wart Water Retention Yeast Aperient Aperitif Bitter Demulcent

General Dosage

1–2 to 3–4 tsp cut herb/150 ml water; 0.5 oz dry leaf/cup water; 4–10 g dry leaf as tea 3 ×/day; 4–10 ml liquid leaf extract 3 ×/day; 2–5 ml leaf tincture 3 ×/day; 1–2 tsp root/cup a.m. & p.m.; 0.5–1 g powdered root; 3–4 g powdered root; 1–3 tsp powdered root/cup water; 0.25–0.5 cup fresh root; 6–12 g dry root; 9 g dry root:45 ml alcohol/45 mg water; 3–5 g dry root 3 ×/day; 2–8 g dry root as tea 3 ×/day; 28–56 ml root decoction; 5–10 ml root tincture 3 ×/day; 10–15 drops root tincture; 1–2 tsp tincture to 3 ×/day; 1 tbsp dandelion juice morning and evening; 4–10 ml dandelion juice; 2–8 ml liquid extract; 3–4 g/day; 3 capsules 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports contraindications: biliary obstruction, empyema of gallbladder, ileus; adverse effects: gastric complaints and ulcers. Other contraindications reported: biliary inflammation. CAN cautions that the sesquiterpene lactones are allergenic and may cause dermatosis. May interfere with diuretic and hypoglycemic therapies. Herbs with diuretic properties, such as juniper and dandelion, can cause elevations in blood levels of lithium. Not for use with acute gallbladder problems. Use in cholelithiasis only under a doctor’s supervision. Blumenthal et al. caution that, “As with all drugs containing bitter substances, discomfort due to gastric hyperacidity may occur”.

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