Besides their culinary uses as a coffee substitute and salad ingredient, the Dandelion Leaf and Root of the dandelion, a pervasive weed of the aster family, are also used in traditional medicine. Dandelion is grown commercially in both the United States and Europe for this purpose.
Traditional Uses of the Dandelion Leaf:-
Dandelion Leaf has been used for centuries to treat liver, gall bladder, and kidney ailments, weak digestion, and rheumatism. The leaves are also considered mildly laxative. The fresh leaf or its preparations are thought to be no more potent than the dried leaf The leaves have traditionally been used more as a diuretic.
Dandelion Leaf and Root are widely used in herbal medicines in Europe. The leaves are diuretic but also high in potassium, so they help to compensate for potassium lost with increased urination. Bitter compounds in the leaves (and root) increased bile secretion in laboratory animals by more than 40 percent. The leaves more than the root are prescribed as a diuretic in cases of water retention and for bloating accompanied by flatulence and loss of appetite.
The bitter compounds in Dandelion Leaf help stimulate digestion and are mildly laxative in activity. The leaves have been shown to be moderately anti-inflammatory, which supports their traditional use in the treatment of rheumatism. The Leaf is used for dyspepsia, loss of appetite, as a diuretic, and for disorders associated with inhibited bile secretion from the liver.
Cautions
The German Commission E monographs on dandelion leaf and root indicate that in cases of gallstones, dandelion products should be used only under a physician’s supervision. If bile ducts are obstructed, dandelion should not be used at all. The milky latex in fresh dandelion leaves may cause contact dermatitis. Bitter herbs such as dandelion root may also cause hyperacidity in some individuals.
Dandelion Leaf in powdered form can be found here
