dandelion leaves

[Guest guest]

Dandelion Leaves- by Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.

JoAnn Guest

Mar 19, 2005 16:53 PST

------

 

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

 

Known best in North America as a weed that pops up in

freshly cut

lawns,

dandelion grows wild in most of the world and is

cultivated as an herb

in China, France, and Germany. Young leaves are picked

in the spring

for

tonic salads.

 

In the early summer, before the plant blooms, leaves

are harvested for

the manufacture of medicinal teas, and tinctures.

 

The roots of two-year-old plants are dug in the fall,

when they have

their greatest concentration of the complex

carbohydrate inulin, for

use

in tablets and tinctures.

 

EVIDENCE OF BENEFIT

 

Dandelion leaves are a powerful diuretic. The roots

act as a blood

purifier that helps both the kidneys and the liver to

remove toxins and

poisons from the blood.

 

The roots have been used for centuries to treat

jaundice. Dandelion

also

acts as a mild laxative and improves appetite and

digestion. It is

useful for eczema-like skin problems, boils, and

abscesses, and is

believed to help prevent age spots and breast cancer.

 

Benefits of dandelion for specific health conditions

include the

following:

 

• Anemia. Dandelion contains high levels of potassium,

is a rich source

of iron and vitamins, and, ounce for ounce, contains

more carotene than

carrots.

 

Herbalists have used dandelion for generations to

treat anemia due to

deficiencies of folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12.

 

• Bladder infection and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Unlike many

conventional diuretics, which cause a loss of

potassium, dandelion

leaves are rich in potassium.

 

Using the herb as a diuretic results in a net gain of

this vital

mineral.

 

Because of its diuretic effect, dandelion helps to

relieve fluid

retention in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and

counteract urine retention

in bladder infections.

 

By increasing potassium levels, dandelion aids in

alleviating muscle

spasms and nighttime leg cramps.

 

• Constipation, hemorrhoids, and indigestion. German

research has shown

that dandelion root is a mild bitter, or appetite

stimulant.

 

Bitters of all types activate a reflex that increases

the secretion of

digestive juices by the lining of the stomach.

 

Dandelion root has a significant cleansing effect on

the liver by

stimulating the production of bile, which ultimately

results in

increased transport of a variety of potentially

noxious compounds to

the

stool.

 

Increasing the release of bile also relieves

constipation without

causing diarrhea and stops spasms of the bile duct.

Dandelion should be

avoided, however, if you have gallstones, since

increasing the flow of

bile could increase pressure against the stones.

 

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IRS). Bulgarian studies of

a five-herb

combination including dandelion found that more than

95 percent of IBS

sufferers were pain-free after fifteen days of

treatment. This herbal

combination also improved regularity.

 

• Liver problems and gallstones. The bitter principles

in dandelion

increase bile production and bile flow in the liver.

This makes it

useful for people with sluggish liver function due to

alcohol abuse or

poor diet. It is restorative to the liver and helps

reduce the risk of

developing gallstones, but you should avoid it if you

already have

gallstones.

 

• Osteoporosis. Dandelion is a rich source of boron,

which helps to

raise estrogen levels in the blood, and in turn helps

preserve bone.

 

It is also a rich source of calcium and a fair source

of silicon, which

some studies suggest helps strengthen bone.

 

• Overweight. European herbalists frequently prescribe

dandelion

tinctures as a weight-loss aid. Dandelion reduces

water weight through

its diuretic effect.

 

It may also help the liver regulate blood sugars to

avoid hypoglycemia

(low blood sugar), frequently an immediate cause of

binge eating.

 

Also, the increase in bile flow stimulated by

dandelion helps to

improve

fat metabolism in the body. In one laboratory study,

animals that were

given daily doses of dandelion extract for a month

lost up to 30

percent

of their body mass.

 

 

CONSIDERATIONS FOR USE

 

Dandelion can be taken in tablet, tea, or tincture

form. Dandelion may

cause increased stomach acidity and ulcer pain. If you

have gallstones

or biliary tract obstructions, you should avoid this

herb.

Dandelion should not be used as a substitute for

pharmaceutical

diuretics for hypertension. If you are taking diuretic

drugs, insulin,

or medications that reduce blood-sugar levels, you

should use dandelion

only under a physician's supervision. People with

known allergies to

related plants, such as chamomile and yarrow, should

use dandelion with

caution.

 

Dandelion also should be avoided during antibiotic

treatment,

especially

treatment with ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin

(Floxin), lomefloxacin

(Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and enoxacin

(Penetrex), since it

may

keep concentrations of these antibiotics from peaking

in the

bloodstream, diminishing their ability to fight

infection.

 

from Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis Balch,

 

January, 2002, Avery Books, a member of Penguin

Putnam, Inc., used by

permission.

 

Dandelion roots have been used for centuries to treat

jaundice and

remove toxins and poisons from the blood..

 

 

" Prescription for Herbal Healing "

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html