Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale — Thomé, 1885 — Public Domain — Wikimedia Commons

Plant Family & Name:

a. Asteraceae

b. The genus name Taraxacum comes from the Arabic word

'tarakhshagog' for "a bitter herb". The species name Officinale means ‘'of the apothecaries' or 'medicinal.

c. The common name "dandelion" comes from the French dent de lion, which refers to the jagged leaf margin which looks like a lion's

Habitat & Ecological role:

The common dandelion is considered a weed that easily grows in temperate climates. Taraxacum officinale is native to Europe and Asia, and was originally imported to America as a food crop. Dandelion can be found in backyards, sidewalks, near water, or anywhere really. It is a plant that follows disturbance and will provide food for pollinators as well as perform mild bioremediation.

Parts Used: Root, leaf

Herbal Actions:

Root: anti-inflammatory, cholagogue, bitter, prebiotic, blood sugar amphoteric, tonic, galactagogue, antirheumatic, antiallergenic, nutritive, hepatic.

Leaf: astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, hypotensive, antirheumatic, nutritive, kidney tonic.

Season: Spring & Fall (root), Spring & Summer (leaf)

Taste:

Root: Bitter, mild sweet Leaf: Sour, astringent

Energetic Qualities:

Root: Cooling, Moistening & Drying (amphoteric), mobile, light, clearing

Leaf: Drying, mobile, cooling, clearing

Indications:

Root is indicated for deficient appetite, liver stagnation, eczema, acne, stuck/congested tissue states, glycemic dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, allergies.

Leaf is indicated whenever a diuretic is needed, hypertension, potassium deficiency, edema.

Body system affinities: Urinary, cardiovascular, integumentary, digestive, hepatic

Key Points: Deep liver support (root), and kidney support (leaf), brings mobility and flow into the stagnant, congested issues within the body, provides filtering/clearing springtime medicine. When in doubt, use dandelion root!