Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Overview

It was once a ubiquitous practice in the daily life of most North Americans to consume Dandelion leaves in the early Spring, as they are one of the first edible plants to appear as the lasts snows melt. And what a sadness it is for us today to have lost such a tradition. For Dandelion leaf is a tonic and cleanser to the kidneys, those vital detoxification organs, which would have been in much need of rejuvenating after a long winter of eating meats, dried foods, and protein-rich meals.

Today, we are even further removed from such simplistic natural cycles, and the state of humanity’s health is much drearier than a winter’s worth of heavy eating. Dandelion leaf is more needed now, at all times of the year, than perhaps it has ever been needed before. Luckily, gracious as those spirits which conduct the flow of life on this earth are, Dandelion brings itself to every doorstep, every lawn, and every farmer’s field, waiting to be remembered and utilised. It is, above all other herbs, the one most needed for humanity at this time, and it is above all herbs that one which humans detest and destroy more than any other.

Perhaps its humble, gritty spirit is an unpleasant reminder of the state of the world that we’ve created around ourselves, our cities and suburbs, environments which would be termed wasteplaces or disturbed ground by ecologists. And perhaps our brittle egos can’t bear to consider that we don’t exist upon an elevated biological and spiritual plane in our “advanced society”; but rather that we are nearly barren, and in need of aid. In terms of permaculture, the only way the earth grows richer is by pioneer species like dandelion, to settle and enrich the soil so that the environment may progress further. And, in terms of health, there is similarly no greater herb for the chronic and degenerated states humans find themselves in today. Why? Because Dandelion gently and powerfully addresses the kidneys and liver. And without the elimination of metabolic waste (kidneys), or proper bowel functioning (liver/gallbladder), we are doomed to darkling illness in its many forms.

*Other pioneer species include Plantain, Burdock, Red Clover, Comfrey, Mullein, and Yarrow, all herbs which regenerate the most desperately poor soil and health.

Family: Asteraceae

Parts used: Leaf, root

Phytochemistry

Root + Leaf:
Sesquiterpene lactones
Triterpenes
Vitamin A, B, C, and D

Root:
Taraxocoside (glycoside)
Phenolic acids
Minerals (K, Ca)

Leaf:
Minerals (especially K)
Coumarins
Carotenoids

Description

Dandelion is found all over the northern hemisphere, in fields and wasteplaces, and is so common that farmers and home-owners find it troublesome, and spray poisons almost solely in pursuit of destroying them alone.

Dandelion has a thick, brown taproot, white and milky within. The long jagged leaves rise directly up, so that each drop of water that falls is cast upon their surface and directed to the centre of their rosette, where its vertical taproot can best be given a drink; by this arrangement dandelion is well-suited to wasteplaces, where the soil holds no water (Interesting that it also directs the flowing of fluid in the body). The leaves themselves are cut into jagged teeth, either pointing straight out or a bit backwards. But note that there are many varieties of Dandelion leaves, some are deeply cut into segments, and in others there is much less indentation, in some cases the leaves looking almost entire.

The flower stalk rises straight from the root. It is purplish, smooth, hollow, leafless, and bears a single head of flowers. Bitter, milky juice exudes from the stem if the flower is broken off. This white juice is found throughout the plant, and will stain brown upon the skin. The flower is yellow, and is an ally to the honeybee, for it blooms in the Spring almost alone after the fruit trees, and it blooms in a lessening succession until the Fall. Many other insects love it as well, and it is thus a fundamental plant for life in the northern hemisphere in more ways than one.

The bloom opens from 7am-5pm. When rain threatens, it closes up at once. When mature, the flower transforms into a white ball of pappus (plumed seeds), which are blown by the breeze to propagate.

Actions

Root: Hepatic, bitter, cholagogue, choleretic, mild laxative, anti-rheumatic, digestive tonic, anti-bilious

Leaf: Diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic

Historical

“Dandelion is not official but it is used in many patent medicines. Not being poisonous, quite big doses of its preparations may be taken. Its beneficial action is best obtained when combined with other agents.” – Grieve

“It is a general stimulant to the system, but especially in the urinary organs, and is chiefly used in kidney and liver disorders.” -Grieve

There are many recreational drinks made from dandelion, including beer, wine, and even coffee.
Dandelion was first mentioned in the Chinese herbals by the 7th century.

Medicinal Actions

Dandelion acts as a general health/detoxification herb.
The Leaf: nourishing and stimulating to the kidneys, and will simultaneously pull upon the lymphatic system. Used as a potassium-sparing diuretic in the Spring, but is not over-stimulating to the kidneys. Useful for auto-immune conditions, edema, acne, eczema, arthritis, inflammation, lymphatic stagnation, cyclical fluid retention in women, and hypertension.
The root: stimulates the liver to produce bile, as well as urges the gallbladder to excrete bile into the duodenum. In any cases of liver or gallbladder inflammation/stasis the root is ideal. Helpful for mild cases of constipation, cholelithiasis (gallstones), jaundice, metabolic toxicity, eczema, arthritis, acne, chronic gastritis, enteritis, flatulence, bloating.
Cautions & Contraindications

Asteraceae allergy, bile duct obstruction, cholycystitis, intestinal obstruction.

Combinations

Dandelion root, Parsley root, Balm herb, Ginger root, and Liquorice root decoction for gall stones.
For young children with jaundice: Dandelion root, Ginger root, Senna leaves (decoction).

Cultivation

Root: About 4lb of seed to 1 acre, sown in drills, 1 foot apart. The crops should be weeded by hoeing or by hand, and all flowerheads should be picked off by hand when they appear, else the land and your neighbours land will be covered in them. Yield should be 4-5 tons of fresh root to the acre in the second year (this will result in 1000-1500 lbs once dried). The roots should be washed and dried, and the side roots can be sequestered as a finer and more desirable part of the root. The larger roots are second most valuable, and the smaller sections of root are least, usually being processed into dandelion coffee. Collect the roots in October when the harvest is over; if roots are collected in the Spring they will be moreover unsaleable. Drying should take 2 weeks, at which point they should be hard and brittle enough to snap, and the insides white, not grey.

Leaf: Harvest young leaves, ideally before flowering.

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This Post was all about Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion)..

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Justin McArthur

Herbalist