Dandelion Leaf (dried) – Organic & Australian

From: $11.00

Description

Botanical Name: Taraxacum officinale

Plant Family: Asteraceae

Plant description: Dandelion low growing perennial 15 – 30 cm tall with a basal rosette of leaves and a thick branching root. The bright green leaves are shiny and without hairs. The edge of each leaf is cut into deeply triangular lobes pointing back toward the base of the leaf, resembling the teeth of a lion, hence the French name ‘Dent de lion’- tooth of lion. The flowers grow singly on hollow stems arising straight from the root. When ripe the seed heads make fluffy balls easily blown apart and scattered on the wind. There are a few plants often mistake for Dandelion. True Dandelion can be distinguished by – Single and hollow flower stalks. Other plant stems may be hollow but will branch to more than one flower. The leaf of Dandelion has a distinctly hollow midrib while other species have a solid midrib.

Part used: The leaf and flower, root.

Harvest: Leaf collected at anytime. Root dug in autumn of first or second year.

Active Constituents: Terpinoids (sesquiterpene lactones, taraxinic acid), triterpenes, (taraxol, taraxerol), coumarins, potassium (about 4% in leaf, 2% in root), taraxin, ceryl alcohol lactucerol, taraxacerin, inosite, vitamins A(14,000 international units per 100 gm of leaf compared to 11,000 international units of carrot) and B, choline, nicotinic acid (B2), phenolic acids, inulin, pectin, carrotinoids, phytosterols and sugars.

Energetics: Leaf – bitter, cold. Root – bitter, sweet, cool, dry.

Actions: Leaf – choleretic, diuretic, laxative, alterative. Root – bitter tonic, choleretic, mild laxative, anti-rheumatic, cholagogue, mild diuretic.

Uses: Dandelion leaf is traditionally used as a diuretic for oedema and hypertension. It is also historically used for digestive liver insufficiency, dyspepsia, constipation, gall stones and cholecystitis. The root is traditionally used for digestive liver insufficiency, dyspepsia, constipation, anorexia, flatulent cholic, gall bladder dysfunction, rheumatism, chronic skin disorders.

Dosage: Infusion – pour one cup of boiling water onto one teaspoon of dried herb. Leave to infuse for five minutes. Drink up to one cup three times per day. Decoction – one teaspoon of dried root is simmered in one to two cups of water for 10 minutes in a covered pot. Drink up to one cup three times a day. Liquid Extract root (1:2) – 20—40ml/week Liquid Extract leaf (1:1) – 40—80ml/week

Cautions: Rare contact allergy.

Interactions: May potentiate effect of diuretics and hypoglycaemics.

Certified Organic Australian grown

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