Herb of the Month: Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion)

I am starting a new thing. Flicking through one of my herbal books and stopping at whatever page I feel in order to write a blog on the chosen herb.

Today, I write about Taraxacum officinale also known as Dandelion. Dandelion is probably one of the first 5 herbs I was taught in Herbal Medicine during my Naturopathy studies. Dandelion has now become a well-known herb, always a common herb in our environment. If you aren’t familiar with Dandelion then you will be soon enough.

Firstly, you can go for an hour walk and you will likely see Dandelion growing on the sidewalks. She is a weed. A medicinal weed. A medicinal weed that protects our organs and energetics. She is a herb of Jupiter ~ symbolizing abundance, expansiveness, higher wisdom. Secondly, you can head to your local health food store, walk down the tea isle and see that Dandelion will be there in the detox blends. I recommend getting to know Dandelion within your natural environment first, so that you can experience Dandelion in her thriving habitat.

In the image above you can very clearly see the basal rosette and one flower per stem. This is your medicinal Dandelion.

If you are foraging Dandelion make sure that you do not confuse it with 'False Dandelion;’. They look very similar and grow in the same area as Dandelion. False Dandelion can have multiple flowers per stem unlike Dandelion which grows in a basal rosette where the leaves grow in a circular cluster at the base of the stem and has one flower per stem.

Dandelion root. A potent medicinal remedy for liver and gallbladder health. If there is obstruction of the bile ducts or toxic burden on the liver, this is your herb. It supports these organs by promoting the formation of bile and by removing excess water from the body incase of severe water retention resulting from liver and heart problems (or overall fluid retention). While it influences the liver, Dandelion also purifies the blood therefore assisting in skin conditions such as acne.

If you need a “spring clean” of the body, be sure to add Dandelion root.

Energetics: cold, bitter, sweet in TCM

Parts Used: Root or leaf

Action: Astringent, diuretic (leaf), cholagogue (root), mild-laxative, tonic, cleansing. Clears heat and toxins.

Preparation: Herbal Tea. Decoction: 2 teaspoons of the root into one cup of water, bring to boil and gently simmer for 10-15 minutes. Infusion: 2 teaspoons of dried leaves into one cup of water, bring to boil and gentle simmer for 5-10 minutes. Leaves can be eaten raw in salads also. 1 cup tea 3 times/day.

Dandelion is safe to drink as a tea, daily.

You can buy dried root or herb from your local health food store.