Dandelion
When most people think of dandelion they think of the weed growing wildly in their yard that flowers into brilliant yellow flowers. But, interestingly, the whole plant has health benefits that vary depending on which part of the plant is used.
The word ‘dandelion’ comes from the French ‘dent de lion’ or, lion’s tooth because of the serrated shape of the leaves. Part of a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, the dandelion is a perennial native to Eurasia, where it was thought to have evolved into roughly its present form some thirty million years ago. Today, species are found on all over the world, tending to pop up in disturbed areas like roadsides and concrete cracks, and as such they are generally considered a weed in the U.S.
The dandelion has a long history of medicinal uses in traditional Native American and Arabic medicines, as well as in ancient and contemporary Europe and China. The root was most commonly used for digestive problems, while the leaves were more specifically used as a diuretic. All parts of the dandelion are edible. The root was traditionally roasted and consumed as a beverage, while the leaves and flowers used in salads and other raw-vegetable preparations. Many health food stores now stock dandelion greens as they have become more popular. Also easy to find is dandelion tea which confers many of the same health benefits as eating the plant. The tea is particularly useful in aiding in digestion.
How can dandelion help my health?
Dandelion is a registered natural health product in Canada, where it is sold primarily for use as a diuretic. A pilot study found that dandelion leaf is indeed an effective diuretic. When dandelion greens are consumed as a food (for example, in salads, soups, stews or stir-fry), they are a very good source of vitamins A, C, B6, thiamin, riboflavin and folic acid. The roots are rich in inulin, a prebiotic that helps encourage the growth of healthy microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. There are however virtually no clinical trials evaluating the use of dandelion for any health condition, other than its diuretic effect.
Dandelion can be found as teas, capsules, powders, strips, tablets, chewables or extracts of the fresh or dried root. The fresh plant is sold in specialty stores and widely available for forage – if picked from lawns, make sure it has not been sprayed with herbicide.
Safety
Dandelion is one of the least problematic medicinal herbs, especially given the fact that it has long been consumed as a food. However, people with ragweed allergy should be cautious when using dandelion, as it may cause an allergic reaction. In addition, people with an infected or inflamed gallbladder or blocked bile ducts should not use dandelion.