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What is it?

The leaves and roots of Dandelion, which everyone knows. Surely Dandelion is the most maligned of herbs, cursed the world over by proud lawn-owners for its tenacious invasion. Many of those same people doing the cursing labouring under that excess weight and liver congestion that the thing they are trying to kill could do more to help than anything else in their medicine cabinets!

How has it been used?

Not surprisingly, Dandelion has been highly regarded everywhere in the world where people have used herbs as medicines. Dandelion root and its greens (the whole plant is medicinal) were used as tonics and liver medicines in European folk medicine from at least the time of the ancient Greeks.

In the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda, Dandelion is used to treat various liver disorders such as jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver and enlargement of the liver.

Traditional Chinese medicine records Dandelion in use for at least 5 thousand years for a variety of conditions including diabetes, cancers, infections, fevers, snakebites and, of course, liver and digestive disorders.

Native American Indians used Dandelion for treating digestive and kidney disorders and for skin problems such as eczema and hives.

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Personal experiences

I find that using some Dandelion in the formula helps everything else to work better.

My first herbal teacher, Dennis Stewart was fond of saying
“Dandelion rinses the renal filter and squeezes the hepatic sponge”
(renal means the kidneys and hepatic means the liver)

Few adult people in the modern world do not benefit from some kidney rinsing, and some liver flushing.

One of the first books I ever read on herbal medicine was by an old English herbalist. He spoke about his experiences working in poor rural Britain in the early 20th century and how he would go to some very squalid homes with children who were failing to thrive and show the mothers how to dig up and prepare a daily dose of dandelion extract from the plants that were growing right outside their back door. These people had no money for medicine but what they needed was right there, and it was free. The stories of how those children would regain their energy and sparkle by the time he revisited were compelling and obviously written by an honest man with nothing to gain by exaggeration.

Dandelion roots is very effective in decoction or as a tincture. Only small amounts are necessary to achieve all the benefits so long as it is kept up for long enough. Dandelion leaf needs to be given in high doses (at least 8 grams a day) to achieve a diuretic effect and so it best taken in a tea. Dandelion combines perfectly with Burdock for deep body cleansing. It works with Golden Seal for a congested liver and for infants or children a small amount of Licorice root softens its bitterness and helps it to be absorbed.

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Excerpt from Felter & Lloyd's Kings Dispensatory from 1898

Dandelion root is a stomachic and tonic with slightly diuretic and aperient actions. It has long been known to exert an influence upon the biliary organs, removing torpor and engorgement of the liver as well as of the spleen. It is also beneficial in dropsies, owing to want of action of the abdominal organs, in uterine obstructions, chronic diseases of the skin, and impairment of the digestive functions, it is a slow, but efficient agent when properly prepared for use.

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