The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
| A general view of the plant |
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| Common noun: Dandelion, Irish daisy, swine's snout, wild endive, blowball , etc. | ||
| Scientific noun: Taraxacum officinale Weber | ||
| Family : Daisy family - compositae. | ||
| Habitat: In cultivated lands, side of the paths and grasslands. The plant is starting to be cultivated as a vegetable. Rosettes of cultivated plants are much bigger than the wild species, since they can attain 50 cm wide. It seems that cultivated species differ in medicinal properties from those found in the wild. | ||
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| Characteristics: Perennial plant very variable up to 40 cm. Floral stems without leaves. Basal leaves in rosette, in many forms from undivided to triangular lobed divided; stalk generally winged . Yellow heads till 6 cm, with very long ligules and very conspicuous bracts, the external ones bent backwards. |
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| Active principles: In roots and aerial parts: essential oils, alkaloids , asparagine, taninns, vitamins B and C, inulin, choline, levulin, saccharore, taraxacin and taraxacerin, gluten, saponins, potash, gum. | ||
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| Properties: a) medicinal: Hepatic: It is a good stimulant for liver and gall bladder, being very useful in cases of hepatitis. (Decoction of 100 gr. of roots in 1/2 litre of water. Drink 3 cups a day) Diuretic : It is one of the plants that stimulates most the urine production, up to a point that one of his common nouns in Catalan is " pixallits " ( bed pisser ) So, it is very suitable when it is recommended to get rid of water - - dropsy and obesity- or when it is advised to eliminate blood toxins - cholesterol, uric acid, diabetes, etc., and help to expel kidney stones ( Infusion of dry leaves. Drink 3 cups a day. The same infusion can be made by mixing leaves with roots) |
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| Laxative: It is a good remedy
for constipation, since it is a soft laxative (5 gr. a day of fluid extract) Skin: Applied as a plaster, made with tender smashed leaves, helps us to heal skin affections, such as wounds or scars, even tumors. Varices and hemorrhoids: Being very rich in tanins, may be considered a good friend for skin. It also has relaxing properties for peripheral circulatory diseases ( Local baths with the plant decoction ) |
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| b ) Edible: Dandelion can be eaten as a fresh vegetable in salads, contributing to provide, besides vitamins, all the properties seen above, specially those referring to water elimination. It is worth adding that salads having this plant offer a pleasant bitter taste and it is very convenient to mix it with other similar wild herbs, like watercress, It is very nutritive to mix it up with other depurative plants, like onions, celeries or carrots. And excellent soup can be prepared with them all, very rich in vitamins and with a great depurative power. In herbalists' and shops dealing with dietetics you can buy dandelion juice , very ideal to undertake a spring cure. Coffee substitute : roots, previously roasted and ground, are a solution to replace coffee; good enough to do the change and without the disadvantages of the original drink. |
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 | Picking-up and storing: Spring is the best season to look for leaves that should be dried and stored in small sacks. Roots must be collected in Autumn or late Summer . They must be dried and kept in a dry close- fitting container.
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