Taraxacum officinale

Folk names

Void, kulbaba, cannons, milkman, tooth root

pharmacy name

dandelion roots

Used part

Root or whole plant

collection time

April May

Description.

A perennial herbaceous plant with a tap root up to 60 cm long. In the upper part of the root there is a short multi-headed rhizome. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, notched, narrowed towards the base, collected in a basal rosette. Peduncles hollow, juicy, leafless; at the top of the peduncle there is a single inflorescence-basket with a diameter of up to 2.5 cm. The flowers are reed, bright yellow. All parts of the plant contain a thick white milky sap. When harvesting, it is impossible to allow the admixture of the roots of other types of dandelion: red-fruited, late, Bessarabian, etc. This rarely happens, since the medicinal dandelion is unmistakably and easily determined.

Spreading

Dandelion officinalis is ubiquitous in Europe and Asia in all areas except the arctic and high mountains. Less common in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. Grows like a weed in meadows, along roadsides, in sals, parks, often forms continuous thickets.

Used part

For therapeutic purposes, roots, leaves, grass, dandelion juice are used. The plant contains vitamins C, A, B2, E, PP, choline, saponins, resins, bitter glycoside taraxacerin, salts of manganese, iron, calcium, phosphorus, protein. A significant amount of inulin was found in the roots. In autumn, the roots contain up to 18% sugars. Taraxasgerol, bstasitosterol, stigmasterol, asparagine, rubber, fatty oil, consisting of glycerides of oleic, lemon balm, palmitic, linoleic and ceratinic acids, mucus, tannins were found in dandelion roots.

Collection and preparation.

Dandelion roots are best harvested in early spring, in April-May. The plant is dug out of the ground, shaken off the ground, the root is split lengthwise and dried before drying until the milky juice stops flowing. Then the roots together with a leaf rosette are hung to dry in a well-ventilated place. In good weather, the roots dry out in 10-15 days. Can be tumble dried at 40-50°C. Drying is considered complete when the roots become brittle. Shelf life - 3 years.

Growing.

Grows in any soil except firebox, in the sun and in partial shade. Propagated by seeds or division of the bush.

Application.

Dandelion as a medicinal plant has been known since time immemorial and is now widely used in folk medicine in many countries. The plant has a choleretic, antipyretic, laxative, expectorant, sedative, antispasmodic and mild hypnotic effect. An aqueous infusion of dandelion roots and leaves improves digestion, appetite, general metabolism, enhances the secretion of milk in lactating women, and improves the overall tone of the body. Dandelion is recommended for diabetes, for the treatment of anemia. Dried dandelion root powder is used to enhance the excretion of harmful substances from the body with sweat and urine, as an anti-sclerotic agent, for gout, rheumatism, constipation, flatulence, and also as an antihelminthic. Fresh leaves and leaf juice are recommended for the treatment of atherosclerosis, skin diseases, beriberi C, anemia. Dandelion is also used internally and externally for furunculosis, eczema, and skin rashes. An oily tincture of dandelion roots is used as a remedy for burns, and the milky sap of the plant is applied topically to remove warts and calluses. In early spring, dandelion leaves are used to make salads. At the same time, the leaves are immersed for 30-40 minutes in a saline solution to reduce bitterness. In some countries, the leaves are harvested for the future, fermented like cabbage, pickled spring leaves. Jam is made from dandelion flowers, and a coffee surrogate is made from roasted roots.

Recipes

  • constipation prepare powder from dandelion roots. Take it 1/2 teaspoon with water 3 times a day 20-30 minutes before meals.
  • with diathesis, eczema brew dandelion grass at the rate of 50 g of dry raw materials per 1 liter of boiling water. Let stand in a warm place for 2-3 hours, strain, add to a bath of water. Bathe your baby in this infusion 2-3 times a week. Within 2-3 months.
  • decoction preparation: 3-4 teaspoons of crushed roots are poured into 2 cups of boiling water and boiled for 15 minutes, cooled and filtered. Take 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day.
  • infusion preparation: 1-2 teaspoons of chopped raw materials (roots or roots and grass) pour 1/4 liter of cold water, bring to a boil, boil for 1 minute. Strain after 10 minutes.
  • tincture preparation: dandelion inflorescences are crushed, poured with 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1: 1 by volume, insisted for 12 days, shaking occasionally. Then the tincture is filtered, and the residue is squeezed out.

Contraindications

Juice, infusion and decoction of dandelion in therapeutic doses do not give any side effects. Fresh stems can cause symptoms of poisoning.

Dandelion officinalis

Name: Dandelion officinalis.

Latin name: Taraxacum officinale Wigg.

Family: Asteraceae (Asteraceae)

Lifespan: Perennial.

Roots: The root is straight, thick, fleshy, with adnexal buds.

Trunk (stem): Flower stalks (arrows) are tubular, leafless, arachnoid at the top, 10-40 cm long, ending in single baskets.

Height: Up to 60 cm.

Leaves: Characteristic leaves form a basal rosette.

Flowers, inflorescences: The flowers are yellow, numerous, collected in an inflorescence - a basket at the ends of leafless peduncles.

flowering time: Blooms from May to autumn.

Fruit: The fruit is a gray-brown achene bearing a tuft of white soft hairs. The whole plant contains milky juice.

Features of collection, drying and storage: Roots are harvested in autumn or early spring, before the leaves grow back. The aerial part and lateral roots are cut off, washed thoroughly in cold water, cut, passed through a meat grinder and dried in a thin layer, stirring occasionally. Artificial drying of the roots is carried out at a temperature of 40-50°C. The yield of dry roots is 20%. Shelf life - 5 years.
The leaves and the aerial part are cleaned of impurities, fading leaves and dried in the shade. The yield of dry grass is 12-13%.

Spreading: In Russia, dandelion is found throughout the European part, including the Arctic, in the Caucasus, in Western and Eastern (Yenisei, Angara-Sayan and Daur regions) Siberia, in the Far East (except for the Okhotsk region). In Ukraine - throughout the territory.

habitats: Wherever you meet its golden flowers: on roadsides, on lawns, fields, gardens, among rocks, in meadows and forest edges. Especially likes to grow near housing.

Culinary use: Salads and seasonings for meat and fish dishes are made from young leaves in early spring, soups and cabbage soup are cooked, juice is prepared. Roasted roots are used as a substitute for coffee. To destroy the bitterness, the leaves are kept for some time in cold salted water, then boiled for 5-6 minutes. To use the leaves for food, cover the plant with an opaque material 2-3 days before collecting the leaves. The leaves will whiten, the bitterness will decrease. You can boil or mix chopped leaves with other herbs (spinach, watercress, sorrel). Salads are dressed to taste with vegetable oil. It is an excellent vitamin and medicinal supplement for meat, fish, eggs, beans, mushrooms, etc. Leaves can be fermented for future use like cabbage, and flower buds are pickled and consumed instead of capers. The flowers are used as an excellent addition to homemade wine. Unfortunately, the dandelion has an unpleasant property - to absorb lead from exhaust gases, which makes plants collected along highways unsuitable for nutrition.

Interesting Facts: Dandelion can serve as an accurate clock. In clear summer weather, the inflorescences open at six in the morning and close at three in the afternoon.

medicinal parts: Use the whole plant.


Useful content: The aerial part contains alcohols, vitamins C, A, B1, B2, iron, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, manganese, nicotinic acid, choline, carotene. Roots - a lot of inulin, rubber, alcohols, fatty oils, organic acids, sitosterol.

Actions: In scientific medicine, dandelion preparations are used as a means of increasing appetite and improving digestion.

The active ingredients of dandelion irritate the taste buds, causing a reflex release of gastric juice and secretions from other digestive glands. In addition, dandelion enhances bile formation, has diuretic, antispasmodic and laxative properties, and therefore is used for cholecystitis, hepatocholecystitis, anacid gastritis, complicated by the pathology of the hepatobiliary system and chronic constipation.

dandelion roots medicinal are part of appetizing, choleretic and diuretic fees. Herbal preparations of dandelion are effective in the prevention of general atherosclerosis. Both separately and in mixtures with blueberry leaves, dioica nettle and pods (pods) of common beans, dandelion is prescribed for diabetes mellitus (in the initial stages).


In dermatology and cosmetology root infusion it is recommended to use it internally for acne, boils and drug-induced dermatitis, as well as an external remedy for removing freckles.

In folk medicine, in addition to all the above cases, roots and grass Dandelion officinalis is used as an expectorant for lung diseases, as a sedative and hypnotic, for dropsy, diseases of the spleen,


As soon as the sun warms the earth, golden-yellow dandelions bloom here and there, like little solar brothers.

There are a lot of legends about dandelions. One of them says that somehow the goddess descended from the sky to choose her favorite flower. She wanted the flower to grow everywhere and not require constant care.

At first, the gaze of the goddess fell on the rose, but she wanted to live in a luxurious garden, and to be cherished every day by at least a dozen gardeners. Tulip also demanded care and admiration. Even the violet said that she cannot live without attention and love. The goddess went from flower to flower and heard similar answers.

And only, which at first she did not even notice, said that he was ready to live wherever there are children, because their noisy games and laughter are akin to his sparkling character. The goddess was delighted and exclaimed: “Here is my favorite flower!” and settled the dandelion all over the planet. Now it grows in clearings, squares, parks, yards and roadsides, rejoicing at the laughter of children and bringing people joy from spring to autumn.

Common dandelion - Taraxacum officinale Wigg - perennial herbaceous plant from the Compositae family, all parts of which contain milky juice. Many scientists claim that dandelion is one of the most common plants on earth, which adapts to any conditions. The plant received the Russian name "dandelion" for its parachutes, which are easily blown away by the wind. It is believed that the word "dandelion" of Moscow origin, from the verb to blow.

The Latin name, most likely, comes from the Greek word "taraxis" - an eye disease and "akeomai" - I heal, and "officinalis" is translated into Russian as a pharmacy, medicinal. For the first time, the Latin generic name is mentioned in the works of the 16th century scientists Fuchs and Gesner.

Popular names of Dandelion officinalis: kulbaba, euphorbia, oil flower, cow flower, milking plant, March bush, guns, milky color, wasteland, light, air flower, powder puff, milkman, milker, bald patch, tooth root, toad, cotton grass.

The dandelion has a taproot, a fleshy root. Plant height from 5 to 50 cm. Flower arrows are hollow. Dandelion leaves are numerous with deep cuts along the edges, from 5 to 25 cm long, collected in a basal rosette. Inflorescence solitary - golden yellow basket, up to 5-6 cm in diameter.

Dandelion blooms in May - July. It often blooms again in autumn. The fruits are gray or light brown achenes with a long nose and a fluffy tuft. In one flower, there are up to 200 achenes, all of them are mounted on a long stem and resemble a parachute.

Dandelion officinalis grows throughout Russia. It grows along roads, near dwellings, on fallow lands, wastelands, meadows, forest edges, on grassy slopes, in vegetable gardens, parks and gardens. The more fertile the soil and the more moisture, the more luxurious and taller the plant. In some places, dandelions form thickets.

The plant has been known since ancient times. It was used by doctors of antiquity. Theophrastus called dandelion. The dandelion is also mentioned in the book on herbalism compiled in 659 "Xin xiu ben cao". In Britain, the dandelion was first mentioned in the books of Celtic healers of the 13th century. The plant is described in detail in the herbalists of the Middle Ages. In the XII - XIV centuries, dandelion was considered primarily a diuretic herb.

Dandelion leaves contain: vitamins B, A, C, lutein, triterpene alcohols, trace elements - boron, iron, calcium, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, copper, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, phosphorus. The roots found: vitamins B2, C, A, P, triterpene compounds, inulin, fatty oil, rubber, protein, sugars, malic acid, iron, calcium, phosphorus.

In the old days in Rus', dandelion was considered a remedy for insomnia. It was also used for poor digestion, high blood pressure, to cleanse the lungs and blood, for jaundice, diseases of the liver, kidneys, constipation, obesity, diabetes. Milky juice was smeared with bee stings to relieve swelling and pain.

Dandelion roots and leaves have antipyretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, choleretic, diuretic, sedative, laxative, antihelminthic, anti-allergic, anti-sclerotic effects, stimulate appetite. Dandelion tea was drunk to improve skin condition.

Dandelion roots are dug up in the autumn when the foliage wilts. First, dry in a well-ventilated place, then in dryers. Flowers are harvested in spring. Store raw materials for 5 years.

A hot infusion of dandelion roots and leaves is prescribed by folk healers for furunculosis, skin rashes,. Fresh juice removes warts and calluses.

Dandelion infusion. 1 st. pour a spoonful of crushed dry roots with 1 cup of boiling water, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes over low heat, leave for 7-8 hours. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3-4 times a day before meals.

Decoction. 1 st. pour a spoonful of dry roots with 1 cup of boiling water, boil over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, strain. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day half an hour before meals.

Dandelion tea. Pour 1 dessert spoon of fresh or dried leaves with 2 cups of cold water, bring to a boil and simmer for 2-4 minutes. Insist 10 minutes. Strain. Drink like regular tea.

Dandelion juice is taken for inflammation of the stomach with low acidity, for chronic constipation and as a choleretic agent. In lactating mothers, it increases the production of milk.

To prevent atherosclerosis, dry roots are ground in a meat grinder and chewed 1 teaspoon 3 times a day, eating honey.

The drug Taraxacum prescribed for gastric diseases, diseases of the kidneys, liver, weakness, headache.

In cosmetics, dandelion juice is used to smear acne and freckles.

In many countries of the world, dandelion is considered a salad plant and is grown in garden beds. In French restaurants, dandelion dishes are served as a strong erotic delicacy. Young leaves are put in salads in early spring, seasonings are made from them for meat and fish dishes, soups and cabbage soup are cooked, tea is brewed and juice is prepared. To destroy the bitterness, the leaves are kept for half an hour in cold salted water, and then boiled for 5-6 minutes. In some countries they are fermented for the winter, like cabbage, flower buds are pickled. Dandelion honey is made from the flowers. The roasted roots are used to make a coffee substitute.

Dandelion leaf salad

Rinse young May leaves, hold in salted water, chop, salt, pepper, season with vegetable oil with vinegar or lemon juice.

Once upon a time, at the court of ancient Chinese emperors, court healers prepared an erotic elixir from dandelions, capable of maintaining the male power of rulers until old age.

In Rus', dandelions were considered for children, they were laid out around cribs from the evil eye and placed under the mattress so that the child would not cry.

And a wreath of dandelions on a girl's head has the ability to attract the betrothed.

Dandelion(Taraxacum) is a perennial plant of the Compositae family, contains milky juice. It is noticeable from afar with its yellow flowers. In spring, these bright yellow flowers can be found everywhere - along roads and along river banks, in wastelands and in vegetable gardens.

Description

The fruit of the dandelion is an achene, with a tuft and nose, consisting of many white hairs. About 200 species of dandelion grow in Russia. But the most famous is the medicinal dandelion, which grows along the edges of the forest, river banks, meadows and gardens. It is considered a weed, and an uncompromising struggle is waged against it. The leaves of this plant contain choline, carotene, nicotinic acid, vitamin C, B2, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus. The young leaves are eaten. They make salads. To do this, they are pre-soaked in salt water to destroy bitterness. Roasted roots can serve as a coffee substitute, they are also used to improve appetite. This herb is used for atherosclerosis, various edema, liver diseases, gallstones and kidney stones, gastritis with low acidity, and joint diseases.

Dandelion juice

The most valuable tonic and tonic is dandelion juice. It is used to normalize and neutralize the superacidity of the alkaline composition of the body. When mixed with carrot juice and turnip juice, it helps with diseases of the spine and other diseases of the bones. Strengthens teeth, treats periodontal disease. You can drink dandelion juice daily for ¼-1 glass in rice or oatmeal broth, with 1 tbsp. l. honey.

dandelion roots

Dandelion roots are a valuable medicinal raw material. They need to be harvested in early spring, at the flowering stage of the plant, or in autumn in October. They usually dig with a shovel. The roots need to be shaken off the ground, cut off the aerial parts with a knife. Rinse the lateral thin roots in cold water. Chop large ones. Then lay it out on fabrics and air-dry for several days until the milky juice stops being released. Then spread out in a layer of 3-5cm. and dry in a dry place, stirring constantly. To dry the roots, ovens or dryers can be used. Shelf life of raw materials is 5 years. It tastes bittersweet.

Application

Dandelion contains bitterness. Therefore, it is used to improve digestion and stimulate appetite.

This herb is used to treat various ailments. For medicinal qualities, it is called Russian ginseng. All parts of the plant are used - leaves, roots and flowers. For medicinal purposes, raw materials are harvested in May, and juice - in June, roots - in the fall. The plant has beneficial properties. It is used as an anti-tuberculosis, anti-viral, anthelmintic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic agent. Dandelion is known as a good antipyretic, choleretic, laxative. This plant perfectly removes poisons and toxins from the body, helps regulate metabolism. It helps to cleanse the body of excess drugs. Dandelion contains bitterness, which regulates appetite, metabolism and improves digestion. Dandelion bitterness helps fight obesitybecause thanks to it, fats are broken down in the body.

The plant is used to treat complex diseases such as gout and rheumatism. It significantly improves the patient's condition. A solar flower is used as a stimulant in case of loss of strength, overwork and chronic fatigue, nervous overexcitation.

Use in traditional medicine

Dandelion is a part of many fees and various preparations. From it you can prepare coffee, infusions, tea, jam, wine.

From hemorrhoids

Pour a glass of cold water 2 tsp. dandelion root, insist 8 hours, drink a quarter cup 4 times a day.

From hepatitis

1 tsp dandelion herb root pour 1 tbsp. cold water. Put on a small fire and cook for an hour. Take half an hour before meals for 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.

Treatment of atherosclerosis

Grind dandelion roots and drink 5 g of powder before each meal. Improvement will come in 6 months.

From sciatica

Finely chop the dandelion flowers and fill them in a dark glass jar. Pour two bottles of triple cologne (or alcohol, vodka). Insist 14 days. Rub the sore spots with the resulting slurry. Procedures to carry out at night. Cover the affected area with a scarf. Relief occurs after 2-3 procedures.

Arthritis treatment

6 g of dry dandelion roots pour 1 tbsp of water, boil for 10 minutes, then leave for 30 minutes. Drink 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day for 30 min. before meals.

Treatment of a tumor in the breast

Grind fresh dandelion roots and apply to the sore chest. Promotes resorption of the tumor, hardening under the armpits and in the groin.

Treatment of gastritis with low acidity

Rinse the leaves of the plant for 20-30 minutes, soak in salt water, rinse, then scald with boiling water, pass through a meat grinder and squeeze out the juice. Dilute with water 1:1 and boil for 2-3 minutes. Take 2 times a day for 1/4 cup for 20 minutes. before meals.

Contraindications

It is not recommended to take dandelion in acute conditions associated with blockage of the biliary tract. You need to be careful for those who have increased secretion of hydrochloric acid, gastritis and ulcers. Be sure to follow the dosage. Otherwise, you can cause diarrhea and vomiting. At the same time, dandelion is a proven remedy, it is used both as a medicinal and food remedy.

Links

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This is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Astrov family, widely distributed in the CIS countries. Its name in Latin is Taraxacum- presumably goes back to the Arabic loanword " tarukhshakun" ("dandelion"). It is also popularly called milkweed, bald patch, cow flower, Jewish hat, puff, milk trough, parachutes. In Russian speech, the name of a flower is associated with the verbs " blow», « blow". It is noteworthy that in a number of European languages, representatives of the Romano-Germanic group, "dandelion" is translated literally as " lion's tooth»: Lowenzahn(German), dandelion(English), diente de leon(Spanish), dente de lego(Portuguese), dente di leone(Italian).

Dandelion species

The dandelion genus includes more than 2000 species, of which about 70 varieties are the most known and studied.

  1. 1 common dandelion(field, pharmacy, medicinal) - the most famous and common type. It grows in the forest-steppe zone (meadows, glades, near roads and near housing). Distributed in the European part of Russia, in Belarus, in the Caucasus, Ukraine, in Central Asia.
  2. 2 Dandelion white-tongued- This species is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Growth area - Kola Peninsula. A distinctive feature is the white petals of flowers along the edge of the inflorescence and yellow - in its middle.
  3. 3 Dandelion whitish- grows in the Kamchatka Territory. This Far Eastern species has justified itself as a popular and unpretentious decorative flower.
  4. 4 Dandelion autumn- distributed on the Crimean peninsula, the Balkans, in southern European countries. In the past, this species was heavily used in the rubber industry and the coffee industry.
  5. 5 Dandelion flat leaf- found in Japan, China, Korea, in the Russian Federation - in the Primorsky Territory.

The height of the dandelion ranges from 10 to 50 cm. The leaves are formed into a rosette, with cut, coarsely serrated edges. Sun-colored flowers form an inflorescence basket. The root system is pivotal, long, strong roots reach a length of up to 20 cm. The stem is hollow, smooth. The fruit is an achene with a fluffy fly.

This plant can be found almost everywhere: on roadsides, in squares or parks, in fields and meadows, in forests, in wastelands.

Conditions for growing dandelion

The best way to propagate a plant is by seed. Seeds should be planted with inter-bed distances of 25 to 30 cm. Dandelion care is simple and involves plowing the soil three times and weeding during the growing season.

The flowering period of dandelion begins in mid-spring and ends in late autumn.

The collection of used parts of the plant includes harvesting leaves and roots. The roots are harvested before the start of the flowering period, or in late autumn. dandelion leaf it is better to store at the beginning of flowering. The roots are dug up, cleaned with cool water, dried for several days under fresh air, and dried in a dark, dry room, in a dryer at a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees. Properly harvested dandelion roots do not lose their healing properties for more than 4 years.

When collecting dandelions, it is important to remember that it is strongly not recommended to pluck plants near the roadway, roads or within the city, since dandelions easily absorb and accumulate lead and other carcinogens.

Dried up dandelion roots brown or dark brown, wrinkled, oblong, often twisted in a spiral. On the cut, white, or grayish-white with a brownish core, odorless. When bent, they should break easily, with a crack, their taste is bitter, with a sweet aftertaste. At the output, 33-35% of the root is obtained from the mass of the prepared raw material.

Power circuit

Dandelion seeds serve as food for small birds, willingly eat the plant of pigs and goats. Dandelion is also a valuable food for rabbits.

Useful properties of dandelion

Chemical composition and presence of nutrients

100 grams of raw dandelion greens contains:
Main substances: G Minerals: mg Vitamins: mg
Water 85,6 Potassium 397 Vitamin C 35,0
Squirrels 2,7 Calcium 187 Vitamin E 3,44
Fats 0,7 Sodium 76 Vitamin PP 0,806
Carbohydrates 9,2 Phosphorus 66 Vitamin K 0,7784
Alimentary fiber 3,5 Magnesium 36 Vitamin A 0,508
Iron 3,1 Vitamin B2 0,260
calories 45 kcal Selenium 0,5 Vitamin B6 0,251
Zinc 0,41 Vitamin B1 0,190
Manganese 0,34 Vitamin B9 0,027
Copper 0,17
100 grams of boiled without salt and drained dandelion contains:
Main substances: G Minerals: mg Vitamins: mg
Water 89,8 Potassium 232 Vitamin C 18,0
Squirrels 2 Calcium 140 Vitamin E 2,44
Fats 0,6 Sodium 44 Vitamin K 0,551
Carbohydrates 6,4 Phosphorus 42 Vitamin PP 0,514
Alimentary fiber 2,9 Magnesium 24 Vitamin A 0,342
Iron 1,8 Vitamin B2 0,175
calories 33 kcal Zinc 0,28 Vitamin B6 0,160
Vitamin B1 0,130
Vitamin B9 0,013

dandelion flowers contain carotenoids (bitter taraxanthin, lutein, flavonxanthiin), volatile oils, triterpene alcohols (arnidol, faradiol), inulin, tannins, mucus, rubber, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, mineral salts.

Dandelion root contains about 25% inulin, triterpene compounds (amirin, taraxerol), tannins and resins, mineral salts (a lot of potassium), inositol, steroids, mucus, choline, vitamins A, B1, C, D, fats, 3% rubber, a small amount of volatile oils and flavonoids, organic acids.

What exactly is used and in what form?

  • dried dandelion roots are part of a variety of herbal teas, they are used to prepare healing decoctions and tinctures, and roasted roots are used in the preparation of dandelion coffee.
  • green dandelion leaf It is recommended to soak in salted water before use to eliminate the taste of bitterness.
  • fresh dandelion flowers pickled, used to make tinctures and lotions.
  • milky dandelion juice used externally as an effective cosmetic product.

Medicinal properties of dandelion

Since ancient times, dandelion has been used as a means of reviving the human body. It contributes to the good functioning of the digestive tract, activates the excretory function of the stomach, increases appetite, has a positive effect on metabolism, for example, eliminates the manifestations of high blood sugar, reduces sexual dysfunction. Different parts of the plant are used in the treatment of cough, constipation, bile stasis, to get rid of helminths. Dandelion improves the tone of the human body, its immune capabilities.

The use of dandelion covers the fields of both official and alternative medicine, in particular herbal medicine. Written evidence of the use of dandelion for medicinal purposes geographically correlates this useful plant with Asia, Europe and North America. Dandelion root was originally regarded as a gastrointestinal remedy to improve digestion and maintain liver function, and the leaves of the plant were used to achieve a diuretic effect. It has been proven that preparations based on dandelion root cleanse the blood of excess cholesterol, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and help with sleep disorders.

Specially prepared dandelion juice It has a stimulating effect on the liver, while being a general tonic. Dandelion juice is effective for stones and sand in the gallbladder.

Dandelion Root Powder well heals skin injuries: wounds, deep abrasions, burnt places, bedsores. A drink from the roots will be appreciated by diabetics: dandelion root powder is useful for high sugar.

Optometrists recommend consuming at least 12 mg of combined lutein and zeaxanthin daily to reduce the risk of developing cataracts and age-related visual impairment. Dandelions contain both of these nutrients.

fresh dandelion leaves popular in cooking. dandelion flowers occupied their niche in winemaking: the famous dandelion wine and dandelion jam are made from them. Decoction of dandelion roots prescribed for liver damage, and as a diuretic.

Peter Gale, author of " Health benefits of dandelions"I saw in this plant almost a panacea. According to his beliefs, if you are looking for a wonderful medicine that, as part of your daily diet (in the form of food or drink), depending on the characteristics of your body, can: prevent or cure hepatitis or jaundice, act as a mild diuretic, cleanse your body of toxins and toxins , dissolve kidney stones, stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, improve skin condition and bowel function, lower blood pressure, relieve you of anemia, lower blood cholesterol, reduce dyspepsia, prevent or cure various forms of cancer, regulate blood sugar and help diabetics, and at the same time not have any side effects and selectively affect only what bothers you…. then dandelion is for you» .

The range of medicinal properties of dandelion is so wide that one can safely secure the status of one of the most famous healers in the world for this plant.

In Costa Rica, dandelions are sold as a drugstore remedy for diabetes.

Two different types of dandelions are used in Guatemala. narrow-leaved variety called diente de leon, is used as a tonic to improve overall health, while another variety, called amargon, is used in cooking as lettuce leaves, and in medicine it is used in the complex treatment of anemia.

In Brazil, dandelion is a popular remedy for liver problems, scurvy, and urinary tract infections.

The use of dandelion in official medicine

Pharmaceutical names from dandelion available to the consumer: Taraxacum (Radix) roots, cut, packaged in 100 gram packages; condensed extract from the plant Taraxacum (Extractum spissum). Dandelion extract is used in the manufacture of pills.

The healing ability of the active ingredients of dandelion, associated with the restoration of cartilage tissue, has been successfully embodied by specialists in the preparation "Anavita +". Tablets are dietary supplements, their action has a beneficial effect on the joints, their mobility and structure.

The use of dandelion in traditional medicine

  • Decoction of dandelion roots: a tablespoon of finely chopped root is added to 2 glasses of water, boiled over low heat for 10 minutes, insisted for 2 hours. They drink 0.5 cups several times a day for liver diseases with insufficient bile secretion, as a diuretic for kidney failure with edema, mild forms of diabetes mellitus, and also for liver damage caused by large doses of antibiotics and synthetic drugs. The decoction does not induce enzymes in the liver, so it can be taken for a long time. When mixed with other plants, it has an antiviral effect, mobilizes the body's defenses, and increases appetite.
  • Dandelion flower tea: a tablespoon of inflorescences is brewed with a glass of boiling water. Drink 2-3 times a day for 0.5 cups.
  • Dandelion Root Potion: squeeze 100 gr. liquid from chopped roots. Combine the juice with alcohol, glycerin and the water component (take 15 grams in total). Strained mixture take 1-2 tablespoons per day. Such a mixture cleanses the blood, acts as a tonic, diuretic, and is used in the complex treatment of gout, with jaundice, and inflammation of the skin.
  • Dandelion Leaf Infusion to Increase Appetite: pour one tablespoon of chopped fresh leaves with 2 cups of boiled water, leave warm for 12 hours. Take 3 times a day for half an hour before meals.
  • Dandelion Root Infusion for Eczema: pour two tablespoons of dandelion and burdock roots joined in equal parts for 12 hours with cold water, boil, let it brew and consume half a cup 3 times a day.
  • Dandelion root salad useful for malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, with male sexual dysfunction and disorders of the female reproductive system.
  • Dandelion juice treat rheumatism. Grind one part of dandelion flowers with one part of sugar. Let it brew for a week. Squeeze out the juice and store in the refrigerator. Drink one teaspoon before meals.
  • Dandelion for lowering cholesterol: insist one small root in a glass of water for 3 days. Drink in parts, up to 400 ml. in a day.
  • With hepatitis a mixture of lettuce leaves with the addition of dandelion is useful.

  • External use of dandelion: wash your face with a decoction of dandelion roots to get rid of freckles. Prepare a decoction as follows: pour 2 tablespoons of crushed roots with boiling water (300 ml), boil for 15 minutes, then cool.
  • Dandelion to improve eyesight. Take dandelion roots, ordinary onion and honey in proportions of 3:2:4. Mix dandelion root juice, onion juice and fresh honey. Infuse for a couple of hours in a dark place. The mass is applied with lotions on the eyelids in case of deterioration of vision and prevention of the development of cataracts.
  • Dandelion as a remedy for cellulite: rub into the skin an infusion of dandelion leaves and nettle, taken in equal proportions.
  • Dandelion as a cure for herpes: mix a tablespoon of grated dandelion roots with 200 ml of water. Boil for 5 minutes. Consume shortly before meals.
  • Dandelion for dermatitis: apply directly to the damaged skin two or three leaves of the plant in the form of poultices, several times a day.

The use of dandelion in oriental medicine

The Chinese used dandelions over a thousand years ago as a diuretic, hypoglycemic, antispasmodic, anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal agent. In China, the plant has been used for conditions such as abscesses, appendicitis, boils, caries, dermatitis, fevers, inflammation, liver disease, mastitis, scrofula, abdominal pain, and even snake bites.

In Central Asian countries, juice from young dandelion leaves is used to treat anemia, with general exhaustion of the body, as a means of increasing intestinal motility, with pain in the thoracic region. The juice squeezed from the roots is used to treat warts.

Dandelion in scientific research

Various dandelion species have been used in official Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for over 2000 years. Therefore, modern medical research is especially relevant, creating a scientific basis for unlocking the medicinal potential of dandelion.

S. Clymer characterizes the plant as follows: “ Dandelion is indispensable for the productive activity of the liver and gallbladder. It stimulates the functions of these organs, eliminates the stagnation of bile. It is also good for the spleen. It is important to choose exclusively green and fresh herbs intended for potion or tincture.» .

Diuretic (diuretic) effect of dandelion leaf extract medicinal is described in scientific articles by B. Clare, R. Conroy and K. Spelman.

Alternative medicine is investigating the possible use of dandelion root extract in the treatment of melanoma. Foreign researchers (S. Scutti) see dandelion as a natural remedy in the fight against skin cancer, pointing to a powerful source of triterpenes and steroids, which are dandelion roots. What supports the statement " Dandelion against cancer"? Dandelion is rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, luteolin, which reduce the amount of free radicals (the main causative agents of cancer), thereby reducing the risk of its occurrence. Dandelion removes toxins from the body, which prevents the further formation of tumors and the development of various types of cancer.

Luteolin actually poisons the main components of cancer cells by binding to them, rendering them ineffective and unable to reproduce. This feature has been demonstrated most prominently in prostate cancer, although other studies are currently underway.

In domestic science, the chemical components of the vegetative system of dandelion officinalis were analyzed by Evstafyev S. N., Tiguntseva N. P. Scientists studied the biological activity of the constituent substances of dandelion, including essential oils, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, etc.

The healing properties of dandelion are devoted to a monographic study by Brigitte Mars " Dandelion Medicine: Remedies and Recipes to Detoxify, Nourish, Stimulate» (« Dandelion in medicine: remedies and recipes for cleansing, fortification and regeneration"). The author points to the underestimated potential of the herb, calling it one of the safest and most effective remedies known to modern medicine.

The use of dandelion in cooking and nutrition


The most popular recipe based on dandelions is dandelion wine. Such popularity is associated with the work of the world famous science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. His novel " Dandelion wine"Glorified not only the writer himself, but also the eponymous wine-making masterpiece. Dandelion wine recipe pretty simple. To make wine from dandelions, you will need: petals of fully bloomed dandelions (in an amount equal to filling a 4.5 liter container). Other ingredients: water - 4.5 liters, sugar - one and a half kilograms, zest and juice of four lemons, 500 grams of raisins, crushed and pounded in a mortar (or 200 ml of concentrated white grape juice), one bag of wine yeast and one bag of used in winemaking nutritional supplement for wine yeast (sachets of 10 gr., respectively).

Boil water and pour over petals. Leave the covered container with the petals for a couple of days, stirring occasionally. After two days, pour the infused dandelions into a large saucepan, add the lemon zest, bring to a boil and stir in the sugar until completely dissolved. Boil for 5 more minutes. Remove from the stove, pour in lemon juice, combine the mass with grated raisins or concentrated grape juice.

Pour the boiled dandelion mass into a carefully sterilized fermentation tank. Cool, add wine yeast, nutritional supplement and cover. Let it ferment for three to four days, then pour into a glass bottle using a sterilized sieve and watering can. Insist for two months. After that, you can safely enjoy the wine, poetically named Sir Bradbury " corked summer in a bottle» .

Dandelion coffee: Wash and clean the roots, dry them and spread them on a baking sheet. Fry the roots at low temperature until they darken and become brittle. Grind the roots in a blender. Brew one teaspoon in a glass of water and boil for about 3 minutes. Strain, add cream, milk, sugar to taste. Store dandelion coffee in a tightly closed jar.

Dandelion jam: you need enough flowers to fill a 1-liter container, 2 liters of water, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 10 gr. fruit pectin powder, 5 cups sugar. Separate the flowers from the stem and sepals, rinse thoroughly. Pour the flower mass with water, boil for 3 minutes. Cool and squeeze. From the resulting liquid, measure 3 cups, add lemon juice and pectin. Bring the mixture to a boil, add sugar, stir. Boil over low heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Cool and pour into jars.

Dandelion for weight loss: Dandelions, being diuretic in nature, promote frequent urination and thus help to remove excess water from the body without causing any side effects. Plus, dandelions are low in calories, as are most leafy greens. Dandelions are sometimes used as sweeteners, adding to their nutritional value.


The use of dandelion in cosmetology

In cosmetology, dandelion flowers are widely popular. They heal skin formations, remove age spots. It helps get rid of freckles. Dandelion is an ingredient in acne lotion. Bitter milk juice is used to treat bee stings and blisters. On the basis of dandelion, multifunctional cosmetic masks (anti-aging, nourishing, whitening) are created. Dandelion is an ingredient in a variety of organic massage oils.

Other uses of dandelion (industry)

In industry, dandelion is valued for its root, which is a natural source of rubber. The rubber industry, built on the cultivation of dandelions, is under development; It is important that dandelion rubber, unlike other types, is not dangerous for allergy sufferers.

Unconventional Ways to Use Dandelion

A simple dandelion flower has nothing to do with the complex mechanisms of a clock or a barometer, but this plant can accurately tell the time and predict changes in the weather.

Dandelion blossoms open at exactly 6 o'clock and close at 10 o'clock. This feature of the plant was used by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, when creating the so-called flower clock.

The dandelion also has barometric properties: at the first peals of thunder and an approaching thunderstorm, its flowers close.

If you put dandelion leaves and flowers in a paper bag with unripe fruit, the plant will begin to release ethylene gas and ensure that the fruits ripen quickly.

A dark red dye is produced from the dandelion root.


Delicate and weightless dandelion was honored to be sung not only in reference books of medicinal plants. One of the most "loud" voices of the Silver Age, Konstantin Balmont dedicated an elegant poem "Dandelion".

The painters also did not escape the spell of the golden flower: Claude Monet, Isaac Levitan captured the elusive beauty of this representative of the flora on their canvases.

Fascinating dandelion symbolism: this is the only flower that embodies the three heavenly bodies (sun, moon and stars). The yellow flower symbolizes the sun, the fluffy and silvery soft ball symbolizes the moon, the scattered seeds symbolize the stars.

Dangerous properties of dandelion and contraindications

Medications that may interact with dandelion:

  • Antacids (anti-acid) agents. Dandelion promotes a more intense secretion of stomach acids, so antacids may be useless.
  • Blood thinners. The concomitant use of such agents (eg, aspirin) and dandelion preparations may be associated with a risk of bleeding.
  • Diuretics. Dandelion is able to act as a diuretic, so the simultaneous use of this plant and drugs with a diuretic effect is not recommended in order to avoid electrolytic imbalance in the body.
  • Lithium, which is used in the treatment of bipolar disorders (psychosis). Studies have shown that dandelion can reduce the effects of lithium.
  • Ciprofloxacin. One type of dandelion Dandelion Chinese, prevents the complete absorption of the named antibiotic.
  • Preparations for diabetics. Their combination with dandelion, which lowers blood sugar levels, can lead to a critical indicator and hypoglycemia.
  • Dandelion Milk Juice is known to cause itching, irritation, or allergic reactions to the skin. Finally, there is a rare type of fiber in dandelions called inulin, and some people have predisposed sensitivities or allergies to this element, which can become a serious problem.

Be careful when adding dandelion greens to your diet, start with small doses and carefully monitor your body's response.

If you strictly adhere to the indicated therapeutic doses for drinking dandelion juice and tea, no side effects threaten a person.