Dandelion

Dandelion, although sadly becoming a target of weed killing chemicals in recent times, has been cultivated in countries such as France, and wild harvested in many countries in Europe. The leaves were both considered a food and a digestive aid, and the root was roasted and used as a coffee substitute. The French term for dandelion, pissenlit, translates to ‘pee the bed’, indicating its diuretic properties (De la Foret, 2017). Dandelion is an important pollen source for insects during gap times, or when it’s too windy to get to rich pollen sources that trees can provide. It also holds significant cultural value with its seed orb a source of delight for children, and the symbolism of sun, moon and stars that straddle its flower, seed head, and seed formations.

Nutrition

Dandelion is rich in vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and B, inositol, lecithin, and minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, silicon, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese. It is one of the richest sources of beta-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A, containing 11,000 µg/100 g leaves (Wirngo et al., 2016).

Antioxidant activity

Oxidative stress is known to damage cells and is associated with degenerative processes. It occurs when there is an excess of free radicals in the body compared to antioxidant levels.

Dandelion flower, leaf, and root extracts have been found to exert antioxidant, free radical scavenging activity (Wirngo et al., 2106).

Digestive system

The bitterness of dandelion leaf stimulates saliva and other gastric secretions, and it has been traditionally harvested in spring to help break up stagnation from the heavier, starchier foods of winter.

Nearly half of the content of dandelion root is made of inulin, a complex carbohydrate that stimulates good gut bacteria to grow, improving gut health (Wirngo et al., 2016). Inulin also has fibre, which slows digestion, improving nutrient and promoting feeling of fullness, and it reduces cholesterol absorption (Healthline, n.d.).

Urinary system

The urinary system is one of the body’s cleansing processes that occurs via the kidneys filtering blood and removing waste through urine. So herbs and foods that promote urination - diuretics - are often supportive of this cleansing process, and dandelion leaf is one such food/herb.

A study by Clare et al. (2009) showed that this plant ethanolic leaves extract increases urinary frequency and fluid excretion in healthy individuals. Two other studies showed a positive effect of Taraxacum officinale extract on the treatment and prevention of kidney diseases, such as kidney stones (Ghale-Salimi et al., 2018, Karakuş et al., 2017).

Diuretics are often used as a component of high blood pressure or heart disease treatment. With high blood pressure, release of fluid eases up pressure in blood vessels. With heart failure, the weakened heart may pump blood less vigorously, leading the kidneys to sense reduced fluid and respond by retaining fluid. Diuretics are used to reverse this and release fluid (Heart Matters, n.d.). Compared to pharmaceutical diuretics that are often associated with potassium depletion, dandelion adds potassium to the body (Engels and Brinckmann, 2016).

Liver health

The liver plays an important role in many aspects of health such as hormonal balance, fat digestion, and the processing of metabolic wastes naturally generated by the body, as well as toxins the body accumulates that originate outside of the body. Therefore, dandelion’s impact on liver health can indirectly impact other aspects of health, or imbalances impeding good health.

One study found that dandelion root water extract protected against alcohol-induced liver damage in cell lines and in an animal model (Mahboubi and Mahboubi, 2020). Another study found that daily oral daily administration of dandelion leaf hot water extract (500 mg/kg) for 30 days decreased the total cholesterol, triglycerides, and several other markers of liver damage in the blood and liver. Dandelion’s antioxidant action protects the liver against oxidative stress that can damage it (Mahboubi and Mahboubi, 2020).

Arthritis

Dandelion flower has been traditionally made into an infused oil to relieve arthritic and muscle pain. Taraxasterol, a constituent of dandelion, was found to have anti-arthritic effects in an animal study when compared to a control group not receiving treatment (Jiang et al., 2016).

Metabolic disorder / Type 2 diabetes

There is some evidence that both dandelion root and dandelion leaf can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Inulin, a substance present in dandelion root, contains fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which can help normalise blood sugar levels (Wingo et al. 2016).

A randomised study to assess the effect of dandelion leaf and dandelion root on fasting blood glucose (FBG) demonstrated benefits of both on blood sugar levels (Idrissu et al., 2016). Consumption of 5g of treatment each day for nine days showed a statistically significant reduction in fasting blood glucose without affecting urination significantly. There was no difference in FBG between the root or leaf groups (Idrissu et al., 2016).

In an vitro study to assess effects of different dandelion root extracts on the activity of two enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) known to catalyse starch into glucose, the water extract had the greatest inhibitory effect on the enzymes (Jingwen et al., 2021). In addition, a separate analysis of the constituents in the different extractions showed that the water extract had far greater amounts of polysaccharides (long-chained carbohydrates) than the methanol and ethanol extracts, indicating that polysaccharides may be responsible for this effect. This also shows the importance of using different herbal preparations for different impacts. To impact blood sugar, a root decoction or leaf infusion may be more effective than a tincture.

Plant Preparations

Internal

• Vinegar (of leaf)
• Infusion (leaf)
• Decoction (root)
• Edible - flower, leaf, root

External

• Oil (flower)