Dandelion is commonly known as the weed which is characterized by its bright yellow flowers that turns into white puffballs. In fact, the English name dandelion is a corruption of the French dent de lion, meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves. This flowering plant is native to the temperate areas of the Europe, Asia and Africa. Although dandelion is considered a weed and grows wildly in abundance, its roots and tops are cultivated as they are high in medicinal value and are used as herbal supplements.
The medicinal use of dandelion extract dates back to at least the tenth century in Arabia, where it was mainly used to treat liver conditions. Nowadays, dandelion is known to be useful for numerous ailments as they contain plenty of nutritive salts and a variety of nutrients. Dandelion leaves and roots have been used for hundreds of years to treat liver, gallbladder, kidney, and joint problems. Because of its high potassium content, the extract of dandelion roots is an excellent diuretic and thus, it is used widely in India as a remedy for liver disorders. In addition to potassium, dandelion roots also contain high levels of sodium that help balance electrolytes in the blood. This makes it very beneficial in restoring balance of the body after severe vomiting. The leaves may be cooked or used raw in salads and improves water retention in the body.
Though extract of dandelion is generally safe and gentle, it may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Dandelion roots should be taken with diuretic drugs or supplements. Those who taking medication for diabetes should use dandelion roots with caution, as it may increase the blood sugar lowering effects of those drugs. Dandelion extract is available as a freeze-dried herb, in capsules, in liquid extracts, tinctures, and as a tea.
References: (1) http://www.puritan.com/pages/healthnotes.asp? languri=eng&ContentID=2078009 (2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Dandelion (3) http://vitamins.ultimatefatburner.com/dandelion-root.html
