Dandelion Can Alleviate Health Problems

North America's most common garden weed has the reputation of a nuisance more than a potential herbal remedy. Dandelion, or Taraxacum officinale, is part of the composite family and is famous for sprouting up within a week of a good lawn-mowing. These yellow-headed flowers are good for a lot more than cluttering up your grassy fields, though. China, France and Germany all utilize this plant for various herbal remedies by using the leaves for tinctures, teas and tablets.

The components of the Dandelion are utilized at different points of their life according to what form of remedy you're looking for. The young leaves of the flower are used mostly for tonic salads and are harvested in the springtime. Summer leaves are used mostly for medicinal teas and tinctures, and roots of plants that are two years old are used for tablets and are harvested in the fall, when they have the highest concentration of the complex carbohydrate, inulin.

The roots of the plant are most often utilized for their work as a blood purifier. When consumed, it helps the kidneys and liver remove toxins from the blood stream, improving overall health and body function.

The number of ailments that Dandelion can aid is quite surprising. Its main function as an herbal remedy is being an excellent diuretic. The plant increases the secretion of digestive fluids that come from the stomach lining, aiding in digestion and regulation. Additionally, it stimulates bile production, increasing the amount of toxins and poisons that can be extracted from the body and terminated. This also relieves constipation without causing diarrhea. Used as a mild laxative, Dandelion achieves something that commercial laxatives cannot. Store-brand laxatives and prescriptions most often seem to deplete the body of potassium when used; however, since dandelion is so rich in potassium, it not only maintains your body's levels, but improves them. This function of the plant is also very useful for symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as it helps the body to relieve fluid retention. This is also useful for bladder infections and other retention-related ailments. Also, because of the high levels of potassium, nighttime leg cramps can be eased, as potassium releases the stress than can cause seizing of the muscles.

An unexpected ailment that dandelion helps with is anemia. Surprisingly, dandelions have very high levels of iron, as well as more carotene than carrots, when measuring ounce for ounce. Overall, dandelion can help with many common vitamin deficiencies, including folic acid, iron, previous mentioned potassium, and B₁₂. A lesser known chemical that dandelions possess is boron. This chemical raises estrogen levels in the blood stream and eases osteoporosis. Calcium and silicon have also been found in the plant, which aids in bone strengthening and preservation.

While this pesky weed may sound a bit more like a wonder-herb now, there are still cautions to be considered when considering using for your health issues. Because of the increased digestive juices, dandelion may cause stomach acidity which is quite uncomfortable and may be misconstrued as acid-reflux. Also, do not consume dandelion if you have biliary tract obstructions of gallstones, as the components of the plant directly affect those parts of the body. If you're using a prescription or conventional diuretic, insulin or other blood sugar reduction drugs, consult your physician before using. Avoid dandelion if you're taking any antibiotic medications, particularly Cipro, Floxin, Maxaquin, Noroxin or Penetrex. Use caution with this herb if you're allergic to chamomile or yarrow teas.