Dandelion Leaves

Although most people think of dandelion as an annoying weed, the plant has long been used in herbal medicine to aid digestion and help stimulate the appetite. The root itself is sometimes roasted to create caffeine-free dandelion coffee. When used medicinally, the dried or fresh root can be made into teas, tinctures, decoctions (infusions), and poultices.

In traditional Chinese and Native American medicine, burdock root has been used to treat stomach and liver ailments. Herbalists today believe it can help treat many conditions, including acne, eczema, high cholesterol, heartburn, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and even cancer.

It is believed that dandelion's diuretic properties may have medicinal uses to help with high blood pressure, heart failure, liver disease, and certain types of kidney disease.

In folk medicine, dried burdock root is often ground into a paste and mixed with water to create a soothing paste for skin disorders such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes and boils. The reason for using dandelion in this way is because it is believed to have mild anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties.

Dandelion is believed to have anti-diabetic properties due to a soluble fiber known as inulin. Inulin contains a complex carbohydrate known as fructooligosaccharide (FOS), which supports the growth of healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and eliminates unhealthy ones. This alone increases insulin sensitivity by slowing the flow of sugar from the gut into the bloodstream, preventing spikes in either your blood sugar or insulin levels.

Dandelion is often consumed as a tonic as it cleanses and detoxifies the liver.

Preliminary research suggests that dandelion root may have use as an anti-cancer agent. This is because consuming taraxac seems to induce apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, in some cancer cells. Apoptosis affects all cells in the body, allowing old cells to be replaced with new ones. With cancer, apoptosis stops, allowing cancer cells to grow unhindered.

*The information given on our website is purely informative and does not replace the advice of your treating physician. Bean & Herb does not advocate self-medication. Bean & Herb does not support την self-healing.