You spend weeks trying to get rid of it in the summer, and you may not even realize how much the dandelion plant can improve your health. Dandelion, known scientifically as Taraxacum officinale, is an herb that grows wild in meadows, fields and, yes, your front yard. Dandelion has been used for centuries in folk medicine, and Native Americans boiled the plant, from flower to roots, and used it to treat various conditions. Today, dandelion is still sought for its medicinal properties. It can be consumed fresh by putting leaves on your salads or as a tea or dietary supplement.
Diuretic
Diuretics, also referred to as "water pills," are used to reduce the levels of salt and fluid in your body, which in turn can lower your blood pressure and increase kidney function. According to the Texas Heart Institute, diuretics are often prescribed for conditions such as hypertension, liver or kidney disease. Unfortunately, most diuretics are harsh medications that can cause unwanted side effects, such as cramps, loss of potassium, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and skin rash, among others. Dandelion is used as a natural alternative to harsh diuretics. Dandelion works by increasing the excretion of water and salt from the kidney, but it does not cause the loss of potassium like other diuretics can, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Liver Protection
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that the liver is responsible for several jobs, from ridding the blood of bacteria to processing food and medications that are consumed by the body. Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition in which the liver deteriorates over time and healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. At this point, the liver is not able to effectively perform its tasks, resulting in ill health and disease. Cirrhosis can be caused by many factors, from medications to obesity, but one of the primary causes is alcohol use. When an extract from dandelion root was tested against alcohol induced liver disease, researchers at Chonnam National University in Korea found it to have protective effects. The results, published in the March 27, 2010, issue of Food and Chemical Toxicology, state that dandelion's liver-protective benefits are a result of its antioxidant properties. In the study, mice that were exposed to high levels of alcohol, treated with the dandelion root extract showed no liver damage at all.
Cancer Protection
Dandelion is frequently studied as a possible agent in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Extracts from dandelion leaf were found to block the spread of breast cancer cells, while extracts from the flower and root were found to block the movement of breast cancer and prostate cancer cells into tissue structure, according to a study published in the May 2008 issue of International Journal of Oncology.
Digestive Aid
One of the traditional uses for dandelion is as a digestive aid. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, dandelion root has particular laxative effects and can improve digestion by keeping the intestinal tract's "good" bacteria healthy. Dandelion is also reported to have positive effects on the gallbladder and liver, both of which assist in the digestive process.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dandelion
- Texas Heart Institute: Diuretics
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Cirrhosis
- PubMed: Abstract: Food and Chemical Toxicology: Hepatoprotective Effects of the Aqueous Extract from Taraxacum Officinale
- PubMed: Abstract: International Journal of Oncology: Evaluation of Aqueous Extracts of Taraxacum Officinale
