Great info!
Is this from a book?

Taraxacum spp. (Laulele)
PLANT NAME: Taraxacum spp.
SYNONYMS OR SIMILARLY USED SPECIES: T. officinale, T. albidum, T. coreanum, T. laevigatum, T.
japonicum, T. mongolicum, T. magellanicum, T. platycarpum, Leontodon latiloba, Leontodon taraxacum.
COMMON NAMES: Laulele, lauhele [Hawai'i]; pu gong ying [China]; dandelion [English]; butterblume,
löwenzahn [Germany]; dent de lion, pissenlit [French]; dente de leone, soffione [Italy]; dente-de-leão
[Portugese]; diente de león [Spanish]; doon-head clock [Scotland]; dughdapheni [Sanskrit]; hokoei [Japan];
mælkebøtte, løvetand [Denmark]; mniszek pospolity [Poland]; ogräsmaskrosor, maskros [Sweden];
paardebloem [Netherland]; ugrasløvetann, løvetann [Norway]; voikukka [Finland].
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Herba Taraxaci.
NOMENCLATURE:
The origins of the name "Taraxacum" are unclear. It is thought to possibly be from the Persian "tark
hashgun" ("wild endive"), from the Persian "talkh chakok" ("bitter herb"), or from the Greek "taraxos"
(disorder) and "akos" (remedy).
"Dandelion" means "tooth of the lion," a reference to the serrated leaves.
The French name "pissenlit" means "piss in the bed," alluding to dandelion's reputation as a diuretic.
FAMILY: Asteraceae (dandelion family).
CATEGORY: Clear heat and toxins.
PROPERTIES: Bitter, cold.
PLANT PART USED: All of it. The root is the strongest part of the plant. Leaves are best for diuresis due to
their potassium content.
TOXICITY: The LD50 in mice is 59g / kg. [Bensky 1986]
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS:
There is a single human case report of anaphylaxis after ingesting the pollens of Taraxacum officinale
(dandelion), Artemesia vulgaris (mugwort), and Salix alba (willow) [Chivato 1996].
Caution with gall bladder problems, gastric ulcer, weak digestion, liver problems.
PREPARATION OF MEDICINE: Decoction or tincture. Can also be used raw or juiced fresh.
"No part of the plant should be considered very potent after a year's storage." Michael Moore
DOSAGE: 10 - 15 grams dried herb in formulas. Up to 60 grams fresh as a single herb.
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STATUS IN HAWAI'I: Alien. Pest factor is surprisingly minimal.
MERIDIAN AFFINITIES: Liver, stomach.
WESTERN FUNCTIONS REPORTED: aids digestion; alterative [China, New Zealand, Turkey]; analgesic
[Bella Coola, Iroquois, Papago]; antibacterial (juice topical, decocted internal); antidiarrheal; anti-scorbutic;
antiseptic for cystitis; aperient [France, USA]; astringent; bactericide; bitter tonic (root) [Potawatomi];
blood cleanser; blood medicine [Cherokee, Iroquois]; blood purifier; cathartic [Mohegan]; cholagogue
[China, Mexico, Turkey]; clears the kidneys; depurative [Native American, Spain, Turkey]; dermatological
aid; detoxicant [China]; diaphoretic [India, Japan]; diuretic [Europe, India, Nepal, Turkey, USA]; emetic
(roots infused) [Iroquois]; eye medicine; febrifuge [Japan]; galactogogue [China]; gastrointestinal aid [Bella
Coola]; gland stimulating; gynecological aid; heals wounds (juice topical); hemolytic; hepatic (root) [India];
hypoglycaemic; intoxicant; kidney aid; lactogogue [China, Japan]; laxative [Delaware, England, Iroquois,
Mexico, Oklahoma, Turkey]; love medicine; orthopedic aid; physic (leaves infused) [Mohegan]; promotes
metabolism; pulmonary aid; regulates the stomach; sedative [Cherokee]; stimulant (root) [India];
stimulates the bile ducts; stimulates the digestive glands; stimulates the pancreas; stomachic [China,
Japan]; strengthens the liver; tonic [China, India, Japan, Mohegan, Nepal, Potawatomi, Shinnecock, USA,
USSR]; toothache remedy; urinary aid; urinary disinfectant; witchcraft medicine.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE ENERGETIC FUNCTIONS (~ = extrapolated):
1) Clears heat and fire toxins.
2) Clears damp heat.
3) Breaks up congestion.
4) Strengthens the stomach.
5) Stimulates lactation.
OTHER ENERGETIC FUNCTIONS: Increases vata, reduces pitta and kapha.
Laulele Common Medicinal Uses
As a diuretic
Lung infections
Liver disorders
Poor digestion (as a bitter tonic)
Skin disorders
Laulele Cross-Cultural Medicinal Uses
BITES & STINGS
Bee sting; snake bite [China].
COSMETIC
Ligules (leaf appendages) are distilled in water and used topically to "bleach" freckles.
CARDIOVASCULAR
Anemia (herb decocted) [Iroquois]; blood medicine [Algonquin (leaves eaten), Ojibwa (root),
Rappahannock (root infused)]; bleeding; poor circulation.
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Arteriosclerosis; hypertension and edema from and cardiac weakness; heart problems [USA]; Used to
ensure adequate potassium supply in cardiac disease [Europe]; chest pain [Fox].
DERMATOLOGICAL
All eruptions on the surface of the body [England]; skin diseases (root) [India, Mexico]; inflammatory
skin conditions.
Acne; corns; liver spots.(herb infused in combination, topical) [Iroquois]; moles; warts (latex topical)
[China, France, UK].
Dermatitis [China]; eczema [England]; psoriasis.
DIGESTIVE
Atonic dyspepsia [England]; diseases of the stomach; dyspepsia [China, Mexico, Rappahannock];
impairment of the digestive functions [General]; stomach pain (root decocted) [Aleut (steamed leaves
poulticed), Bella Coola, China]; sluggish stomach; food sensitivities; loss of appetite [Mexico]; vitamin
deficiency; weak digestion.
Constipation; habitual constipation [England, General].
Diarrhea; intestinal catarrh; intestinal diseases; intestinal inflammation; flatulence.
Gastritis; gastro-intestinal disturbances; heartburn (root infused) [Ojibwa].
Hemorrhoids.
ENDOCRINE
Diabetes, glandular malfunctioning, hypoglycemia.
HEAD AND THROAT
Conjunctivitis; dark circles and puffy eyes (root infused in combination) [Iroquois]; diseases of the eye;
red, painful, and swollen eyes (herb) [China].
Head pain.
Mouth or pharynx inflammation; sore throats [Aleut (steamed leaves poulticed); General]; tooth decay
[Cherokee, China, Iroquois (flower stems chewed)].
HEPATIC
Cirrhosis; hepatic edema; hepatitis (herb) [China, General, Mexico, Shaker]; liver problems [Colonial
USA, Turkey]; jaundice [China, Iraq]; liver enlargement; obstructions of liver (root) [India]; sluggish
liver function due to alcohol abuse or poor diet.
Gall bladder disorders; gallstones.
"A diuretic for bile." [James Snow].
INFECTION
Boils and abscesses [Aleut (steamed leaves poulticed), China]; sores caused by "bad blood" (bark and
roots decocted in combination) [Iroquois].
Fevers [China].
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LYMPHATIC
Enlarged spleen, malarial spleen [Finland].
Scrofula [England].
MUSCULOSKELETAL / TRAUMA
Arthritis; joint pain; orthopedic ailments; osteoarthritis; rheumatic diseases.
Back pain (root infused in combination) [Iroquois].
Bone fractures.(poultice) [Tewa]; bruises [USA]; smashed testicles.(herb decocted, topical) [Iroquois];
swelling [China, Navajo.(poultice)]; swollen ankles; wounds [China].
Gout.
Swellings from bee stings.
ONCOLOGY
Breast cancer [Australia, China].
Cancer [China, Germany, USA, Wales].
Esophageal cancer [China].
Nose tumor [China].
Skin cancers (white sap topical).
Tumors [USSR].
PSYCHOSPIRITUAL
"It is under the dominion of Jupiter." - - Nicholas Culpepper
Agitation (herb infused) [Cherokee].
Anti-witch medicine (root decocted topical) [Iroquois].
Hypochondria; spring fatigue; mental atony.
Love medicine (root decocted topical) [Iroquois].
REPRODUCTIVE
Absent menstruation; menstrual cramps [Kiowa (young leaves decocted), Papago (flowers infused)];
premenstrual bloating; women's ailments; yeast infections.
Firm, hard sores in the breasts [China (herb)].
Inadequate milk supply [China (herb decocted), Chippewa (root infused in combination)].
Mastitis [China (herb decocted)].
Speed delivery of baby (cold infusion) [Navajo].
Uterine obstructions.
RESPIRATORY
Bronchitis; inflamed mucous membranes with phlegm [Iraq]; swollen lungs and pain [Iroquois (herb
decocted in combination)].
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URINARY
Chronic disorders of the kidney (root) [India, Nepal].
Diseases of the bladder; urinary tract infection [China (herb)].
Edema (root) [England, India]; kidney trouble and dropsy [Iroquois (root infused in combination)].
Kidney stones and gravel [England (root decocted)].
VETERINARY
"Birds like the seeds, pigs devour the whole plant, goats eat the leaves, but sheep, cattle,
and horses turn up their noses at this abundant weed." - - James Duke
Said to increase lactation in cows. Rabbits like it as food.
OTHER MEDICINAL USES
Allergies.
Appendicitis [China].
Chest pain when other remedies fail (root infused) [Meskwaki].
General fatigue after illness or overwork.
Hangover [Europe].
Lipomatosis.
Scurvy [England].
Visceral diseases (root) [India].
USE AS FOOD
"... eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs..." Numbers 9.
"You see here what virtues this common herb hath, and that is the reason the French and Dutch so often eat
them in the Spring; and now if you look a little farther, you may see plainly without a pair of spectacles, that
foreign physicians are not so selfish as ours are, but more communicative of the virtues of plants to people."
- - Nicholas Culpepper
The leaves are universally eaten as greens or used as a potherb.
The leaves are cooked with maple sap vinegar and sometimes combined with pork or deer meat
[Menominee, Ojibwa, Potawatomi].
Dandelion leaves are more nutritious than spinach and are a good source of vitamin C and pro-vitamin A.
Leaves harvested in the spring are more bitter than those harvested in the fall. Bitter leaves can be blanched
before eating if desired to reduce the bitterness.
Dandelion sandwiches were eaten in Glencoe, Scotland to cure ulcers.
The flowers can be dipped in batter and fried.
The dried roots are used as a (poor) coffee substitute.
Herbal Wine is made from fermented flowers and is used as a blood tonic.
In Europe, dandelion wine and dandelion beer are both available.
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In England, an interesting medicinal brew is made from Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), Urtica doica
(nettles), and Rumex crispus (yellow dock).
OTHER USES:
An evolutionary psychopath, dandelion releases ethylene gas, a hormone that causes nearby plant
competitors to prematurely ripen and bear fruit. This stunts their growth. So if you place Taraxacum in a bag
with unripe fruit it will speed the ripening process.
Used as liquid plant food (leaf and root).
Red dye is made from its roots and a yellow dye from its flowers [Native American].
Hollow stems made into whistles [Hesquiat].
Russian dandelion was cultivated during World War II to make a low quality rubber from the root.
CONSTITUENTS: High in vitamin C. More beta carotene than carrots.
Aesculin (leaf); ash; calcium salts (root); catortenoids (leaf); chicoric acid; chlorogenic acid; choline;
chrysoeriol (leaf); cichoriin (leaf); coumarins (leaf); homotaraxasterol; hydroxycinnamic acid; inulin; iron;
lecithin; levulin; luteolin (flower); luteolin 7-glucoside (flower); magnesium; manganese; monocaffeyltartaric
acid; pectin; phenolic acids (root); phytosterols; potassium salts (whole plant); saponin; sesquiterpene lactones
(taraxacin); silicon; sterols; sugar; tannins; taraxacerin; taraxacoside; taraxasterol; triterpenes; vitamins A, B, C,
and D; zinc.
POSSIBLE DRUG INTERACTIONS: T. mongolicum enhances bioavailability of ciprofloxacin in rats [Zhu
1999].
Caution with pharmeceutical diuretics ~ (speculative).
Laulele Local Combinations
Hepatitis and jaundice: Add Plantago major (laukahi) leaf, Bidens pilosa (kïnehi) herb.
Bladder infections: Add Coix lacryma jobi (pü'ohe'ohe) root, Bidens pilosa (kïnehi) herb,Plantago major
(laukahi) seeds.
Skin disorders: Add Oxalis spp. ('ihi mäkole / 'ihi pehu), Stellaria media (chickweed).
CROSS-CULTURAL COMBINATIONS:
Breast cancer: With Smilax spp. (sarsaparilla), Trifolium pratense (red clover), Arcticum lappa (burdock),
[Christopher Hobbs].
Hemorrhoids: With Plantago lanceolata (long-leaved plantain), Polypody fern root, Capsella bursa-pastoris
(shepherd's purse), and Rheum palmatum (rhubarb) tincture internal. Celandine ointment is also
administered topically [England].
Colitis: With Hypericum perforatum (st. johns wort), Melissa officinalis (lemon balm), Calendula
officinalis, and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) [Chakurski 1981].
"Biliousness and dizziness": With Marrubium vulgare (black horehound), Acorus calamus (sweet flag)
rhizome, and "mountain flax" [England].
Arthritis: With Apium graveolens (celery) seed [Chris Hobbs].
Gall stones: with Petroselinum crispum (parsley) root, balm herb, Zingiber officinale ('awapuhi päkë /
ginger), Glycirrhiza spp. (licorice) root [England].
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Jaundice in children: With Zingiber officinale ('awapuhi päkë / ginger), Carum carvi (caraway) seed,
Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon) bark, Cassia senna (Senna) leaves [England].
Boils: Taraxacum mongolicum is sometimes combined with one or more of the following: Forsythia
suspensa (lian qiao), Chrysanthemum indicum (ye ju hua), Desmodium spp. (jin qian cao), Lonicera
japonica (jin yin hua / honeysuckle) flowers [China].
Unrinary tract infection: With Imperata cylindrica (bai mao gen) and Desmodium spp. (jin qian cao)
[China].
Lung abcess: With Benincasa hispida (dong gua ren) seeds and Houttuynia cordata (yu xing cao) [China].
For swollen lymph glands with Prunella vulgaris (xia ku cao) [China].
Jaundice and hepatitis: Decocted with Podophylum.
Bad bruising: With dough as a poultice [Tewa].
RANGE: Everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. Native to Greece. Introduced by European settlers to North
America as food for bees.
HABITAT: Wherever lawns are found.
GATHERING: Dig around it. Try to find areas unpolluted with chemicals. (Good luck...) 2 year-old cultivated
roots are harvested in autumn.
PROPAGATION & CULTIVATION: Do not propagate in Hawai'i.
Propagation is by seed. Germinates in 14 days. Best cultivated in well-turned soil for ease of removal. Twoyear-
old roots are best, with non-forked taproot. If you don't cut the flower heads off before they go to seed
your neighbors will hate you.
Dandelion is apomictic (reproduces non-sexually), so seeds are often clones of the parent.
RESEARCH:
Immune modulating in mice with burns [Luo 1993].
Constituents of Taraxacum spp. are immune potentiating and anticarcinogenic in mice [Jeong 1991;
Takasaki (I) 1999; Takasaki (II) 1999]. However, effects on tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 are
inconclusive [Kim 2000; Koo 2004]. Taraxinic acid, a constituent of Taraxacum coreanum, may inhibit
human leukemia cells in vitro [Choi 2002].
Taraxacum mongolicum is antimicrobial against Bacillus dysenteriae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, ECHO
virus, Leptospira, Meningococci, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria rneningitidis, Pneumococci,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae [Bensky
1986] Taraxacum mongolicum is antiviral in vitro against type 1 herpes simplex virus [Zhang 1990].
A constituent of Taraxacum platycarpum has anti-allergic properties [Cheong 1998].
Water extractions of dandelion flowers are antioxidant [Hu 2003].
Extracts increase insulin secretion in vitro [Hussain 2004].
A constituent of Taraxacum platycarpum is anticoagulant [Yun 2002].
NOTES 'N QUOTES
"It is colde, but drieth more and doth withall clense and open by reason of the bitterness
which it hath joined with it..." John Gerard, 1597
Taraxacum officinale (the name for the common dandelion) is not actually a single species but an aggregate
of many different species.
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First recorded use was in China in the 7th century, in Arabian medical journals in the 10th century. In the
West, the earliest reference found is by Hieronymus Bock in 1543. Taraxacum was established as a drug in
Europe in the 16th Century.
Because of its' high potassium content, dandelion replaces the potassium normally lost with herbs that
promote urination.
This and Plantago spp. (laukahi) are two of the most versatile plant medicines we have. Laulele is a great
secondary herb for a multitude of conditions. Like laukahi, it does many things reasonably well.
REFERENCES:
Bensky, Dan, & Andrew Gamble. 1986. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Seattle: Eastland Press.
Chakurski I, Matev M, et al. 1981. Treatment of chronic colitis with an herbal combination of Taraxacum
officinale, Hipericum perforatum, Melissa officinaliss, Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare. Vutr
Boles.;20(6):51-4.
Cheong H, Choi EJ, et al. 1998. Desacetylmatricarin, an anti-allergic component from Taraxacum platycarpum.
Planta Med. Aug;64(6):577-8.
Chevallier, Andrew. 1996. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. New York: DK Publishing Inc.
Chivato T, Juan F, et al. 1996. Anaphylaxis induced by ingestion of a pollen compound. J Investig Allergol Clin
Immunol. May-Jun;6(3):208-9.
Choi JH, Shin KM, et al. 2002. Taraxinic acid, a hydrolysate of sesquiterpene lactone glycoside from the
Taraxacum coreanum NAKAI, induces the differentiation of human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.
Biol Pharm Bull. Nov;25(11):1446-50.
Holmes, Peter. 1989. The Energetics of Western Herbs. Volumes I & II. Boulder, CO: Artemis Press Inc.
Hu C, Kitts DD. 2003. Antioxidant, prooxidant, and cytotoxic activities of solvent-fractionated dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale) flower extracts in vitro. J Agric Food Chem. Jan 1;51(1):301-10.
Hussain Z, Waheed A, et al. 2004. The effect of medicinal plants of Islamabad and Murree region of Pakistan
on insulin secretion from INS-1 cells. Phytother Res. Jan;18(1):73-7.
Jeong JY, Chung YB, et al. 1991. Studies on immunopotentiating activities of antitumor polysaccharide from
aerial parts of Taraxacum platycarpum. Arch Pharm Res. Mar;14(1):68-72.
Kim HM, Shin HY, et al. 2000. Taraxacum officinale inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha production from rat
astrocytes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. Aug;22(3):519-30.
13
Koo HN, Hong SH, et al. 2004. Taraxacum officinale induces cytotoxicity through TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha
secretion in Hep G2 cells. Life Sci. Jan 16;74(9):1149-57.
Luo ZH. 1993. The use of Chinese traditional medicines to improve impaired immune functions in scald mice.
(Article in Chinese) Zhonghua Zheng Xing Shao Shang Wai Ke Za Zhi. Jan;9(1):56-8, 80.
Takasaki M, Konoshima T, et al. (I) 1999. Anti-carcinogenic activity of Taraxacum plant. I. Biol Pharm Bull.
Jun;22(6):602-5.
Takasaki M, Konoshima T, et al. (II)1999. Anti-carcinogenic activity of Taraxacum plant. II. Biol Pharm Bull.
Jun;22(6):606-10.
Translation of A Barefoot Doctor's Manual. 1977. Philadelphia: Running Press.
Williams CA, Goldstone F, Greenham J. 1996. Flavonoids, cinnamic acids and coumarins from the different
tissues and medicinal preparations of Taraxacum officinale. Phytochemistry. May;42(1):121-7.
Yun SI, Cho HR, Choi HS. 2002. Anticoagulant from Taraxacum platycarpum. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.
Sep;66(9):1859-64.
Zheng M. 1990. Experimental study of 472 herbs with antiviral action against the herpes simplex virus. (Article
in Chinese) Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. Jan;10(1):39-41, 6.
Zhu M, Wong PY, Li RC. 1999. Effects of taraxacum mongolicum on the bioavailability and disposition of
ciprofloxacin in rats. J Pharm Sci. Jun;88(6):632-4.
ONLINE REFERENCES:
www.ann.com.au/herbs/Mono...araxacu.htm altnature.com/gallery/Dandelion.htm
www.ayurveda.com
www.bibliomania.com/2/1/66/1...eset.html
www.botanical.com/temp/mgmh...del08.html
www.herbweb.com/herbage/A478.htm
www.holisticonline.com/Herbal...h48.htm
www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/ec...axacum.html
www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html www.pfaf.org
www.magdalin.com/herbal/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez...ry.fcgi
www.odont.aau.dk/LibHerb2/Pn0108.HTM
www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb/
www.ars-grin.gov/duke/syll...dule12.htm
www3.allherb.com/consumer/default.asp

Thanks!

Went out & bought some.
I remember last summer's salads, & wine.

Also, it inspired me for my next painting I'll do:

The Dandelion Pickers !!

hugs,

ML.

Wonderful info Much Thanks!

Thanks for the good info!