It is slowly fading to the coltsfoot and more spring yellow flowers (actually inflorescences) appear everywhere. This is a dandelion (also called common dandelion) – Taraxacum officinalis. It is a perennial with a long tap root, with a white milky sap and a leafless (as opposed to coltsfoot) flower stalk.

The dandelion is commonly found on city lawns, meadows, crops and bright forests. It is used as an edible, fodder, honey and medicinal plant. However, it is considered a weed in crops.

Application of dandelion

Dandelion is a valuable honey plant because it is one of the first to bloom and is often visited by bees. Honey picked in early summer usually has a large addition of dandelion nectar. In addition, housewives use its flowers and sugar to prepare an excellent, aromatic nectar, and the hosts – wine. Some people use dandelion leaves and roots to prepare salads.

Chemistry

The medicinal raw material is dandelion root – Radix Taraxaci.

It contains triterpene compounds, small amounts of tannins, organic acids, sugar compounds, inosit, phytosterols and rubber-like resin compounds.

Action

Dandelion root stimulates the production of bile and facilitates its flow to the gallbladder and duodenum, the effect being strongest in liver failure. It also has a relaxing effect on smooth muscles. Dandelion root also has a diuretic effect. Hence its French name is pissenlit. If you are curious what this means exactly, put “piss en lit” in the French-English Google translator.

Application in medicine

Dandelion root decoction is used in cases of liver failure with reduced bile secretion, in cirrhosis and liver damage, in diseases of the biliary tract. In addition, it is used in cases of oedema and renal failure as well as contractile states of smooth muscles.

As you can see, dandelions are not only beautiful, yellow flowers decorating our lawns in spring, but also a valuable utility and medicinal plant.

AUTHOR: Dr n. farm. Andrzej Tarasiuk