Dandelion: property, benefits and contraindications

The dandelion, also known as Dandelion, thanks to its properties and benefits is almost a legendary plant. Ally of purification, the dandelion is always popular in folk medicine. The French called it pissenlit or "wet the bed", the Arabs and the British quoted it in their herb aria and has come down to us the knowledge of its properties. Let's find out the properties of the dandelion, the health benefits and possible contraindications.

Dandelion: general characteristics

The dandelion, whose scientific name is Taraxacum officinale, is a plant belong to the Asteraceae family. The plant, also known as dandelion, dandelion or chicory, is a perennial herb that grows with height between 3-9 cm and has a big tap root. The leaves are oblong, lanceolate and lobed, equipped with toothed margins while the stem, which evolves as a result from the leaves is hairless and milky, which produces a flower on top of the bright yellow, peep said. The feature of the Dandelion flower is somewhat closed at sunset to reopen then again at first light. inflorescence on top of small trees generated a small ball of white color composed of many achenes, often blown to play by adults and children. The dandelion is widespread throughout Italy, grows in the countryside, in the meadows and fallow fields. The dandelion flower can also be found at the edges of roads and sidewalks, and collect dandelion roots takes place from June to September. From October to April you can pick dandelion leaves, to be consumed fresh in the kitchen.

The use of this therapeutic plant was not known in ancient times and it seems that they began to use as a remedy for the liver during the Middle Ages. In fact, the tradition has come down to our day but shows its true effectiveness. Bock was the naturalist, in 1546, to give the Dandelion a diuretic, while a German chemist of the sixteenth century, attributed to the plant the power to quickly heal the wounds and to great effect.

Dandelion: beneficial properties

The root of the dandelion has so many properties, including those purifying, and thanks to them stimulates biliary function, liver and kidney. The content of triterpene alcohols, sterols, vitamins (A, B, C), inulin, bitter principles and mineral salts give the purifying plant properties, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying towards the liver. These substance, therefore, encourage the elimination of waste and do a hepatoprotective plant, useful in case of liver failure, jaundice and gallstones. Its effect, moreover, stimulates the secretions of all glands gastrointestinal tract including the muscles of the digestive system, giving rise to a laxative action. Its diuretic properties, dates from flavonoids and partly by potassium salts, stimulate diuresis by promoting the elimination of excess fluids, so it is ideal to combat water retention, cellulite and hypertension. Finally, the dandelion is able to reactivate the immune functions and acts as an intracellular messenger stimulates the phagocytic activity of the cells.

Dandelion: health benefits

The dandelion is rich in useful substances to the body such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and its use brings substantial benefits to combat water retention and encourage the elimination of waste. The dandelion is good for the liver: in fact, is able to allow the passage of bile from the liver, and acts with a purifying and detoxifying. The beneficial effects on the liver are also manifested of jaundice: in fact, when the liver produces this excess bile enters the bloodstream causing jaundice. With the dandelion it is possible to treat this disease since it is able to regulate the production of bile, facilitating their expulsion through urine, due to vitamin C and other antioxidants, to fight viral infections.

The dandelion also brings benefits to the bone, thanks to its excellent calcium content which ensures a good growth and a sufficient strength. The beneficial effects of dandelion are also being felt on blood pressure and are due to the abundance of potassium that the plant contains.

Excellent as a digestive, it improves appetite and is beneficial to the entire digestive system. Lowers cholesterol due to the high presence of dietary fiber and brings significant benefits to gallstones, in the sense that it acts on the preparation that has the body to calculus formation.

The dandelion juice is great even for those suffering from diabetes, since it has the ability to stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas and keep it that way stable levels of blood sugar. Noteworthy are also the diuretic effects on the organism of the plant that help eliminate excess sugars through urination, and also play an important role bitter substances that have a key role in decreasing the rate of blood sugar, so as to avoid risk of dangerous spikes in blood sugar.

The dandelion also brings benefits to the skin: in fact, the plant contains a white sap known also as the milk of the dog's teeth that is used for the treatment of infections from microbes to by fungi and also has great benefits to the skin. By using it in the treatment of various skin ailments not cause any side effects.

Also indicated in slimming diets, the dandelion has a very low calorie intake and eliminates up to a maximum of 4% fat through urination. Furthermore, the plant is also indicated for the treatment of free radicals thanks to its high content of antioxidant compounds such as vitamins, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, which counteract the harmful effects and act with a 'preventive action on cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Dandelion: nutritional values ​​and calories

Nutritional values ​​per 100 g of dandelion:

•     45 calories

•     Water 84 g

•     Protein 2.7 g

•     9.2 g carbohydrates (sugars 0.71 g)

•     Fat 0.7 g (0.17 g saturated, monounsaturated 0.014 g, 0.306 g polyunsaturated)

•     Cholesterol 0 mg

•     dietary fiber 3.5 g

•     Sodium 76 mg

•     Iron 3.2 mg

•     Phosphorus 65 mg

•     Potassium 440 mg

•     Calcium 316 mg

•     Vitamin A 992 IU

•     0.19 mg vitamin B1

•     0.8 mg vitamin B3

•     Vitamin C 52 mg

Dandelion: all uses

There are many ways that you can use the dandelion, but the most common is to take it in the form of herbal tea, even if it is commercially available under a mother tincture or even as tablets. In herbal medicine you can also be found or detoxifying herbal tea for the liver where it is present dandelion alone or included in a mixture of herbs. For effective results it is recommended to drink a few cups of tea a day. Instead, as regards the mother tincture, it is advisable to employ from 30 to 50 drops a few times per day for about one or two months to be repeated after a long pause. The tablets dandelion are usually more concentrated, and generally it is advisable to assume 1 or 2 a day between meals. For the use of each product it is always advisable to consult your doctor.

The dandelion is also used to prepare a tasty spring salad purifying, either alone or with other vegetables, while in many regions is even prepared European average jam of dandelion flowers.

With roasted dandelion roots you can prepare your dandelion coffee, a coffee substitute that keeps it in some degree the taste and digestive properties, similar to barley coffee and chicory coffee.
Dandelion: contraindications and side effects

Among the most common contraindications of dandelion is that it can cause gastric hyperacidity disorders, then, for those who already suffer from gastritis or peptic ulcer, this plant is to be avoided. In addition, the dandelion is also not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and is to be taken only under medical advice even if you are taking certain types of drugs. In fact, just like many other natural remedies, it can interact with some medicines, especially with the painkillers, but also with diuretics. It 'not recommended the use of dandelion to those who are allergic to plants of the family "Asteraceae".