Auxin said:
Silly researchers, they notice something in a chinese book and then ignore the whole chapter explaining it and start from scratch.
In chinese medicine its not dandelion root thats normally used, its the whole plant- root and leaves. In the vast majority of cases its applied for its three main properties. Its diuretic (a property coming mainly from the leaves), its a liver and pancreatic stimulant, and it is a lymphatic stimulant. These properties often work together to assist in clearing out a condition, and its usually combined with another drug specific to combating that condition.
Diuretic helps you pee out excess fluid
Lymphatic stimulant helps the lymph flow more smoothly, allowing cellular debris to be removed and immune cells to circulate better (when blood circulates blood plasma 'leakes' into tissues, because the bloods pressurized the body cant push it back and so dumps it into a second circulatory system called the lymphatic system, this system has no pump so it gets clogged easily, the immune system uses this second circulatory system as a highway and processing plant- basically)
The liver stimulant effect helps with toxin metabolism.
These effects explain most cases of why its in cancer medicines. Sometimes other lymphatic stimulants are used in its place- like Arctium seed which isnt so strong a diruetic.
Dandelion may also have some more specific effect against some cancers, but view the research suspiciously. All the time I see reports like this and read the papers only to see that they are basing their claims on unrealistic doses. Also be suspicious of the fact that their lead was chinese medicine- using the whole plant- and their trial is testing only the root, european medicine :?:
Still, dandelion is great medicine for many things from infected bug bites to cancer
I grow them on purpose.
Just consider them in context, generally as only a part of a proper treatment.
Well, Auxin beat me to it, as I would have stated just about the same thing.
Here's a little rundown anyway:
Pharmaceutical name: Herba Tarxaci Mongolici cum Radice
Botanincal name:
Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.
Family: compositae
Where grown: throughout China, especially Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and the northeast
When harvested: when the flowers just begin to open
Alternate names: gong ying, huang hua gong ying
English: dandelion
Properties: bitter, sweet, cold
Channels entered: Liver, Stomach
Text in which first appeared:
Tang Materia Medica
ACTIONS & INDICATIONS:
-Clears heat and relieves fire toxicity: for any heat disorder, especially Liver heat with red, swollen, and painful eyes.
-Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules; for abscesses and sores, particularly if they are firm and hard. Especially useful for breast and Instestinal abscesses. Can be used both internally and topically.
-Promotes lactation: especially for insufficient lactation due to heat.
-Clears heat and resolves dampness; for damp-heat jaundice and painful urinary dysfunction.
MAJOR COMBINATIONS:
-With Fructus Trichosanthis (gua lou), Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii (zhe bei mu), and Myrrha (mo yao) for breast abscess, carbuncles, and furuncles.
-With Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (jin yin hua) for all hot, painful, hard, and deep-rooted boils. Add Fructus Forsythiae Suspsensae (lian qiao) and Flos Chrysanthemi Indici (ye ju hua) to strengthen the effect. This combination is also used for heat excess in the Stomach or Intestines.
-With Herba cum Radice Houttuyniae Cordatae (yu xing cao) and Semen Benincasae Hispidae (dong gua ren) for Lung abscess with purulent sputum.
-With Flos Chrysanthemi Morifolii (ju hua) and Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis (huang qin) for redness and swelling of the eyes.
-With Spica Prunellae Vulgaris (xia ku cao) for subcutaneous phlegm nodules.
-With Herba Lysimachiae (jin qian cao) and Rhizoma Imperatae Cylindricae (bai mao gen) for painful urinary dysfunction.
CAUTIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS: See
Toxicity below. Overdosage can cause mild diarrhea.
DOSAGE: 9-30g. Good quality has many green leaves and the root is intact.
MAJOR KNOWN INGREDIENTS: taraxasterol choline, inulin, pectin
PHARMACOLOGICAL & CLINICAL RESEARCH:
-Antimicrobial effect: Preparations if Herba Taraxaci Mongolici cum Radice (pu gong ying) have shown an
in vitro bactericidal effect against
Staphylococcus aureus, even when these bacteria were resistant to other antimicrobials. The herb also has an
in vitro bactericidal effect against
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella spp., Neisseria meningitidis, and
Carynebacterium diptheriae. It has some
in vitro inhibitory action against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, ECHO virus, and
Leptospira.
TOXICITY: Herba Taraxici Mongolici cum Radice (pu gong ying) is a relatively safe herb with an LD50 of 50g/kg in mice and a record of relatively few side effects. However, there can be heartburn with oral administration. Allergic reactions are rare with intravenous injection.
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