AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Dandelion Root HERBAL POWDER (TARAXACUM OFFICIANALE)

Cold, bittersweet digestive, livotonic and cholagogue. Regulates blood sugar. Sweeter than Dandelion leaf, which is more bitter and a diuretic.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Dandelion roots, dark and brown as the earth they grow in, are surprisingly white inside with a tinge of red. They seep with a thick, milky-white sap.

The roots have a much sweeter, earthen flavor than the leaves. Dandelion leaves have a stronger diuretic action and tend to be more bitter. While still predominantly Pitta and Kapha pacifying, the root's sweetness balances its cleansing properties, making it more tri-doshic.

Blood & Liver Cleansing

Dandelion Root's strong alterative and cholagogue qualities make it great for detoxing the liver and cleansing the blood in the early spring, which is Kapha season. The root doesn't stop at cleansing the liver, but its hepatoprotective qualities mean it also strengthens the liver.

In spring, your body releases a winter layer of insulating fats that clogs circulation throughout spring. Dandelion root is particularly good at cleansing your body of ‘thickened humors’ and helps to move and flush stagnant bile by stimulating your liver, gallbladder, and digestive organs alike.

Another little known Prabhava, or special potency, of Dandelion is its use in resolving breast tumors and to enrich breast milk, which is noticed also amongst cows that graze on it. Taken in pregnancy and during breastfeeding, it can prevent infant jaundice and also help to clear presenting jaundice upon birth.

Its bitter properties improve fat metabolism generally.

Clears Heat

Dandelion leaf and root are also used in cases of deep, internal heat (long-lasting excess Pitta conditions) that has burnt the internal fluids into a thick reduction. Dandelion comes in like a ray of sunlight and cool relief to break the chain of this pattern.

Dandelion is traditionally used to resolve a "geographic tonguee", or a tongue that is red and smoothe in places while being coated in others, giving it the appearance of a continental map.

The milky sap of the root is antiviral and has been historically used as a topical to treat warts. The white sap, oddly enough, can stain the skin brown when handled.

Wild Harvesting of Dandelion Roots

Children have long loved Dandelion for its gossamer plumes blown into the air with a wish. In times past, children would pick the thick pappus and blow the seeds: one time, two times, three. They would play this game to tell the hour of the day; Three blows to disperse all of the seeds would mean 3:00. It is also said that you can blow a message on the plumed seeds of a Dandelion to a loved one far away by facing the direction they are in while focusing on the words you want them to receive.

While dandelion leaves are harvested in spring when tender and fresh, like spring itself, the roots are harvested in the cooler months, with potency peaking in late fall, however, they can be collected deep into winter’s bitter embrace. There is good reason to harvest the roots in early spring if you are seeking their high inulin, or soluble fiber, content which is abundant this time of year.

This medicinal Root can grow between ½-1 inch thick in diameter and lodge 1 foot into the soil! It is best to harvest in the second year of growth or beyond to get a good root specimen. Because the tap root of the Dandelion can go so deep into the ground, one plant can survive between five and ten years!

Medicinal Ode to Dandelion

By Lydia Steadman

Dandelion, yellow and bright
Tooth of the lion
Seeds that take flight
Liver satisfying

Leaves that drain water
Roots stimulate bile
Wet the bed at night
The juice is antiviral

Make into a decoction
Roast a coffee-like treat
Bitter and building
Whole plant you can eat

It may be very common
But it's never been banal
Love every part
of Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion is a potent medicine, flower to root, and was renowned by herbalists in written records as far back as the 10th century AD. Though it is known for its strong medicine, its thick yellow composite flowers and whimsical seed heads make it equally adored by children, and children at heart alike!
Ayurveda Dandelion Root Whole Plant Large

Ayurveda Dandelion Root Fruit Large

Ayurveda Dandelion Root Flower Large

Ayurveda Dandelion Root Leaf Large

SUGGESTED USE

1/4 tsp in warm water or as directed by your practitioner.
How should I take my herbs?
Follow these guidelines

Metabolic Nature of Dandelion Root

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

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TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying.

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

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DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Affinity: Kidney Bladder Urinary, Liver Gallbladder,
Skin Care

SKIN-CARE

Includes skin care, and anything that nourishes epithelial membranes (of digestive, respiratory, urinary tract, blood vessels, etc).

SEE ALL 'SKIN-CARE' FOODS / HERBS

HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Dandelion Root
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Internal Detoxicant

STRONG INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Antimicrobial

STRONG ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antipyretic

STRONG ANTIPYRETIC

Reduces a fever / febrifuge.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPYRETIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Alterative

STRONG ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Hypotensive

HYPOTENSIVE

An herb that lowers blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'HYPOTENSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Estrogenic

ANTI-ESTROGENIC

Reduces estrogen, which reduces thickness of the uterus endometrium, pelvic congestive disorders like fibroids, and frequently dysmenorrhea as well.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Inulin,
Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium

Foods with a Similar Nature to Dandelion Root

Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-estrogenic, Cholagogue, Hepatoprotective, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Burdock Root (Gobo)

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Antimicrobial, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-estrogenic, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Livotonic

LEARN MORE

Cilantro

Cilantro has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Antipyretic, Diuretic, Refrigerant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Cholagogue, Galactagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Hypolipidemic, Antipyretic

LEARN MORE

Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Antimicrobial, Hepatoprotective

LEARN MORE

Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Hepatoprotective, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Antimicrobial

LEARN MORE

Endive

Endive has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Kale

Kale has these Actions in Common

Anti-estrogenic, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Cranberry

Cranberry has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Diuretic, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Antimicrobial, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Chickweed

Chickweed has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Hepatoprotective, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Aloe Vera Juice / Gel

Aloe Vera Juice / Gel has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Antimicrobial, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Dandelion Root

Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Antimicrobial, Antipyretic, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-estrogenic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Hypotensive, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue

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Bhumyamalaki

Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Digestive, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Goldenseal

Goldenseal has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antipyretic, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common

Antipyretic, Cholagogue, Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Livotonic, Anti-estrogenic, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial

LEARN MORE

Bhringaraj

Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

Hypotensive, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Yellow Dock

Yellow Dock has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic

LEARN MORE

Cornsilk

Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypotensive, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory

LEARN MORE

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Galactagogue, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Livotonic, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Echinacea

Echinacea has these Actions in Common

Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antipyretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Dandelion Root may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

HERB DRUG INTERACTION RISK

Here are some potential herb drug interactions. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Alterative: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Cholagogue: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect.
  • Hepatoprotective: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Hypolipidemic: May magnify the effect of cholesterol lowering drugs.
  • Hypotensive: Herbs that lower blood pressure can magnify the effect of blood pressure reducing pharmaceuticals.
  • Livotonic: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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