generally than any other herb, as it combines well with other herbal preparations for the liver and is mild,
wholesome, and safe. Its prolonged use can only be beneficial in all rheumatic complaints. The natural
nutritive salt in dandelion is twenty-eight parts sodium; this type of organic sodium purifies the blood and
destroys the acids therein.
J. Kloss tells us in Back to Eden: “Anemia is caused by the deficiency of nutritive salts in the blood,
and really has nothing to do with the quality of the good blood.” Dandelion root cut up and dried is used
for coffee by health-minded people. From a health point of view, it is more desirable to drink than coffee
or tea. For this purpose it is frequently combined with roasted acorns and roasted rye in equal parts, or
according to taste. As a vegetable for salads it has no equal, being rich in many minerals. It is a medicinal
vegetable plant.
It is recorded that in Germany the roots were used as a sedative as early as the sixteenth century.
Arabian knowledge is much the same as that of other nations. The French use the fresh young leaves for
salads. To remove the bitter taste they soak the leaves in salt water for 30 minutes and use as a spicy
addition to mixed vegetables, at the same time getting natural protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and
inulin, which are all part of our human chemistry.
DOSE: Of the tincture, 5–40 drops. For infusions, fill a cup with the green leaves, add boiling water, steep
½ hour or longer. Drink when cold, three or four times a day. Or add 1 teaspoon of the cut or powdered
root to 1 cup of boiling water and steep ½ hour. Drink when cold three times a day.
HOMEOPATHIC CLINICAL: Tincture of whole plant just before the perfection of the flower for ague,
bilious attacks, debility, diabetes, gallstones, headaches (gastric), jaundice, liver (affections of),
neuralgia, nightsweats, rheumatism, tongue (mapped), typhoid fever.
RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE: Dandelion is known as oduvanchik or pushki in Russia. In ancient times
Taraxacum was used for yellow spots (liver spots) of the skin, and freckles. Uses: In Russia the root is
the most popular, prepared as an extract with vodka, as a tea, or coffee. Ancient home medicine calls it
“life elixir,” and it has acceptance for blood purifying, liver treatment, jaundice, gallbladder, skin
conditions, digestive disturbance, and as an expectorant and sedative. Clinically: In the form of extracts,
tinctures, powders; loose and in tablets, for the long-established conditions above.