Dandelion

FAMILY: Asteraceae.

HABITAT: the whole of Europe.

USED PART: the tap root.

RECOMMENDED PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION: the dry extract titrated in inulin min. 25% (French Pharmacopoeia X). Its daily dose is 12-13 mg/kg/day, divided into two administrations just before the two main meals.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: it is rich in inulin and other fructans, but also contains flavonoids and small amounts of coumarins. It also contains some essential oil, which gives the plant its characteristic smell, and a highly hydrophilic mucilage. There are also caffeic, chlorogenic and coumaric acids, and a certain amount of tannins.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES: Adjuvant in promoting bile production; action favouring intestinal transit; action favouring the elimination of excess fluid.
It promotes increased bile production by the liver, with a latency of about one hour and a duration of action of about four hours. It also helps protect liver cells. The increased production of bile is the cause of the favourable action on intestinal transit; in fact, bile increases bowel movements. The dandelion's richness in inulin helps maintain active bacterial flora and thus the well-being of the entire organism. In fact, inulin is considered a probiotic, i.e. a substance capable of favouring the trophism of positive bacterial flora (Lactobacillus and Bifidus) to the detriment of non-positive flora (Enterobacteriaceae in general). Finally, the action favouring the elimination of excess fluids is also of some importance.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: It should not be used by patients with small gallstones in the biliary tract, as it can cause colic.
There are no known drug interactions or contraindications.

It can be found in cinarepa®