Dandelion

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

Note: The archived version of this monograph has been temporarily removed. For an electronic copy of this archived version, please contact the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) at NHPD_DPSN@hc-sc.gc.ca.

---

Date: January 15, 2008

Proper name(s): Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. (Asteraceae) (USDA 2007)

Common name(s): Dandelion, lion's tooth (McGuffin et al. 2000; Wiersema and León 1999)

Source material(s): Leaf or root (ESCOP 2003; BHP 1996)

Route(s) of administration: Oral

Dosage form(s): Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration.
This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or Purpose(s): Statement(s) to the effect of:

Leaf: Used in Herbal Medicine as a diuretic (Mills and Bone 2005; ESCOP 2003; Hoffmann 2003; Bradley 1992).

Root:

• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as a diuretic (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003; Ellingwood 1983 [1919]; Wren 1907).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help treat digestive disturbances (dyspepsia) (Mills and Bone 2005; Bradley 1992; Grieve 1971 [1931]).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help increase bile flow (cholagogue) (Hoffmann 2003; Bradley 1992; Ellingwood 1983 [1919]).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help stimulate appetite (ESCOP 2003; Bradley 1992; Grieve 1971 [1931]).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an alterative to help relieve dermatological conditions (Blumenthal et al. 2000; Ellingwood 1983 [1919]; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]) such as eczema (Wichtl 2004).

Dose(s):

Leaf:

• Preparations equivalent to 1.2-30 g dried leaf, per day (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000; Bradley 1992; BHP 1983)
• Juice from fresh leaf: 5-10 ml, 2 times per day (Bradley 1992)

Root:

• Preparations equivalent to 1.5-24 g dried root, per day (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003; Bradley 1992; BHP 1983)
• Juice from fresh root: 4-8 ml, 3 times per day (Bradley 1992)

See Appendix 1 for examples of appropriate dosage preparations and frequencies, according to cited references. The purpose of Appendix 1 is to provide guidance to industry.

Duration of use:

Diuretic: For occasional use only (Berardi et al. 2002; CPA 2002)

Other uses: No statement required.

Risk information: Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and warning(s):

• Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Contraindication(s): Do not use if you have liver or gall bladder disorders, and/or bowel obstruction. Discontinue use if you develop symptoms of liver trouble (ESCOP 2003; Brinker 2001; Bradley 1992).

Known adverse reaction(s): No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients: Must be chosen from the current NHPD List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients and must meet the limitations outlined in the list.

Specifications: Must comply with the minimum specifications outlined in the current NHPD Compendium of Monographs.

References cited:

Berardi RR, DeSimone EM, Newton GD, Oszko MA, Popovich NG, Rollins CJ, Shimp LA, Tietze KJ, editors. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care, 13^th edition. Washington (DC): American Pharmaceutical Association; 2002.

BHP 1996: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Bournemouth (UK): The British Herbal Medicine Association; 1996.

BHP 1983: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Cowling (UK): British Herbal Medical Association; 1983.

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 1. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2001.

CPA 2002: Canadian Pharmacists Association. Patient Self-Care. Helping Patients Make Therapeutic Choices. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2002.

Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1919 original].

ESCOP 2003: ESCOP Monographs: The Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2^nd edition. Exeter (UK): European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy and Thieme; 2003.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory, Volume 2, 18^th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1898 original].

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, Volume 1. New York (NY): Dover Publications; 1971 [Reprint of 1931 Harcourt, Brace & Company publication].

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press; 2003.

McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2^nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.

Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

USDA 2007: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2007-12-04]. Available from: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Wichtl M, editor. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis, 3^rd edition. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers; 2004.

Wiersema J, León B. World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press LLC; 1999.

Wren RC. Potter's Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. London (UK): Potter and Clark; 1907.

References reviewed:

Barnes J, Anderson LA, Philipson JD. Herbal Medicines, 3^rd edition. London (UK): The Pharmaceutical Press; 2007.

Barnes J, Anderson LA , Philipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, 2^nd edition. London (UK): The Pharmaceutical Press; 2002.

Bisset NG, Wichtl M, editors. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis, 2^nd edition. Stuttgart (D): Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers; 2001.

Brinker F. Online Updates and Additions to Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2007. [Accessed 2007-12-17]. Available from: http://www.eclecticherb.com/emp/updatesHCDI.html

Felter HW. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1922 original].

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1997.

Swanston-Flatt SK , Day C, Flatt PR, Gould BJ, Baily CJ. Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Research 1989;10(2):69-73.

Williamson EM, Evans FJ, Wren RC. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Saffron Walden (UK): C.W. Daniel Company Limited; 1988.

Appendix 1: Examples of appropriate dosage preparations and frequencies of use

Leaf:

Dried leaf:

• 12-30 g, per day (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 4-10 g, 3 times per day (Bradley 1992)

Infusion:

• 12-30 g dried leaf, per day (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 4-10 g dried leaf, 3 times per day (Bradley 1992)

Fluidextract:

• 6-11.5 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:1, 6-11.5 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 4-10 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:1, 25% ethanol, 4-10 ml) (Blumenthal et al. 2000)
• 4-10 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:1, 25% alcohol, 4-10 ml) (BHP 1983)

Tincture:

• 1.2-3 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:5, 6-15 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 1-2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:5, 40% alcohol, 5-10 ml) (Hoffmann 2003)
• 0.4-1 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:5, 25% ethanol, 2-5 ml) (Bradley 1992)

Juice from fresh leaf: 5-10 ml, 2 times per day (Bradley 1992)

Root:

Dried root:

• 6-24 g, per day (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 3-5 g, 3 times per day (Bradley 1992)

Infusion or decoction:

• 6-24 g dried root, per day (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 3-5 g dried root, 3 times per day (Bradley 1992)

Fluidextract: 2-8 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day (1:1, 30% alcohol, 2-8 ml) (BHP 1983)

Tincture:

• 1.5-3 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:2, 3-6 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 3-6 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:5, 15-30 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 0.5-1 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:5, 60% alcohol, 2.5-5 ml) (Hoffmann 2003)
• 1-2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:5, 25% ethanol, 5-10 ml) (Bradley 1992)

Juice from fresh root: 4-8 ml, 3 times per day (Bradley 1992)