Dandelion

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Wigg. (and other varieties), a perennial herbaceous plant of the composite family, growing everywhere throughout the northern hemisphere. It is mentioned by Theophrastus and in Arabic medical literature. In medicine, the root, which is dug up in autumn (wild chicory), was mainly used. The fresh root is fleshy and succulent, secreting an abundant white, browning upon drying, milky juice. The root contains inulin, sugar, mucilage, a bitter substance - taraxacin, and a waxy substance - taraxacerin. In spring, the roots of D. contain predominantly soluble sugars, in autumn - bitters and inulin (up to 40%). In folk medicine, it is used for various diseases (for stomach diseases, chronic constipation, during painful childbirth and for "stone" disease). In the Crimea, the leaves of D. are smoked like tobacco for cough. Powder and extract have wide application as indifferent additives for making pills. Fresh leaves are used as salad. In the Pharmacopoeia VI, 2 preparations are accepted: Radix Taraxaci - dried roots and rhizomes of D. collected in autumn, and Radix Taraxaci cum Herba - the entire dried plant collected in spring before the beginning of flowering; extract of D. is prepared from the entire plant collected in spring.