Witnessed by: TCM · Western · Unani
Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Stemless rosette perennial with a milky-latex taproot and a single hollow scape; native range: Temperate East Asia — China, Mongolia, Korea; a common weed of fields and roadsides. Globally recognized as pu gong ying (蒲公英) in Chinese, Tarakhshaqun (طرخشقون) in Arabic, and Mongolian dandelion, Chinese dandelion in English. The part used is whole plant with root (gathered in flower). Jagged, back-toothed leaves and a bitter white latex; the golden ray-flower closes to a grey seed-clock.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
DANDELION
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Dandelion
- Scientific name
- Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.
- Family
- Asteraceae (Compositae)
Form
- Part used
- whole plant with root (gathered in flower)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · sweet
- Western
- bitter
- Unani
- bitter
Temperature
TCM: cold
Western: cool
Unani: cold (& dry, 1st degree)
convergence: all {witness_count} witnesses read it cool-to-cold — a bitter herb that drains heat and damp
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Stomach
- Western
- liver · kidneys · digestion
- Unani
- liver · stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses and swellings, drains dampness and promotes urination, benefits the Liver
- Western
- bitter hepatic and cholagogue, diuretic, mild aperient, digestive tonic
- Unani
- mufatteh sudad (deobstruent), muqawwi-e-jigar (liver tonic), mudirr-e-baul (diuretic), cooling alterative
Cautions
Contraindications: cold, deficient digestion with loose stool; obstruction of the bile duct
Toxicity: well tolerated; large doses may loosen the bowel; latex can irritate sensitive skin
Interactions
- Western
- diuretics: additive diuresis; the leaf's potassium content and water loss may alter lithium levels · antidiabetic agents: mild additive glucose lowering
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