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What is the healing effect of dandelion?

In the spring, many meadows are full of dandelions. A cheerful sight, but did you know that this plant also has powerful medicinal properties? The leaves and roots of dandelions contain tannins and other 'bitter substances' that are beneficial for digestion and liver function, in both humans and horses.

Dandelion

7 August '23 • 3 min reading time

The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) may seem like such a common plant and is often seen as a weed, but it is actually a very special flower. Both the leaves and the root have been used for centuries for their medicinal properties.

Dandelion for digestion

Dandelion gives your horse's digestion a real boost. An adult horse's digestive system is about 40 meters long and can hold up to 200 liters! This huge organ is crucial for a horse's health. Dandelion supports the functioning of the stomach and intestines. It also has a stimulating effect on bile function. Humans have a gallbladder, where bile is produced that breaks down fats. Horses do not have a gallbladder; their bile function is carried out by the intestines themselves. It is therefore crucial for this system to work well. Dandelion helps with this. Studies on people with digestive problems have also shown improved bowel movements and reduced abdominal pain.

Dandelion eliminates uric acid

Dandelion also helps to eliminate uric acid, a waste product of protein metabolism. Uric acid is produced during physical exertion and stress. Normally, uric acid leaves the body through the kidneys, but heavy work or a lot of stress can lead to overproduction of uric acid. If there is too much of this acid in the blood, the body converts some of it into crystals, which accumulate in the joints. These uric acid crystals with sharp protrusions can cause pain and stiffness. A high level of uric acid in the blood is also linked to overweight and poor metabolic function. There is also a relationship with insulin resistance and diabetes. It is therefore important for horses to eliminate uric acid quickly to prevent stiffness and metabolic disorders such as EMS, laminitis, and insulin resistance. Dandelion supports the body in removing uric acid, ultimately lowering blood sugar levels.

Dandelion for liver and kidneys

Scientific research has also shown that dandelion has a protective effect on the kidneys and liver. Both the liver and kidneys are responsible for removing waste products from the body. By feeding dandelion extract, the liver is better able to handle toxic substances and can better eliminate already absorbed waste. Liver damage is reduced after administering dandelion extract. Kidney function can also improve with dandelion. Kidneys and liver can better eliminate toxic substances with the help of dandelion, effectively cleansing the body.

Supplementing with dandelion?

When your horse is surrounded by dandelions in the spring, it will likely eat some of them. But for the rest of the year, you can occasionally give your horse a course of dandelion extract. The extract is made not only from the leaves but also from the powerful root of the dandelion plant. Because an extract is liquid, it is easily absorbed in the intestines.

Sources:

Angela Villiger, Filippo Sala, Andy Suter, Veronika Butterweck. In vitro inhibitory potential of Cynara scolymus, Silybum marianum, Taraxacum officinale, and Peumus boldus on key enzymes relevant to metabolic syndrome. Phytomedicine, Volume 22, Issue 1. 2015.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2014.11.015

Fors, Maria, 2009. Herbs for horses. First cycle, G2E. Uppsala: SLU, Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management.

https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/1454/7/fors_m_101007.pdf

Sheezan Rasool and Bharti Sharma. 2014. Taraxacum officinale: a high value less known medicinal plant. Centre for Biodiversity Studies, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, BGSB University, Rajouri-185131, J & K, India.

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=9d99b2bab4d413569e3b25ef565e33b07c04f7bf

Muhammad Gulfraz, Dawood Ahamd, Muhammad Sheeraz Ahmad, Rehmatullah Qureshi, Raja Tahir Mahmood, Nyla Jabeen and Kashif Sarfraz Abbasi. 2014. Effect of leaf extracts of Taraxacum officinale on CCl4 induced Hepatotoxicity in rats, in vivo study. Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., Vol.27, No.4, July 2014, pp.825-829 825.

https://www.academia.edu/download/41928536/Effect_of_leaf_extracts_of_Taraxacum_off20160203-30232-17ula27.pdf

Pfingstgraf, I.O.; Taulescu, M.; Pop, R.M.; Orăsan, R.; Vlase, L.; Uifalean, A.; Todea, D.; Alexescu, T.; Toma, C.; Pârvu, A.E. Protective Effects of Taraxacum officinale L. (Dandelion) Root Extract in Experimental Acute on Chronic Liver Failure. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 504. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10040504

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