Taraxacum

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I have noticed here in Portland, OR, what appears to be a variety of

dandelion (taraxacum, pu gong ying) that i didn't see on the east coast.

Maybe someone can tell me if this is indeed a dandelion, plus any taxonomic

info, and possibly (?) any differences in properties from the officinalis

species.

Its leaves grow in the same rosette pattern, but they tend to be narrower

than the usual dandelion, and they're pubescent (unlike the smooth greens we

like to put into salads). The clearest distinction is that the flower

stalks tend to branch - terminating in a couple flowers - and they tend to

be thin and tall. The flowers (inflorescences) are maybe slightly smaller

than " regular " dandelions, but they dry into similar fluffy spheres of seeds

that are easily blown away. When the plant is broken it exudes a white

latex similar to what i'm accustomed to seeing in the usual dandelion.

I see these all over my neighborhood in the southeast section of the city.

Maybe others are familiar with these and can clarify this for me. Is this a

subspecies of T. officinalis or is it another species or is it not a

dandelion at all?

 

ALSO,

I know dandelions are rich in potassium (so K supplementation while using it

as a diuretic may needn't be a consideration), but is their diuretic action

potassium-sparing?

 

thanks,

Peter Borten

[Guest guest]

, " Peter Borten "

<innergate@e...>

wrote:

 

> Maybe others are familiar with these and can clarify this for me.

Is this a

> subspecies of T. officinalis or is it another species or is it not a

> dandelion at all?

 

I've wondered about this myself. This is a good question for a local

wildcrafter. Call eclectic institute or herb pharm. I bet they know.

>

> ALSO,

> I know dandelions are rich in potassium (so K supplementation while

using it

> as a diuretic may needn't be a consideration), but is their

diuretic action

> potassium-sparing?

 

If a patient is at risk for potassium loss, then he should be

monitored

by a physician. I have never heard of problems with dandelion, but I

do not think it could be classed as a K sparing diuretic. Contact

John

Chen about this. Li Dong yuan thought excessive diuresis was a big

problem in TCM therapy, so one should always use such herbs only when

indicated by zheng.

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I am new to this list-and I have also been on Vacation-so there are many

postings from CHA. Regarding dandelion and potassium: it is a remarkable

plant in that, while it possesses strong diuretic action, it has so much

potassium that there is actually a net increase in serum pot. levels.

 

And while I have the floor- I need help w/ a case. I am seeing a woman w/

hyperparathyrioditis. She is 49, still menstruating regularly. She is losing

LOTS of calcium and has developed osteoporosis. Her energy is great. She has

very warm-not sweaty-hands. Her tongue is large, swollen, pale and

stickyyellow/wh moss. Her pulses are soft, slippery, a little slow. Rarely do

I see such clear cut damp-cold excess. But I don't know where to go with it.

Any help or experience would be appreciated.

 

Cara Frank

[Guest guest]

She is robust on the best sense of the word. She does have some emotional

stress: long term unhappy marriage. Her career as a body worker gives her a

lot of satisfaction. She has 2 teenage daughters, which is of course, a

teensy bit stressful. her diet is pretty healthy- few refined foods, she quit

coffee, no smoking. she was relying on large amounts of dairy for her

calcium- which I have steered her away from and towards plant calciums. the

dairy may have exacerbated the dampness, but I don't think it is the cause.

the signs and symptoms of kidney yin def. grabbed my attention too: I

included Kid./bone tonics in her rx: gu sui bu, du zhong, etc. They are warm

however, and so I am cautious.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cara

[Guest guest]

on 8/23/00 11:19 AM, herbbabe at herbbabe wrote:

 

> Hello all,

> I am new to this list-and I have also been on Vacation-so there are many

> postings from CHA. Regarding dandelion and potassium: it is a remarkable

> plant in that, while it possesses strong diuretic action, it has so much

> potassium that there is actually a net increase in serum pot. levels.

>

> And while I have the floor- I need help w/ a case. I am seeing a woman w/

> hyperparathyrioditis. She is 49, still menstruating regularly. She is losing

> LOTS of calcium and has developed osteoporosis. Her energy is great. She has

> very warm-not sweaty-hands. Her tongue is large, swollen, pale and

> stickyyellow/wh moss. Her pulses are soft, slippery, a little slow. Rarely do

> I see such clear cut damp-cold excess. But I don't know where to go with it.

> Any help or experience would be appreciated.

>

> Cara Frank

>

 

You have an interesting case here. The 'great energy' sounds to me like the

kidney yang is counterflowing, considering that her tongue is large, swollen

and pale, indicating kidney qi and spleen yang vacuity. However, the

sticky yellow/white tongue coat indicates developing damp heat. . .. again,

connected with counterflow mingmen fire (associated with the kidney yang),

spleen qi xu dampness transforming to damp heat. The loss of calcium and

bone density is related to severe depletion of the kidney qi and

jing/essence, the spleen is not transforming food and drink properly. I

think there must be other issues here as well. . .

1) any signs of liver qi depression?

2) any emotional issues?

3) any use of medications, coffee, smoking/

4) good or poor diet?

 

Answer these for me and we could come up with something.

 

All the best,