Plant Comparison
Selfheal vs Dandelion
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Selfheal and Dandelion: they share 8 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, immune support, infection (general), …); 8 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Selfheal | Dandelion | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Immune support | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Infection (general) | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Skin irritation | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Wounds | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 7/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Selfheal |
| Cardiovascular / heart health | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Pentacyclic triterpenoids (ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids), the phenolic acid rosmarinic acid, coumarins (umbelliferone, scopoletin, esculetin) and the flavonoid luteolin are the main bioactives behind self-heal's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity.
Water-extracted polysaccharides — including a partially sulphated arabinogalactomannan (PSP-2B) and polyphenolic-protein-polysaccharide conjugates (PVG/PVE30) — are the principal antiviral and immunomodulatory constituents, blocking herpes simplex virus attachment and modulating innate immune signalling.
Bitter principles (e.g. taraxacin) responsible for the characteristic bitterness and bitter-tonic action.
Including taraxasterol; contribute to anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective signals.
Antioxidant constituents (e.g. chicoric acid, luteolin derivatives).
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antiviral action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from bitter-tonic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from hepatoprotective action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from choleretic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
Dandelion root and leaf lowered serum lipids and oxidative stress (preclinical).
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally very safe and well tolerated. No significant known toxicity or drug interactions. Safe for topical and internal use in normal medicinal doses. Suitable for most adults including children in appropriate doses.
Duke (2002) rates self-heal as +++ and notes antioxidant (score 2), anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and COX-2 inhibitory activities. The plant contains luteolin, rosmarinic acid, and hyperoside — all with well-documented bioactivities. Hepatoprotective activity has been experimentally demonstrated. Duke notes that self-heal has a broad antimicrobial spectrum and an impressive antioxidant profile, supporting its traditional reputation as a versatile wound-healing herb. No significant safety concerns at normal herbal doses (Duke, 2002).
Allergy risk in individuals sensitive to Asteraceae (daisy family) plants such as ragweed and chamomile.
Avoid medicinal use in anyone with a blocked bile duct or gallstones; use caution with gallbladder or serious liver disease.
May potentiate prescription diuretics; possible interactions with lithium and drugs metabolised by the liver.
Can accumulate soil pollutants and heavy metals; harvest from clean, unpolluted sites.
Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding should be guided by a qualified practitioner. Herbal use should support, not replace, conventional medical care.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Low, creeping to semi-erect perennial herb (Lamiaceae), 5-30 cm tall, with square, often purplish stems. Leaves are opposite, ovate with slightly toothed margins. Small, two-lipped, violet-purple flowers are densely packed into a compact, club-shaped terminal spike subtended by purplish bracts.[1]
Perennial herb (Asteraceae) with a deep taproot, forming a basal rosette of deeply toothed, lance-shaped leaves - the name 'dandelion' comes from the French 'dent-de-lion', lion's tooth. Hollow flowering stalks each bear a single, bright yellow composite flower head made entirely of ray florets, followed by the familiar spherical 'clock' of parachute-tufted seeds (achenes) that disperse on the wind.[50]
Habitat
Native throughout Europe, Asia and North America (circumboreal), extremely common in lawns, meadows, woodland clearings, roadsides and waste ground, tolerating mowing and a wide range of soils.[1]
Native to Europe and Asia, now a cosmopolitan weed found on every continent except Antarctica; grows in lawns, meadows, roadsides, waste ground and disturbed soil of almost any type.[50]
Harvesting
Whole flowering aerial parts (flower, leaf and stem) are cut during flowering (summer) and dried.[1]
Leaves are picked young in spring for the mildest flavour; the root is dug in autumn (traditionally after the first frost), when its inulin and bitter-principle content is considered optimal; flowers are picked as they open.[50, 53]
Traditional Uses
Selfheal has an extremely broad folk-medicine reputation across European, North American and Traditional Chinese Medicine traditions - as its name suggests, used as an all-purpose wound herb, gargle for sore throat, and internal remedy for fevers and inflammation. Modern research on its triterpenoid, phenolic and polysaccharide constituents supports wide-ranging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral activity.[1]
Dandelion is one of the most widely used bitter tonic herbs worldwide, traditionally taken as a digestive bitter and mild diuretic - the French name 'pissenlit' (wet-the-bed) reflects this - and the root specifically as a liver and gallbladder tonic. Every part is also used as food: spring greens, roasted-root coffee substitute, and flower wine.[50]
Preparations
Dried aerial parts steeped in hot water, taken internally or used as a gargle or wash.
Dosage
Traditional guidance suggests roughly 2-4 g dried herb per cup as an infusion, up to three times daily, or an equivalent tincture; used topically as a wash or gargle at similar strength. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Traditional guidance suggests roughly 4-10 g dried leaf, or 2-8 g dried root, per day as an infusion or decoction, divided into 2-3 doses. Educational reference only, not a prescription; avoid in bile-duct obstruction or gallstones, and harvest away from polluted ground.
References
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
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https://doi.org/10.1900/RDS.2016.13.113 - Choi, J. and Yoon, K.D. and Kim, J (2017) 'Chemical constituents from Taraxacum officinale and their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities', Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 28(3), pp. 476-481. doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.12.014 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.2174/2210315510999201109202255 - Nassan, M.A. and Soliman, M.M. and Ismail, S. and El‐Shazly, S.A (2018) 'Effect of Taraxacum officinale extract on PI3K/Akt pathway in DMBA-induced breast cancer in albino rats', Bioscience Reports. doi:10.1042/bsr20180334 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1042/bsr20180334 - Nguyen, C. and Mehaidli, A. and Baskaran, K. and Grewal, S. and Pupulin, A. and Ruvinov, I. and Scaria, B. and Parashar, K. and Vegh, C. and Pandey, S (2019) 'Dandelion Root and Lemongrass Extracts Induce Apoptosis, Enhance Chemotherapeutic Efficacy, and Reduce Tumour Xenograft Growth In Vivo in Prostate Cancer', Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi:10.1155/2019/2951428 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1740142 - Yang, Y. and Ying, G. and Wu, S. and Wu, F. and Chen, Z (2020) 'In vitro inhibition effects of hepatitis B virus by dandelion and taraxasterol', Infectious Agents and Cancer. doi:10.1186/s13027-020-00309-4 Preclinical
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Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.