Remedy Library
Dandelion
How people use the root and leaves, what they are traditionally used for, and the safety notes.
Dandelion is the common yard plant, and one of my most-watched videos. Here is the plain, safe version.
Every part of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been used as food and as a folk remedy. The bitter root is roasted for a coffee-like drink or brewed as tea, and the young leaves go in salads.
This page is the free overview. The full dandelion profile, with the research, label doses and every medicine interaction, is in the Remedies Vault. See what’s in the Vault →
How people use it
- Root tea: 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried, chopped root simmered in a cup of water for about 10 minutes, then strained.
- Roasted root “coffee”: roasted ground root brewed like coffee. It has no caffeine.
- Leaf tea: 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaf steeped in just-boiled water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- As food: young leaves in a salad or cooked like spinach. Only pick from places that are not sprayed and away from roads.
Most people have a cup or two a day for a few weeks at a time. For capsules or tinctures, follow the product label.
What it is traditionally used for
In folk herbalism, dandelion is a classic bitter:
- the root to support digestion and the liver’s bile flow,
- the leaf as a gentle “water pill” (it makes you pee more),
- a mild, food-like spring tonic.
What the research says: most studies are in the lab or in animals, plus a few small human studies. There is not enough good human evidence to say it helps any health condition, so think of it as a traditional food and tea, not a treatment.
- are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chamomile, marigolds or other plants in the daisy family,
- have gallstones, gallbladder or bile-duct problems, or liver disease,
- have an intestinal blockage,
- are pregnant or breastfeeding (stick to food amounts),
- have been told to limit fluids, or have a heart, kidney or blood pressure condition,
- take water pills (diuretics), diabetes medicine, blood thinners, or other prescription medicines.
It is not recommended for children under 12. Common side effects are heartburn, an upset stomach and loose stools.
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Sources
Educational only, not medical advice. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA or Health Canada and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any remedy, supplement, or detox, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)