Dandelion
Supplement Forms/Alternate Names:
• Taraxacum, lion’s tooth, blowball
Introduction
Dandelion is an herb that has been used to help with liver function and digestion. The leaves and root can be taken as a pill, powder, or extract. The leafy greens can also be made into a tea, soup, or eaten plain.
DosagesThere aren’t any advised doses for dandelion.
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
- Weedkiller poisoning—may improve prognosis when used with standard treatmentB1
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Sore throatA1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take dandelion for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any alternative therapy or supplements you are taking to make sure it does not interfere with your current treatment. For example:
- People taking antibiotics should talk to their doctor before taking dandelion. It may interact with the medicine.
- People taking medicine to prevent or treat blood clots should talk to their doctor before taking dandelion. It may increase the risk of bleeding.
- People who are allergic to ragweed should not take dandelion. It may cause an allergic reaction.
References [ + ]
A. Sore Throat
A1. Huang Y, Wu T, et al. Chinese medicinal herbs for sore throat. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Mar 14;(3):CD004877.
B. Weedkiller Poisoning
B1. Zhao Y, Jian XD, et al. [Clinical effect of compound monoammonium glycyrrhizinate combined with dandelion in treatment of acute paraquat poisoning]. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2016;34(7):535-537.
Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board
Eric Hurwitz, DC
Last Updated: 5/27/2020