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.

Dosages

There 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 throat A1

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

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