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.
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
REFA Sore Throat
REFA1 Huang Y, Wu T, et al. Chinese medicinal herbs for sore throat. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Mar 14;(3):CD004877.
REFB Weedkiller Poisoning
REFB1 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.