Drinking dandelion tea, or another nonalcoholic beverage, to occasionally encourage urination is unlikely to be harmful. An article in Virology Journal that discusses the role of dandelion extracts and teas in traditional Chinese medicine notes its use as a treatment for urinary infections.
The same study uses in vitro testing to look at the effect of dandelion extracts on human influenza virus A. The extracts led to a reduction in virus levels, and there were no harmful effects on healthy cells. However, more research is necessary to determine whether the extracts would be effective in humans. Dandelion tea cannot substitute the flu vaccine, but it may ease symptoms or help recovery. It is important to note that some people have allergic reactions to dandelion root and teas.
The NIH warn that people are more likely to be allergic to dandelion if they are also allergic to similar plants, including:. Anyone who reacts to these flowers should drink dandelion tea with caution or avoid it altogether.
Although animal and laboratory studies have shown that this beverage has many potential benefits, there are no large-scale human studies to confirm its effectiveness in improving health. Dandelion tea is available for purchase in health food stores and online.
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Drinking dandelion tea is believed to have certain benefits to health. The dark coloring and deep and smoky-tasting notes of the dandelion root are comparative to coffee but you can also brew dandelion leaves and stem to create a lighter floral palate.
As you can see, this herbal tea can be super versatile and come loaded with lots of essential nutrients and vitamins to give you a boost. Dandelion pops its yellow head up everywhere.
From the meadows of Eastern Europe to your own backyard. You can go out with a basket and pick this vibrant and hearty root yourself or you can buy up pre-picked, dried, and bagged dandelion tea to make it a fuss-free experience and to avoid the potential pitfalls of picking up pesticides.
In the future, before you weed and write off this route, first take a read of all the ways in which dandelion tea may be able to boost your health. Fresh with flower power, this common yellow flower comes loaded with plenty of health benefits. For those who are forever in a battle with bloating or have the need to flush their system, drinking dandelion tea can be a natural diuretic.
This brew can help your body to pee, which in turn can rid your liver and kidneys of toxins and keep you fresh and fit. With diabetes type 2 on the rise, it helps to have dandelion tea in your arsenal too. According to a piece published in Diabetic Studies , dandelions can help to moderate blood sugar levels and to improve insulin tolerance too. Antioxidants are just about the best thing your body can get and luckily dandelion tea delivers a high dose.
It is especially high in beta-carotene which helps prevent cellular damage and oxidative stress. Antioxidants are super important for helping your body to neutralize free radicals.
Free radicals contribute to everything from speeding up the signs of aging to developing disease so anything you can do to cut out their presence in the body is going to greatly improve your health. Say farewell to toxins as you get into the habit of sipping dandelion tea on a daily basis. This ancient healing brew can help to cleanse and maintain correct liver health.
The liver is an essential organ for keeping the blood filtered and detoxed which is why anything that can improve liver health and reduce the risk of liver disease should be considered a healthy remedy. Bringing your cholesterol level down is important for those who want to reduce the risk of heart disease and other issues.
A animal study showed that dandelion could help reduce hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is the term used for when you have high lipid levels in the blood and these lipids include cholesterol. The research found that animals who consumed dandelion root extract had a decrease in their cholesterol. While human studies are needed to set the record straight, this could be a potential bonus to sipping dandelion tea.
Some recent studies came out of Korea that compared the dandelion root and its rich properties to some weight loss drugs namely Orlistat. Dandelion is also known as pu gong ying in traditional Chinese medicine and simhadanti in Ayurvedic medicine. Its English folk name "piss-a-bed" and French nickname "pissenlit" both refer to the root's strong diuretic effect. Despite its longstanding use throughout history in herbal remedies, there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the use of dandelion root as a medicine.
Here is what some of the current research says about dandelion root:. Diuretics , also known as "water pills," are commonly used to treat:. While valuable, the drugs may cause side effects, including:.
Some scientists believe that dandelion's diuretic properties may have medical uses. They believe it can treat prediabetes or premenstrual bloating and water retention. Dandelions act as a diuretic. They cause you to produce more urine, helping you remove excess liquid from your body. If you also take prescription diuretics or herbal supplements that make you urinate more, you could risk getting electrolyte imbalance.
This means your body doesn't have the right amounts of minerals. Electrolyte imbalance can lead to serious health problems. In folk medicine, dried dandelion root is often ground into a paste and mixed with water to create a soothing medicine for skin disorders like:.
There's not much evidence that dandelion can treat these conditions better or faster than leaving the skin alone. But it does seem to have mild anti-inflammatory and antipruritic anti-itching properties. Research also suggests that it may help prevent sun damage. A study from Canada reported that dandelion extracts are able to block harmful ultraviolet B UVB radiation when applied to the skin, protecting it from sun damage while lowering the risk of skin cancer.
Dandelion is also known to cause contact dermatitis in some people, especially children. Be careful when applying any dandelion remedy to the skin. Scientists think dandelion root has anti-diabetic properties due to a soluble fiber known as inulin. This carbohydrate supports the growth of healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and gets rid of unhealthy ones.
As a result, it increases insulin sensitivity by slowing the flow of sugar from the intestines to the bloodstream. This prevents spikes in either your blood sugar or insulin levels. A review of studies from Aarhus University in Denmark suggested that dandelion extract also causes the pancreas to produce insulin. This helps to control blood sugar and avoid high blood sugar hyperglycemia.
Dandelion is often taken as a tonic. Some people believe that it "cleanses" the liver. There is some evidence, although not much, to support this longstanding claim. Early research suggests that dandelion root may be an anti-cancer agent.
It does so by causing apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, in certain cancer cells. Apoptosis allows new cells to replace old cells. But with cancer, apoptosis stops working. The tumor cells continue to grow. Dandelion may interfere with the growth of these cancer cells. A study found that dandelion root was able to effectively stop the growth of gastric cancer cells.
It did this without damaging the growth of noncancerous cells. Several studies have shown that different dandelion root extracts were able to trigger apoptosis in leukemia and melanoma. While the studies are encouraging, scientists need to conduct more research before they can recommend dandelion root for either the prevention or treatment of cancer. Dandelion root is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in adults if taken in moderation.
Some people may experience side effects, including:. If you are allergic to the following plants, you should avoid dandelion root:. People who are allergic to dandelion root may experience rash, watery eyes, and other allergy symptoms. But the easiest place to find dandelions is right in your front yard. Sure, dandelions are literally weeds, but don't let that fool you. Weeds are strong and resilient—albeit annoying—after all.
By sipping on dandelion tea, you can tap into that always-grows-back-despite-how-much-you-pick-it strength and other, more tangible, benefits. Here are the top six science-backed benefits of dandelion root tea:. One of the earliest recorded uses of dandelion tea is as a diuretic , helping the body eliminate excess body water through the kidneys and urine.
This may be due to the plant's high potassium content , which can signal the body to flush out sodium. Diuretics can be helpful for relieving fluid retention, PMS, and bloating. Vitamin-rich dandelion root is a good source of antioxidants , which protect the body from oxidative stress and damage.
Antioxidants work all over the body, but beta-carotene , in particular, has been shown to have a protective effect on the liver. Plus, a specific carbohydrate found in dandelion root has been shown to act like an antioxidant, protecting the liver from cellular damage that can lead to acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity. What's more, animal studies suggest that dandelion root may prevent diet-related fat accumulation in the liver , which can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Because dandelion root is full of gut-friendly fiber, it's no wonder it improves digestion. Research has found the dandelion plant to increase Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium , the two most common species used as probiotics and associated with gut health. Dandelion tea may therefore decrease bloating, gas, and general digestive discomfort. Bitters made from dandelion greens are also a common remedy for digestive maladies.
Dandelion root has been shown to have anti-diabetic properties such as enhancing insulin secretion and sensitivity and reducing hyperglycemic events. In one study, supplementing with dandelion root powder significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes.
More research is needed, but the blood sugar stabilizing effects of dandelion tea are promising. Several phytochemical compounds in dandelion, such as sesquiterpene lactones, taraxasterol, and chlorogenic acid, have been found to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Inflammation has been linked to everything from chronic disease to cognitive function , so keeping it under control should be a priority for everyone. According to one study, dandelion exerts similar triglyceride-lowering and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effects to the weight loss drug Orlistat. Pancreatic lipase is the body's primary way of absorbing fat, so reducing this enzyme may result in improved weight maintenance. Bonus: Dandelion tea can act as a coffee substitute. While dandelion tea is caffeine-free, it has a similar aroma and flavor to coffee but without the acidity.
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