Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): what the EU herbal committee and human studies say about digestion and urine output, and the allergy, gallstone, ulcer and potassium cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Dandelion good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Traditional relief of mild digestive complaints
Not enough evidenceThe EU herbal committee accepts dandelion root with herb for mild indigestion: fullness, gas, slow digestion and temporary loss of appetite. This is based on long use only, not on trials.
Supplements: Traditional use only; no trial evidence found.
Traditional use to increase urine
Preliminary or mixedThe EU committee accepts it as a traditional remedy to flush the urinary tract in minor complaints. A one-day pilot in 17 adults with a fresh-leaf extract found more urination after the first dose but no change after the third.
Supplements: Pilot only; more studies are needed according to its authors.
Research on its plant compounds
Lab or animal research onlyA 2015 review lists sesquiterpenes, saponins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids in dandelion and says pharmacology work is common but interest in human clinical trials is limited.
Supplements: Lab and animal research does not show benefit in people.
Liver, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight claims
Not enough evidenceDandelion is marketed for these, but no human trial evidence was found in the sources read.
Supplements: No good human evidence found.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (2)
- Hepatic / Liver SystemDocumented risk
The EU herbal committee lists liver disease and bile duct disease as reasons not to use dandelion root with herb.
- Heart & CirculationDocumented risk
Avoid in heart failure because of possible high potassium, per the EU herbal committee.
Body parts (6)
- GallbladderDocumented risk
The EU herbal committee lists bile duct blockage, cholangitis, gallstones and other biliary disease as reasons not to use dandelion root with herb.
- HeartDocumented risk
The EU herbal committee says use should be avoided in heart failure because of possible high potassium (hyperkalemia).
- Immune SystemDocumented risk
Allergy to plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae) is a listed reason not to use dandelion, and allergic reactions can occur.
- KidneysDocumented risk
The EU herbal committee says dandelion root with herb should be avoided in kidney failure because of possible high potassium (hyperkalemia).
- LiverDocumented risk
The EU herbal committee lists liver disease as a reason not to use dandelion root with herb. Dandelion has not been shown to protect the liver.
- StomachDocumented risk
Active peptic ulcer is a listed reason not to use dandelion root with herb, and stomach pain and extra stomach acid can occur.
Conditions & symptoms (7)
- Bile Duct DiseasesDocumented risk
Bile duct blockage and other biliary disease are listed reasons not to use it.
- CholangitisDocumented risk
Cholangitis is a listed reason not to use dandelion root with herb.
- CholelithiasisDocumented risk
Gallstones are a listed reason not to use dandelion root with herb.
- Heart FailureDocumented risk
People with heart failure should avoid it because of possible high potassium.
- HyperkalemiaDocumented risk
The committee advises avoiding it in kidney failure, diabetes or heart failure because of possible high potassium.
- Kidney FailureDocumented risk
People with kidney failure should avoid it because of possible high potassium.
- Peptic UlcerDocumented risk
Active peptic ulcer is a listed reason not to use dandelion root with herb.
Documented risks and interactions (6)
- Allergy to the daisy family. Allergy to dandelion or other daisy-family (Asteraceae) plants is a listed reason not to use it, and allergic reactions can occur.
- Liver, bile duct and gallbladder disease. Bile duct blockage, cholangitis, liver disease, gallstones and other biliary disease are listed reasons not to use dandelion root with herb.
- Active peptic ulcer and stomach upset. Active peptic ulcer is a listed reason not to use it. Epigastric (upper stomach) pain and extra stomach acid may occur; how often is not known.
- Possible high potassium in kidney failure, diabetes or heart failure. The EU committee says people with kidney failure, diabetes or heart failure should avoid it because of possible high potassium (hyperkalemia).
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established and use is not recommended. Use under 12 is not recommended because data are lacking.
- Medicine interactions not studied. The EU monograph lists no interactions, but that means none were reported, not that none exist. Dandelion is promoted as a diuretic, so ask a pharmacist before combining it with water pills or blood pressure medicines.
Check this first. The EU herbal committee (HMPC) lists allergy to plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae), bile duct blockage, gallstones, liver disease and active peptic ulcer as reasons not to use dandelion root-with-herb medicines. [1] It also says people with kidney failure, diabetes or heart failure should avoid them because of possible high potassium. [1] Allergic reactions and stomach pain can occur. [1]
What dandelion is
Dandelion is a wild plant. [2] The sources we read describe products made from the leaf, from the root with herb, and from the fresh flowering plant. [3][1] GBIF accepts the name Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H.Wigg., family Asteraceae (the daisy family). [4] A research review notes that the genus Taraxacum has more than 2,500 identified species and that fewer than 1% have been studied, so a study on "dandelion" may not describe the plant in your garden or on a label. [2] This page covers dandelion as an herb. For the drink, see dandelion tea.Traditional use
A research review describes dandelion as a wild plant that has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine. [2] The EU herbal committee accepts two traditional uses for dandelion root with herb: relief of mild digestive complaints (a feeling of fullness, gas, slow digestion) and increasing urine to flush the urinary tract in minor urinary complaints. [1] It says these are based only on long-standing use, not on clinical trials. [1] That is traditional use, not proof that the plant works.What research shows
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Plant part and people studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild indigestion, fullness, loss of appetite | Accepted by the EU committee as a traditional use only. [1] Proper evidence not found for human trials in the sources we read (EU committee page and monograph, a 2015 review, PubMed abstracts). | Traditional use only | Root with herb |
| Increasing urine (diuretic effect) | In a one-day pilot, 17 volunteers drank a fresh-leaf extract made with alcohol and water. Urination frequency rose after the first dose, the urine-to-fluid ratio rose after the second, and the third dose changed nothing. [3] The authors say more studies are needed. [3] | Insufficient evidence | Fresh leaf extract; 17 adults; compared with their own baseline days, and the abstract does not describe a placebo group |
| Liver, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight and other uses | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. The 2015 review describes less than enthusiastic interest in further human clinical trials. [2] | Insufficient evidence | Not applicable |
Forms and why the form matters
The EU monograph covers several forms of root with herb: the dried plant for a decoction or infusion, dry and liquid extracts, and pressed juice from the fresh flowering plant. [1] Extracts may contain alcohol, which must be labeled. [1] The pilot study above used a leaf extract, so its result does not carry over to root, tea or capsules. [3]Safety
- Allergy. Daisy-family allergy is a listed contraindication. [1] See herbal allergy and cross-reactivity.
- Liver, bile and stomach. Bile duct blockage, cholangitis, liver disease, gallstones and active peptic ulcer are listed reasons not to use it. [1] See herbs and liver injury for the wider picture.
- Kidney, heart and diabetes. The committee says to avoid use in renal failure, diabetes or heart failure because of possible hyperkalemia (high potassium). [1] See herbs and kidney disease.
- Medicines. The monograph lists no interactions ("None reported"), but that is not proof of safety. [1] Dandelion is promoted as a diuretic, so ask a pharmacist before combining it with water pills, blood pressure medicines or other medicines; see how interactions work.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Safety has not been established and the committee does not recommend use. [1] See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Children. Use in children under 12 is not recommended. [1]
- Before surgery. Not described in the sources we read; tell the surgical team about any herb (guide).
Quality
Products differ in plant part and extract. Look for the botanical name and part on the label and read the herb quality guide and quality testing and certifications.Official statements
- EU HMPC: a traditional herbal medicine for mild digestive complaints and minor urinary complaints, based on long-standing use (monograph document dated 2019). [1]
- EMA lists the dandelion root with herb monograph as under a call for scientific data (status "C"). [5]
Frequently asked questions
Is dandelion a diuretic?
A small one-day pilot in 17 adults found more urination after the first dose of a fresh-leaf extract, but not after the third. More research is needed. [3]
Who should not use dandelion?
The EU committee lists daisy-family allergy, bile duct blockage, gallstones, liver disease and active peptic ulcer, and advises avoiding it with kidney failure, diabetes or heart failure. [1]
Is dandelion safe in pregnancy?
Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, and the committee does not recommend use. [1]
Does dandelion help digestion?
The EU committee accepts it as a traditional use for mild digestive complaints, based on long use rather than trials. [1]
Can I treat a health problem with dandelion?
This page cannot tell you that. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about your situation, especially if you take medicines or have a liver, kidney, heart or gallbladder condition.
References
- EMA, HMPC, Community herbal monograph on Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wigg., radix cum herba (EMA/HMPC/212895/2008 Corr 1), final, document dated 20 November 2019. Read 2026-10-23.
- Martinez M, Poirrier P, Chamy R, et al. Taraxacum officinale and related species: an ethnopharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- Clare BA, Conroy RS, Spelman K. The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. J Altern Complement Med. 2009. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Taraxacum officinale match record. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency (EMA, EU), Taraxaci radix cum herba (dandelion root with herb): herbal medicinal product page. Read 2026-10-23.