According to Rachel Nall of Medical News Today, people can brew whole dandelion plants or just the leaves, roots, or stems to make tea. Dandelion tea is high in vitamin A and may have many health benefits, but there isn't enough scientific evidence to back it up. Dandelion teas differ in nutritional content because different amounts of plant material are used to brew them, and some manufacturers add other ingredients to the drink. In fact, Anna Schaefer claims that these "weeds" are widely used in folk medicine and have been for a long time. When people talk about dandelion tea, they mostly mean one of two things: an infusion made from the plant's leaves or one made from roasted dandelion roots.
If you're feeling bloated, dandelion tea may help because it's a diuretic and increases urine output. Bevin A Clare and colleagues published a study in 2009 that found an increase in urine output after two 1-cup servings of dandelion tea made from the plant's leaves. Dandelion root has traditionally been used as a "liver tonic" in folk medicine. Preliminary research suggests that this is due, in part, to its ability to increase bile flow. Naturopaths believe that dandelion root tea can help detoxify the liver, treat skin and eye problems, and relieve liver disease symptoms. According to a 2017 study by Liangliang Cai and colleagues, polysaccharides in dandelion may be beneficial to liver function.
The roots of young dandelion plants are roasted to a dark brown color, according to Anna Schaefer. It can then be enjoyed as a coffee substitute after steeping in hot water and straining. This product of pre-prepared dandelion root may be available at your local health food store, but you can also harvest and make it from your own non-insecticide-treated lawn-variety dandelions. A recent Korean study in 2008 by Jian Zhang and colleagues suggests that dandelion may have similar effects on the body as the weight loss drug Orlistat, which works by inhibiting pancreatic lipase, an enzyme released during digestion to break down fat. Testing the effect of dandelion extract on mice yielded similar results, prompting researchers to recommend further research into dandelion's potential anti-obesity effects.
Furthermore, dandelion root tea has a variety of digestive benefits, though much of the evidence is anecdotal. It has traditionally been used to increase appetite, relieves minor digestive ailments, and possibly relieve constipation. One of the most important aspects of dandelion tea is that it is simple to find and prepare. Before harvesting the plants, just make sure they haven't been treated with any chemicals. Also, ideally, harvest the plants when they are young. Pour hot water over the top of the greens or roasted and ground roots after cleaning and preparing the plant, steep, strain, and enjoy! Most people consider dandelion to be safe. However, touching or ingesting dandelion may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Dandelion has also been linked to drug interactions with diuretics, lithium, and Cipro. Before drinking dandelion tea, it is best to consult your doctor if you are taking any prescription medications.
DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Dandelion tea benefits
Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.D. — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA on November 16, 2018
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323710
2. 7 Ways Dandelion Tea Could Be Good for You
Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Anna Schaefer — Updated on February 8, 2019
https://www.healthline.com/health/ways-dandelion-tea-could-be-good-for-your
3. The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day
Bevin A Clare, Richard S Conroy, Kevin Spelman
