Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)
Medicinal Profile of
Dandelion Root
(Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale), is one of the most versatile herbs in Western herbalism, bridging the digestive, hepatic, urinary, and lymphatic systems. Traditionally used as a spring tonic and liver cleanser, it is both nutritive and detoxifying, gently encouraging elimination while nourishing depleted states. In Western folk medicine it was valued as a “blood purifier,” while in modern herbalism it is considered a reliable bitter tonic, diuretic, and hepatoprotective herb. Its grounding, earthy qualities mirror its action: rooting down into sluggish systems and awakening them with steady stimulation.
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👉 Tastes describe the initial impression a herb leaves on the tongue, and they reveal its deeper actions in the body, shaping digestion, circulation, and tissue response.
Bitter – Stimulating to liver, gallbladder, and digestion.
Slightly Sweet (nutritive undertone) – Restorative, provides mild nourishment.
Earthy/Acrid – Reflects its grounding, detoxifying qualities.
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👉 Qualities describe the felt nature of a substance or practice, and how it acts in the body beyond nutrients or chemistry.
Stabilizing – Reduces heat and inflammation in liver and digestion.
Drying – Clears dampness, edema, and stagnation.
Light – Easy on digestion, promotes elimination without heaviness.
Mobile – Moves bile, urine, and lymph, dispersing stagnation.
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👉 Affinities describe which organ systems or tissues a herb most directly influences, showing where its actions are felt most strongly.
Primary Affinities
Digestive System (Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach) – Bitter tonic, stimulates bile flow, clears stagnation.
Urinary System – Gentle diuretic, relieves water retention and edema.
Secondary Affinities
(Organs or systems that the remedy influences indirectly, or to a lesser degree than its primary targets.)Integumentary System (Skin) – Clears eruptions by supporting detoxification.
Lymphatic System – Moves lymph sluggishness associated with damp stagnation.
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👉 Terrain patterns describe the body’s functional state, showing when a herb is most helpful or aggravating.
👉 To learn more about these patterns in depth, read this blog.Primary Indication
Fluid Congestion and Stagnation – When fluids, mucus, or wastes build up, creating heaviness or boggy tissues. Form & Application: Decoction of dried root, roasted root infusion, or tincture. Dose: Decoction — 1 cup, 1–2x daily; Tincture — 1–2 mL, up to 3x daily.
Secondary Indication (Patterns a remedy can alleviate indirectly and over time.)
Hyperreactivity (Heat/Excitation) – When the body is over-responsive or inflamed, showing up as irritation, redness, or sensitivity. Form & Application: Root decoction or tincture taken over time for systemic clearing. Dose: Decoction — 1 cup daily; Tincture — 1 mL, 1–2x daily. -
👉 Constituents are the natural compounds in a herb that give rise to its actions in the body.
Sesquiterpene lactones (taraxacin, taraxacerin) – Bitter compounds, digestive stimulants.
Inulin (prebiotic fiber) – Nourishes gut flora, improves metabolism.
Triterpenes & sterols (taraxasterol, β-sitosterol) – Anti-inflammatory, liver-protective.
Phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic) – Antioxidant, detoxifying.
Flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin) – Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.
Minerals – High in potassium (supports diuretic effect), calcium, magnesium, iron.
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👉 Nutritional values give the measurable nutrients that a food contributes to the diet.
Nutritional Value (per 1 cup chopped raw root, ~105 g)
Calories: ~78, Carbohydrates: ~18 g, Fiber: ~3–4 g (including inulin, a prebiotic fiber), Sugars: ~1 g, Protein: ~1.5 g, Fat: ~0.4 g
Key Micronutrients
Potassium: ~390 mg (~11% DV), Calcium: ~115 mg (~9% DV), Iron: ~1.8 mg (~10% DV), Magnesium: ~24 mg (~6% DV), Vitamin A precursors: Trace carotenoids, Vitamin C: ~4 mg (~7% DV)
Phytonutrients
Inulin – Prebiotic fiber supporting gut microbiome., Sesquiterpene lactones – Bitter compounds that stimulate digestion., Phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic) – Antioxidant, liver-protective.
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👉 Medicinal actions describe the specific ways a herb influences organ systems and body functions.
Digestive & Hepatic Systems
Bitter tonic – Stimulates gastric secretions, bile flow, and appetite.
Cholagogue – Promotes bile release from the gallbladder, aiding fat digestion.
Hepatoprotective – Supports and protects liver function against overload.
Mild laxative – Gently encourages bowel movements through bitter and fiber content.
Urinary System
Diuretic (“pissenlit”) – Promotes urination and reduces water retention without depleting potassium.
Renal support – Assists kidney clearance of wastes.
Integumentary System (Internal)
Alterative (“blood purifier”) – Clears chronic skin issues by supporting liver and kidney detox.
Anti-inflammatory – Reduces irritation and redness tied to systemic congestion.
Lymphatic System
Lymphagogue – Encourages movement of lymphatic fluid, easing swollen or boggy tissues.
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Second Degree – Reliable and noticeable systemic effects on liver, digestion, urinary flow, and skin, but safe for broad use in food-like doses.
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Diuretics – May enhance diuretic effects; generally safe due to high potassium content, but monitor.
Lithium – Increased clearance possible with diuretic effect.
Hypoglycemics / insulin – May lower blood sugar slightly; monitor in sensitive individuals.
Antibiotics (quinolones, tetracyclines) – Phenolic acids may reduce absorption if taken together.
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Decoction – Dried root simmered 10–15 min; taken for liver, digestion, or urinary support.
Roasted root infusion – Used as coffee substitute; milder but still detoxifying.
Tincture – Alcohol extract for concentrated digestive/liver stimulation.
Powder – Encapsulated or blended into formulas for bitter and nutritive support.
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Hypofunction terrain – May aggravate cold, sluggish digestion if used alone; best balanced with warming carminatives.
Allergies – Possible cross-reactivity in those allergic to Asteraceae plants (ragweed, chamomile, daisies).
Gallstones / bile duct obstruction – Strong cholagogue action may worsen symptoms; use cautiously.
Pregnancy / breastfeeding – Generally considered safe in moderate food-like doses; limited clinical data at higher doses.
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Traditional Sources
Grieve, M. (1931). A Modern Herbal. Penguin. (Notes dandelion’s diuretic, hepatic, and alterative actions.)
Culpeper, N. (1653). The Complete Herbal. (Describes dandelion as a cleanser of obstructions in the liver and spleen.)
King's American Dispensatory (1898). Eclectic Medical Publications. (Classic reference on dandelion’s use as a tonic and alterative.)
Modern Sources
Yarnell, E., & Abascal, K. (2006). “Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale and T. mongolicum).” Integrative Medicine, 5(2), 35–38.
Clare, B. A., Conroy, R. S., & Spelman, K. (2009). “The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 929–934.
Schütz, K., Carle, R., & Schieber, A. (2006). “Taraxacum — a review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 107(3), 313–323.
USDA FoodData Central. (2024). Nutrient data for dandelion root, raw. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
