Herb Profile

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) carries an editorial Grade A rating, but the studies recorded on this profile do not demonstrate that grade.

Last reviewed: 3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·Unassigned

Use extra caution Avoid with Asteraceae/ragweed allergy. Details

Evidence
Editorial Grade Not Demonstrated By Recorded Studies

No human outcome study is recorded on this profile yet.

Typical onset
Varies by prep
Safety rating
High caution
Best for
Digestive, Diuretic, Inflammatory signaling
Avoid / review if
Asteraceae Allergy, Bile Duct Obstruction, Serious Kidney Disease Unless Supervised
Dandelion monograph visual
The Hippie Scientist

At a glance

From this profile's structured data
Evidence
Editorial grade not demonstrated by recorded studies
Safety
Avoid with Asteraceae/ragweed allergy.
Profile context
digestive, diuretic
Next steps

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Safety

Safety & Cautions

Avoid with Asteraceae/ragweed allergy. Caution with diuretics, lithium, kidney disease, bile duct obstruction/gallbladder disease, GERD, and antihypertensive or glucose lowering therapy.

High caution

Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications

  • Asteraceae Allergy
  • Bile Duct Obstruction
  • Serious Kidney Disease Unless Supervised
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Review.
  • Diuretics
  • Lithium
  • Antihypertensives
  • Glucose Lowering Therapy
  • Theoretical Quinolone Absorption Concern And Additive GI Irritation Possible.

Safety classifications

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Full safety note

  • Avoid with Asteraceae/ragweed allergy. Caution with diuretics, lithium, kidney disease, bile duct obstruction/gallbladder disease, GERD, and antihypertensive or glucose lowering therapy.

Safety labels

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution

Evidence-based safety

Caution when combined

Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.

Moderate Caution

191 flagged pairings

Blood-sugar lowering · Blood-pressure effects

Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.

Evidence

Evidence Summary

Evidence lens

Treat this profile as unresolved until source review is complete.

Needs reviewEditorial Grade Not Demonstrated By Recorded Studies

Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mappedNF KB Modulation · Nrf2 Activation

Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic researchMechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.

Safety boundary: Safety note availableAvoid with Asteraceae/ragweed allergy.

This profile cites 3 human studies.

Study design details
Evidence Grade

Evidence grade not assigned

Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.

Design Match
Narrative review
Risk of Bias
High
Consistency
Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a narrative review, drawn from 2 recorded studies, none of which measured an outcome in people.
How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable

Filter by study class

Showing 3 of 3 studies.

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 3 structured sources, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials.

StudyDesignNDoseDurationPopulationOutcomeResult & magnitudeSource

Scalp Seborrheic Dermatitis: What We Know So Far

Leroy AK et al. · Skin Appendage Disord · 2023

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Dandelion (Taraxacum Genus): A Review of Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Effects

Fan M et al. · Molecules · 2023

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Mechanisms of Dandelion in RAW264.7 Macrophages and Zebrafish Larvae

Li W et al. · Front Pharmacol · 2022

Background
Other / unclear

The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy.

PubMed

Dosing & Timing

No standardized dose
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Preparation varies by tradition and product form and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Dandelion works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Dandelion Works

How Dandelion WorksDandelion acts on biological target pathways via nf kb inhibition, leading to digestive.DandelionBiological TargetBiological pathwayNF KB InhibitionDigestiveObservable outcomeNrf2 ActivationParallel pathway
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
  • NF KB Modulation
  • Nrf2 Activation

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Compare & Sourcing

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Sourcing options

Dandelion product picks

Recommendation status

Product recommendations are not shown for this profile because the current site safety and monetization policy does not permit them.

Product form & quality guidelines

When sourcing Dandelion, verify the label for:

  • Standardized extract: Confirm active content percentages on the supplement facts panel (e.g. standardized to specific marker compounds) rather than simple raw herb weights.
  • Third-party testing: Look for independent purity labels (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab, or Eurofins) to ensure the product is free from heavy metals, solvents, and contaminants.
  • Form bioavailability: Ensure the form matches evidence-supported configurations (e.g. standardized active extracts like bacosides, withanolides, or curcuminoids) for optimal onset and digestion tolerance.

Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

Editorial Standards →

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