what is dandelion tea good for?

Dandelion (taraxacum officinale) has been such an important medicinal plant for centuries. Although it grows abundantly in gardens, most dismiss dandelions as a pesky weed. These bright yellow flowers are extremely medicinal—especially the root of the dandelion plant which is mostly commonly used in herbal medicine. You can even grab a wicker basket and forage this plant yourself in your own backyard, or in nature away from roads and areas that have been chemically affected.

You can replace coffee with roasted dandelion roots to receive the same energy without caffeine as well as all of the healing properties of the plant.

There are so many potential health benefits to drinking dandelion tea including lowering blood pressure, liver and kidney detox, as well as boosting the immune system.

Dandelion tea benefits range from improving skin health to preventing liver disease.

Let’s dive deeper into some more reasons as to why you should brew a cup of dandelion tea daily.

8 highly healing benefits of dandelion tea

healing diuretic properties

There is scientific evidence to show that dandelion tea can be used to treat urinary tract infections. Drinking dandelion tea can filter toxins out of your liver and kidneys, through its diuretic effect on the body. It’s no wonder that in French this plant is called pissenlit which literally translates to ‘wet the bed.’ To treat a urinary tract infection you can combine dandelion root extract with another herb called uva ursi, which has antibacterial compounds.

lowers blood sugar

There are two compounds found in dandelion plants called chicoric and chlorogenic which are said to help lower blood sugar. It can help with diabetes, but should not be taken if you are also taking blood clotting medication as it increases blood flow.

detoxes the liver

Brew dandelion tea on a regular basis and drink often to prevent liver disease. Dandelion’s diuretic effect on the body helps the liver eliminate toxins more quickly. It also contains a supplement called choline, which helps with certain liver processes. In short, dandelion root is an incredible herbal ally for the liver!

boosts the immune system

Dandelion tea and dandelion greens are a great source of vitamin C, which in turn helps to boost the immune system and has positive effects on the body. It is also high in other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A and vitamin K, which help with bone health & skin health. Dandelion leaves contain a high nutritional content of iron, potassium, calcium & magnesium. You can harvest this herb in the springtime and add dandelion greens to your salad  as folk medicine to prevent seasonal colds & fight infection. The root contains antimicrobial properties which helps to get rid of harmful bacteria in the body.

soothes the digestive system

Drinking dandelion tea helps with mineral absorption and soothes the stomach lining. It contains anti-inflammatory properties which aid with bloating and indigestion. If you suffer from digestive issues, just make a cup of dandelion tea or take some dandelion extract in hot water and let this herb work its magic.

improves skin health

Using dandelion extracts in skin care products can dramatically improve your skin health and prevent premature aging. These gentle yellow flowers increase collagen production, and can help protect against skin damage from the sun. The flower extract is often found in skin creams, with other plants such as calendula and chamomile which help to clear acne and reduce redness.

lowers risk of heart disease

Recent studies have shown that dandelion tea has compounds and antioxidants that help with lowering cholesterol, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease. These antioxidants are found in all parts of the plant including the root, stem and flowers.

acts as an alternative to coffee

Roasted dandelion root tea is great if you are a coffee addict and trying to break your habit of having an espresso every morning. You can find dandelion root at your local health store, or harvest it yourself from your backyard. It taste slightly sweeter and less bitter than regular coffee, as it has more earthy tones. The tea even turns a dark brown color which looks like coffee.

how to make dandelion tea

There are two ways to make dandelion tea, you can either make a light, nourishing infusion from the flowers or go for a more hearty version and boil the root.

dandelion spring blossom tea

To make tea from the flowers, gather fresh blossoms from your garden and let the water come to a boil. Once it has simmered down, turn off the heat and add the flowers to the pot. Cover and let the tea infuse for 5-10 minutes. Add sugar or honey to sweeten.

dandelion root tea

For this one, you will already need to have harvested and dried the root, or have store-bought ready dandelion root powder. Put your root powder in a tea infuser and let it infuse for 20 minutes. Add a cinnamon stick for more flavor. If you want to make it more like a dandelion chai, feel free to add cloves & nutmeg. To make a really strong tea you can boil the root for longer, but it is not necessary since you will still receive all the medicinal benefits from drinking the tea. You can get fancy and make a dandelion root tea latte by adding cinnamon and vegetable milk to dandelion root simmered in hot water.

dandelion & ginger tea

If you are feeling under the weather, dandelion tea with ginger would give a great boost to your immune system. The warming, carminative properties of ginger help to boost the immune system and metabolism. Dandelion is energetically bitter, cooling and drying which makes a good balance with ginger to stimulate digestion & appetite. To make a tea, add thinly sliced fresh ginger to a pot of water and simmer on the stove with dandelion root.

FAQs

where to buy dandelion tea:

We have some organic sources that we recommend, so you can start your ritual of drinking dandelion tea daily.