What Is Dandelion Leaf?

Dandelion is a member of the aster family and is related to chicory. Dandelion leaf has been used as a food and medicine since at least the 659 BCE. As a food, dandelion leaf can be used to make herbal beers, and the leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. To help ensure maximum potency, we only carry dandelion leaf that has been collected from the plant before it has flowered.

How to Use Dandelion Leaf (Common Uses)

Dandelion leaf can be taken internally as a tea, powder, capsules, or extract. Dandelion leaf works best when used in combination with other herbs. Visit our herbal blog for more ideas about how to use dandelion leaf.

Medicinal Uses and Benefits of Dandelion Leaf

It is no wonder that dandelion leaf is often used as a food, as it is a potent source of vitamins and minerals. The cooked leaves contain more vitamin A than an equal sized portion of carrots, and dandelion leaves boast additional minerals as well. Dandelion leaves are high in iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, manganese, calcium, and numerous types of fiber that benefit healthy gut flora.

As a digestive aid, dandelion leaf can be used to increase the secretion of bile and promote good digestion. Dandelion leaf may also be able to help lower and balance excess blood sugar.

Dandelion leaf has anti-inflammatory effects and is well known for its diuretic effect on the urinary organs. It can be taken as a potassium-sparing diuretic that is gently stimulating to the kidneys, and may be beneficial for conditions such as hypertension, edema, and PMS related water retention, as well as for increasing urination.

Dandelion leaf can be used as a supportive and detoxifying herb for the liver, especially for removing excess liver heat. Dandelion leaf plays a key role in our Cooling Detox Tea.

Despite its slightly bitter flavour, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dandelion is considered to be energetically sweet, cooling, and drying.

The genus name Taraxacum is derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder) and akos (remedy), a nod to the tonic action of dandelion.

Active Constituents in Dandelion Leaf

Sesquiterpene lactones, phenolic acids, inulin, carotenoids, pectin, choline, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, iron, silicon, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, manganese, calcium, copper, phosphorus, choline, fiber, fructooligosaccharides.

Notable Facts About Dandelion Leaf

The ever-recognizable yellow flowers that dandelion produces are light sensitive, opening in the light of morning and closing at night.