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Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Other names: Taraxacum officinale

A nectar-rich plant with a bitter taproot and edible greens.

A widespread perennial with a basal rosette and yellow heads; both leaves and taproot are eaten in many cuisines.

Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Perennial herb
Safety level (indicative)
Generally recognised as safe
What the safety levels mean (expand legend)
  • Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
  • Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
  • Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
  • Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
  • Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
  • High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
  • Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.
Dandelion — plant in flower.

Photograph on Wikimedia Commons.

Identification

Safety — read before use

For this herb it is important to check warnings, mix-ups and cautions. Start with the Safety section.

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade
Generally recognised as safe·details
Scientific sources on the card
Yes — sources are listed with claims·Science section
When and what to harvest
  • Leaf — March–November
  • Root — September–November
Full harvest section
Processing methods

Tincture, Fresh (raw) preparation, Herbal infusion (tea), Powder

All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms

Bloating & gas, Body cleansing (folk framing), Common cold — overall comfort…

Topics section · Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Perennial herb with a basal rosette of runcinate-pinnatifid to dentate leaves and hollow, leafless, latex-bearing scapes. Each scape bears a solitary head composed entirely of yellow ligulate florets. Fruits are achenes with a long beak topped by a parachute-like pappus. Milky latex exudes from broken stems or leaves.

Possible mix-ups and risks

Most likely confused with hawkbit (Leontodon spp. — leaves with furcate hairs, stems solid and non-hollow), hawksbeard (Crepis spp. — stems branched, multiple heads), and hawkweed (Hieracium spp. — stems branched, multiple heads, leaves usually unlobed). True dandelion is uniquely identified by the hollow, leafless, unbranched scape bearing a single head, combined with milky latex.

Similar herbs

  • Stinging nettle

    Často se objevují spolu v diskuzi o jarních „plevelových“ listech a zelených receptech.

  • Plantago lanceolata

    Spring meadow herbs in greens and teas; different aromatics and a different flower-head identification.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Sources

Geographic occurrence

  • Czechia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Scattered species on meadows and lawns across the Czech Republic.

  • Austria

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.

  • Germany

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.

  • Hungary

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.

  • Poland

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.

  • Slovakia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.

  • France

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    France: occurrence for the main European catalogue taxa — refine with national atlases / red lists.

  • Myanmar

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Myanmar: cosmopolitan weeds and plantains; basil (Old World tropics); calendula often cultivated. Further species = additional herbs aligned with Myanmar flora.

  • Japan

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Japan top 20: temperate and East Asian context — verify Japanese flora and cultivation.

  • Morocco

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Maghreb top 20 — verify with atlases, national floras, and cultivated occurrence.

  • Canada

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Canada / North America top 20 — verify with floras, naturalised populations, and cultivated spread.

  • Australia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Australia top 20: archaeophytes and endemics — verify with national floras and introduced-species references.

  • South Africa

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    South Africa top 20 — verify with atlases, fynbos, and savanna context.

Harvest

  • LeafMarch–November

    vegetace

    Region: Czechia

    Notes: Leaves from the basal rosette; clean, uncontaminated sites.

  • RootSeptember–November

    podzim

    Region: Czechia

    Notes: Root after rain; digging depth depends on soil.

Storage

  • In alcohol / tincture(Root)

    Tincture 2–5 years at room temperature out of direct sunlight.

    Light:
    Shade / dark bottle.
    Moisture:
    Tight seal — alcohol evaporation.
    Safety:
    Individual dosing; this is not a treatment guideline.
  • Drying(Leaf)

    Dried leaves 6–12 months in a sealed container.

    Light:
    Bright storage unnecessary — prefer the dark.
    Moisture:
    Condensation moisture inside the container = mould risk.
    Safety:
    —
  • In honey

    Honey as the medium — store cooler; use sooner than plain honey.

    Moisture:
    Moisture of the input material must be low.
    Safety:
    Risk of botulinum toxin in improperly prepared raw honey — apply heat per established procedures.

Processing methods on this herb card

  • Tincture(Root)Suitability: High suitability

    Alcoholic or alcohol–water maceration extract.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    A tincture is usually a long maceration of plant material in ethanol (sometimes with water). Alcohol and time release different compound groups than hot water alone; concentration and stability depend on the herb-to-solvent ratio and procedure.

    Home production involves legal and safety limits that vary by country; this site gives a general overview, not a recipe. For each herb, read the card for interactions and warnings before preparing anything yourself.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Dry the root slowly or use it for a tincture.

    Dandelion root tincture

    About 45 minIntermediateScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Fresh (raw) preparation(Leaf)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Raw use (salads, fresh leaves, etc.).

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Raw preparation keeps cell structure and yields a different flavour and chemistry profile than cooking. For wild plants, confident identification, clean harvesting, and knowledge of inedible or toxic parts or growth stages are essential.

    Washing, brief blanching, or other steps can improve safety for specific taxa — that belongs on the herb card, not in a single general rule.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Use clean leaves from uncontaminated locations.

    Spring salad with dandelion leaves

    About 15 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Herbal infusion (tea)(Leaf)Suitability: High suitability

    Infusion or brief extraction in hot water; usually without long boiling.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    In the narrow sense, “tea” often means an infusion: you pour water just off the boil over the dried plant matter and let it steep for a few minutes. Temperature, steep time, and the herb-to-water ratio change both flavour and what dissolves into the liquid.

    Compared with a decoction, heat exposure is shorter and gentler; tender leaves and flowers are often better as an infusion than with prolonged simmering. For each herb, always follow the plant card for suitable plant part, preparation, and safety notes — general rules never replace species-level judgement.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Dandelion leaf tea

    About 12 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Powder(Root)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Finely ground dried herb; dosing and solubility depend on species.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Powder increases surface area for liquids or food. Home milling needs a clean grinder and control of fineness; very fine powder may clog tea filters.

    Store airtight against moisture and pests.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Powder from dried dandelion root

    About 25 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

Related guides in the library

  • Sunlight and repelling

    Symbolism

    Historical mentionMythologySymbolism

    In many cultures the dandelion is tied to solar energy and to the spring surge of new growth.

    Form:
    symbolické
    Claim strength:
    Historical mention
    Source note:
    Cultural context only — not a therapeutic claim.

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

How to read evidence strength and study type labels

Labels summarise how the catalogue entry is tagged — they are not a medical verdict on efficacy. For every row, read the summary, limitations and source link.

Evidence strength

Evidence level not specified
The author did not grade the record; judge from the summary, limitations and source link.
Narrative / orientational literature
Descriptive or expert literature without controlled group comparison — context rather than proof of effect.
Weak evidence
Study or conclusion with major methodological limits; treat only as a pointer for further reading.
Preliminary findings
First or smaller studies — interesting direction, not the final word on efficacy or safety.
Moderate strength of evidence
Moderate strength by study design; sample and context limits still apply.
Stronger evidence
Stronger design or consistency of results within the study's stated limits.
Review article
A review summarises multiple sources; quality depends on review method and field.

Study type

Narrative / expert text
Expert text or overview without a classical study design.
In vitro study
Cell culture or test-tube experiment — does not show an effect in the body.
Animal study
Animal model — transfer to humans is not automatic.
Observational study
Observing groups without random treatment assignment; confounding is possible.
Clinical trial
Human clinical trial; sample size and control group matter.
Randomised controlled trial
Randomised controlled trials are among the stronger designs when well conducted.
Review study
A review aggregates multiple papers — quality depends on selection rules.
Systematic review
Systematic review with explicit search and selection methodology.
Meta-analysis
Statistical pooling of studies; outcome depends on input data and heterogeneity.
Regulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)
Regulatory body summary for a herbal product — different context from a single RCT; often about products, not home tea.
Expert monograph (herbal preparations)
Structured literature summary for a plant or drug — quality depends on author and edition year.

  • Dandelion root has been studied for bile secretion and digestion in controlled settings.

    Moderate strength of evidenceClinical trialYear: 2018

    Limitations: Studies have limited sample sizes.

    Dandelion root extracts — digestive outcomes

  • The EMA HMPC monograph for dandelion 'radix cum herba'; a leaf tea is a related home form — the document is the closest public regulatory parallel.

    Review articleRegulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)Year: 2009

    Preparation form in the study: infusion

    Active compound / focus: sesquiterpene lactones, caffeic acid (per the document)

    Limitations: Part of the document refers to root with herb; a leaf tea does not have an identical profile.

    Dose note (from literature): See the PDF for preparations.

    EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) — European Medicines Agency

    EMA: Final assessment report on Taraxacum officinalis Weber ex Wigg., radix cum herba

Images

The main photo is in the card header. More images will appear here when available.

Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use
Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines
Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts
Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation
Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant
Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy
Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination
Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.
  • Asteraceae allergyLow severityAllergy

    People with known sensitivity to the daisy family may react.

  • Site contaminationModerate severityHarvesting and contamination

    Avoid collecting beside roads, sprayed field margins, and polluted ground.