Dandelion Tea is a diuretic and is mentioned on the Mayo Clinic web site as
such. Approximately 3 cups of dandelion tea a day can be helpful for water
retention and to restore potassium levels, according to other sites. For best
results, read the product labels. Because of the vitamins present in dandelion
leaf, many pregnant women choose to drink dandelion leaf tea. Not only do they
get much needed vitamins, they also receive the benefits of reduced swelling.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, there is not enough data on
dandelion tea to know if there are any side effects, so we recommend discussing
your tea drinking plans with your doctor first, should you be pregnant.
Besides being tasty, dandelion has been used for centruries for a variety of
ailments. Dandelion has been used to treat everything from water retention and
digestive problems to joint pain, fever, and breast and skin diseases. In the
early 1970′s, German scientists found that dandelion is an excellent diuretic as
it can stabilize potassium in the body. It is also thought to be an excellent
liver cleanser as it contains eudesmanolide and germacranolide. The leaf
contains vitamins A, C, D, and B complex in addition to boron, calcium, choline,
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, silicon and zinc.
Because dandelion is also known as a liver cleanser, many diabetics, among
others, choose to drink it. In addition to that, it may be helpful to reduce
jaundice as it acts as a detoxifying herb. It is even used to reduce cholesterol
levels, improve and cleanse the skin and relieve digestive disorders such as
diarrhea and constipation. With so many benefits, its a wonder everyone isn’t
trying dandelion tea.
True dandelion tea is generally herbal and should not contain
caffeine. You can find many versions of this tea from roasted to not roasted, to
leaves, flowers or roots. You can even find dandelion coffee, which is made from
the ground up roots of plants that are usually three to four years old. The
taproot resembles a carrot. Most importantly, the tea and coffee are quite tasty
and a healthy alternative to many other drinks.
Among herbal supplements, dandelion is one of the safest. However, the leaf and
root should be used with caution by people with gall stones, stomach ulcers or
gastritis. As a diuretic, or for fluid retention, you should talk with your
doctor first as fluid retention can be a sign of a serious problem.