What Dandelion Root Is
Dandelion root is the dried taproot of Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion, a member of the daisy family. Europe and North America have used it for centuries as a bitter for appetite and slow digestion. Remedy's Dandelion Root supplies 1,000 mg of dried root per vegan capsule, with 60 capsules per bottle and no other active ingredients.
It is sold as a traditional bitter. The human evidence behind dandelion is far smaller than its reputation, and this page sets out both, so you can decide with the facts in front of you.
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1,000 mg per capsule: Dried root, not leaf and not a concentrated extract.
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60 capsules: Two months at 1 capsule daily.
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Botanical name: Taraxacum officinale, family Asteraceae.
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Traditional role: A bitter for mild digestive complaints and appetite.
The full evidence map, study by study, is in dandelion root benefits and what the human evidence shows.
Supplement Facts
Serving size: 1 Vegan Capsule. Servings per container: 60.
| Amount Per Serving |
Amount |
% Daily Value |
| Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) |
1000 mg |
† |
† Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Cellulose, Glycerin, Water (vegan capsule)
Directions: One capsule daily.
Made in the USA.
Root, Not Leaf
Dandelion is sold as 2 different medicines. The leaf is the traditional diuretic, the old water pill behind the French name pissenlit. The root is the traditional bitter for digestion and the liver. This capsule contains only root, and that decides which evidence applies to it.
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Leaf, 2009: 17 volunteers took 8 mL of a fresh-leaf extract 3 times in 1 day and urinated more often after the first dose.[1]The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day — Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2009) View source
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Root, 2026: 14 active adults took about 2.1 g of root powder with 1 L of water; urine over 4 hours was 1,268 g against 1,164 g on water alone, not a significant difference.[2]Dandelion root powder elicited no additional diuretic effect over 4 hours compared with water alone — International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (2026) View source
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What that means: We do not sell this capsule as a water pill.
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Leaf nutrients: Potassium and vitamin K sit mainly in the greens, not in this capsule.
The comparison is laid out in dandelion root vs leaf, and which part is the diuretic.
What the Evidence Actually Shows
Rather than print a benefits list, we would rather print the shape of the literature. These counts came off PubMed on 8 October 2026, and anyone can rerun them.
| What PubMed holds on dandelion (Taraxacum) |
Count |
| Records mentioning dandelion or Taraxacum |
1,828 |
| Records that also mention the root |
329 |
| Records tagged as clinical trials |
12 |
| Of those, dandelion alone swallowed by people |
1 (a leaf extract) |
| Human studies of the root alone, any tag |
1 (no extra urine) |
| Records on the liver |
153 |
| Human trials of dandelion root alone on the liver |
0 |
Of the 12 records tagged as clinical trials, 8 tested formulas mixing dandelion with other herbs or drugs, 1 applied it to the skin after jaw surgery, 2 were not human trials of the herb at all, and 1 gave people dandelion alone: the 2009 leaf extract. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that there is no compelling scientific evidence for dandelion for any health condition.[3]Dandelion: Usefulness and Safety — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health View source
Digestion: The Use Europe Accepts
The use regulators accept is digestion, and they accept it on tradition. Europe's 2009 community herbal monograph allows dandelion root with herb as a traditional herbal medicinal product for mild digestive complaints, such as a feeling of fullness, flatulence and slow digestion, and for temporary loss of appetite, explicitly on the basis of long-standing use rather than clinical trials.[4]Dandelion Root with Herb, Traditional Use Monograph — European Medicines Agency View source
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Accepted use: Mild digestive complaints and temporary loss of appetite.
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Basis: Long-standing use, not clinical trials.
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Traditional amount: 3 to 4 g of root with herb as a decoction, up to 3 times daily.
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Review: See a doctor if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks.
That traditional amount is well above 1 capsule, which is worth knowing before expecting the effects described for strong decoctions. The tea is covered in dandelion root tea and dandelion coffee.
The Liver Question
Dandelion appears in many liver cleanse formulas, and the liver research is genuine laboratory science. In 2010, mice given a hot-water root extract at 1 g per kg alongside alcohol kept normal liver enzymes.[5]Hepatoprotective effects of the aqueous extract from dandelion root against alcohol-induced oxidative stress — Food and Chemical Toxicology (2010) View source Other studies in mice and rats found similar protection against chemical toxins. No trial has tested dandelion root alone on the human liver.
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Animal studies: Protection against alcohol and chemical toxins in mice and rats.
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Human trials of the root alone: 0.
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Human trials of formulas: Several, which cannot isolate dandelion.
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Europe's position: Liver disease and gallstones are contraindications.
We do not sell this capsule as a liver treatment. The detail is in dandelion root for the liver and digestion.
The Cancer Headlines
Lab studies of a water-based dandelion root extract made headlines when the extract triggered death in leukemia, melanoma, pancreatic and colon cancer cells in dishes. In the 2016 colon study, more than 95% of cancer cells died within 48 hours and human colon tumours grown in mice slowed by more than 90%.[6]Dandelion root extract affects colorectal cancer proliferation and survival — Oncotarget (2016) View source Not every lab result agrees: in 2008, a root extract did not slow the growth of breast or prostate cancer cells.[7]Aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale on growth and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells — International Journal of Oncology (2008) View source
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Published trials in cancer patients: 0.
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Human record: A few case reports that cannot isolate the herb.
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This capsule: Not a cancer treatment, and never sold as one.
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During treatment: Only with your oncology team's agreement.
What the studies did and did not test is set out in dandelion root and cancer, what the lab studies show.
How to Take It
Take 1 capsule daily, as the label directs. No trial has set an effective dose of dandelion root, so the useful comparison is with what research and tradition actually used, which differs from source to source.
| Source |
What people took |
How long |
| Europe, traditional use |
3 to 4 g of root with herb as a decoction, up to 3 times daily |
See a doctor after 2 weeks |
| 2009 leaf study, 17 people |
8 mL of fresh-leaf extract, 3 times |
1 day |
| 2026 root study, 14 adults |
About 2.1 g of root powder, once |
4 hours |
| This capsule |
1,000 mg of dried root |
1 capsule a day |
With a meal suits the traditional digestive use, and any time of day is fine, since the 2026 root study found no diuretic effect. Review after 2 weeks. More in dandelion root dosage by capsule, tincture and tea.
Safety and Who Should Avoid It
Europe's 2009 monograph lists epigastric pain, excess acidity and allergic reactions as side effects, with unknown frequency. The more important part is who should not take it, because several of those groups are people who might buy dandelion for the liver.
| Situation |
Position |
| Allergy to ragweed, chamomile, marigold or another daisy-family plant |
Avoid |
| Gallstones, blocked bile ducts, cholangitis, other biliary disease |
Do not use (EMA contraindication) |
| Liver disease or active peptic ulcer |
Do not use (EMA contraindication) |
| Kidney failure, heart failure or diabetes |
Avoid: possible high potassium (EMA) |
| Lithium, prescription diuretics, potassium-raising drugs |
Speak to your prescriber first |
| Diabetes medicine |
Low blood sugar has been reported; ask first |
| Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children under 12 |
Not recommended (EMA) |
In a 2006 patch-test study, 18 of 20 patients allergic to daisy-family compounds reacted to Asteraceae teas, mainly chamomile, dandelion and wormwood.[8]Contact allergy to herbal teas derived from Asteraceae plants — Contact Dermatitis (2006) View source Lithium prescribing labels warn that diuretics can raise lithium levels.[9]Lithium Carbonate Prescribing Information, Drug Interactions — DailyMed, National Library of Medicine View source The full list is in dandelion root side effects and who should avoid it.
Capsule, Tincture or Tea
Dandelion root is the same plant whichever way you take it. The difference is how precisely you know the amount, and whether you want to taste the bitterness, which is the point of traditional bitters.
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Capsule: A fixed 1,000 mg of root, no taste.
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Tincture: Our 2 fl oz, 1:2 root extract in water and alcohol, 40 drops per serving.
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Roasted root tea: A caffeine-free coffee swap; we do not sell a single-herb dandelion tea.
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Pick 1: So your daily total stays clear, including blends that already contain dandelion.
Why Choose Remedy's Dandelion Root
No trial makes one dandelion root capsule better than another, so the honest differentiators are the part of the plant, the amount and what this page is willing to tell you.
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Root only: The traditional bitter, not the leaf.
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Single ingredient: Dandelion root, with 0 other actives.
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The evidence stated: 1 trial of dandelion alone in people, and it used the leaf.
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The cautions stated: Allergy, gallbladder and liver disease, lithium, diuretics and potassium.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in each capsule? +
Each vegan capsule holds 1,000 mg of dried dandelion root, Taraxacum officinale, with cellulose, glycerin and water making up the capsule shell. There are 60 capsules per bottle and no other active herbs, so if you also take a blend that contains dandelion, you can count this as 1 separate source.
Is this the root or the leaf? +
It is root only. That matters because the only positive human diuretic trial, from 2009, used a leaf extract, while the only human study of root powder, in 2026, found no extra urine. The root is the traditional bitter for digestion rather than the traditional water pill.
How many capsules should I take a day? +
Take 1 capsule daily, as the label directs. No trial has set an effective dose of dandelion root. Europe's traditional figures for root with herb as tea are higher, 3 to 4 g up to 3 times daily, so do not expect a single capsule to equal a strong traditional decoction.
How long does a bottle last? +
A bottle of 60 capsules lasts 2 months at 1 capsule daily. Europe's monograph suggests seeing a doctor if digestive symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks of use, so treat the first fortnight as your review point rather than committing to the whole bottle without checking how you feel.
Will it make me urinate more? +
Probably not. In a 2026 study, 14 adults who took about 2.1 g of root powder with 1 L of water produced no significantly more urine over 4 hours than with water alone. The diuretic reputation belongs to the leaf, which raised urination frequency in a 1-day 2009 trial.
Can it help my liver? +
That has not been shown in people. Mice given a root extract at 1 g per kg resisted alcohol damage in a 2010 study, but 0 trials have tested dandelion root alone on the human liver. Europe lists liver disease as a contraindication, so speak to your doctor if you have a liver condition.
Can I take it if I have gallstones? +
No. Europe's 2009 monograph lists gallstones, blocked bile ducts, cholangitis and other biliary disease as contraindications for dandelion root. If you have upper abdominal pain after meals, especially with fever or yellowing of the skin, see a doctor rather than trying a bitter herb.
I am allergic to ragweed. Can I take it? +
It is best avoided. Dandelion is in the same daisy family as ragweed, chamomile and marigolds, and in a 2006 study 18 of 20 patients allergic to daisy-family compounds reacted to Asteraceae teas, including dandelion. The US NCCIH calls the cross-reaction evidence conflicting, which is still a reason for caution.
Can I take it with lithium or a water pill? +
Only with your prescriber's agreement. Lithium labels warn that diuretics can raise lithium levels, and if dandelion acts as a diuretic the same logic applies. PubMed holds 0 studies of dandelion with lithium, so the caution is precautionary rather than based on reported cases.
Is it safe in pregnancy? +
It is not recommended. Europe's 2009 monograph says safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, and it does not recommend dandelion root for children under 12. There are 0 human trials in pregnancy, so the cautious answer is to avoid it.
Can I take it with milk thistle? +
Many liver blends combine the 2, but 0 trials have tested the pair on their own. Both are daisy-family plants, so the same allergy caution applies. If you want to try both, start 1 at a time, a couple of weeks apart, so you can tell what each one does.
Does it contain caffeine? +
No. Dandelion root contains 0 caffeine, which is why roasted dandelion root is sold as a coffee substitute. This capsule is unroasted dried root, so it has none of the coffee flavour either; for that, roasted root tea is the better form.
When will I notice anything? +
There is no trial-set timeline for digestive effects. Traditional use places a bitter shortly before or with meals, and Europe's 2009 monograph uses 2 weeks as the point to see a doctor if symptoms persist, which makes a sensible review point for this capsule.
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