Dandelion Root Tea: Benefits, Side Effects, and Medication Interactions
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Side Effects of Drinking Dandelion Root Tea

Side Effects of Drinking Dandelion Root Tea
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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Dandelions can be beneficial for your health. Some cultures have used these common weeds to treat everything from liver ailments to heartburn to lactation problems.

You can find wine made from the yellow flowers, vitamin- and mineral-packed dandelion greens in the produce section of your supermarket, and herbal teas made from the root of the plant. But you must be aware of potential dandelion tea side effects.

Talk to your doctor about whether dandelion root tea is safe for you. Drinking it can interfere with medications and could lead to unwanted side effects.

Understand Potential Benefits

Dandelion root acts as a laxative and may aid digestion, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). It may also be beneficial for joint pain.

Herbalists and alternative healthcare providers recommend dandelion root to detoxify the liver and gallbladder, but the evidence to support these benefits is mainly based on anecdotal reports and animal research.

The NCCIH states that no scientific evidence currently exists supporting the use of dandelion for any health condition.

In fact, one of the primary jobs of your digestive organs is to detoxify the body on a routine basis. These toxins leave the body daily through your urine, stool, and sweat, says Cleveland Clinic.

If your organs were not functioning properly and your body filled with toxins, you would be seriously ill and need more than tea.

Dandelion Tea Side Effects

The dandelion plant is generally considered safe for consumption. However, like other herbs, it can have adverse effects in some people.

Dandelion root tea may negatively affect your digestive system, causing diarrhea, stomach inflammation, or heartburn. According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, dandelion root side effects can also include hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.

Some people may experience an allergic reaction to dandelion and related plants. If you are allergic to chamomile, chrysanthemums, marigold, yarrow, and the ragweed plant family, dandelion tea may not be right for you.

In addition, some evidence suggests that topical application of dandelion may cause an allergic reaction in people with atopic dermatitis (eczema), says the NCCIH.

Beware Interaction with Medications

Dandelion has the potential to affect your medications. For example, dandelion can make medications leave your body more quickly because it’s a diuretic.

Cleveland Clinic reports that people taking blood-thinning medications may be at risk of bleeding if they take dandelion.

Dandelion can also affect the efficacy of lithium, certain antibiotics, diuretics, and certain heart and vascular medications.

Given dandelion’s numerous potential drug interactions, it’s wise to talk to your doctor about drinking dandelion root tea before you introduce it into your diet.

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Jennifer Frediani

Jennifer Frediani, PhD, RD

Medical Reviewer

Jennifer K. Frediani, PhD, RD, ACSM-CES, is a nutrition scientist, exercise physiologist, and registered dietitian with over two decades of experience in clinical research, education, and lifestyle intervention. She's an assistant professor, research track, at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, adjunct faculty in the nutrition and health sciences program at the Rollins School of Public Health, and a member of the Winship Cancer Institute.

Dr. Frediani earned her PhD in nutrition science from Emory University, and a master’s in exercise science and a bachelor’s in nutrition and dietetics from Georgia State University. Her doctoral research focused on body composition and dietary assessment among tuberculosis patients in the Republic of Georgia, and her postdoctoral work explored nutritional influences on pediatric liver disease.

She has published widely in journals such as Nature Scientific Reports, The New England Journal of Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, and Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

At Emory, she directs adult clinical studies for the NIH RADx initiative, overseeing trials on novel diagnostics for infectious diseases. She also leads the development of Emory’s fully online master of science in clinical nutrition program, designed to prepare future registered dietitian nutritionists through integrated coursework and supervised experiential learning.

Her research focuses on weight-neutral lifestyle interventions to improve cardiometabolic outcomes, with a special emphasis on dietary assessment, physical activity, and metabolomics.

Frediani’s teaching philosophy centers on creating inclusive, student-driven learning environments that foster critical thinking and professional growth. She is passionate about reducing weight stigma in clinical care and promoting sustainable, individualized approaches to food and movement.

Outside of work, Frediani is an avid runner and food enthusiast who travels the world to explore culinary traditions and cultural foodways. She believes that everyone deserves to enjoy food that nourishes both body and soul — without shame or restriction.

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Paula Martinac

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Paula Martinac is a nutrition educator, writer and coach. She holds a Master's of Science in Health and Nutrition Education and is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition. Her areas of research interest include stress and weight management and women's health.

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