Want to know what are the health benefits of dandelion leaf tea and how to make dandelion leaf tea? Continue reading.
Dandelion leaf tea (Taraxacum officinale) is one of the most healing herbal teas in the whole world, alongside dandelion root. Both these teas are amazing detox and cleansing teas, especially for the liver and kidneys, but also for the body as a whole.
In This Article You Will Find:
How to Harvest Dandelion Leaf for Tea
Dandelion comes out in early Spring (March) and continues to grow up until the end of summer, and is a very widely-spread wild plant. Thus, you can easily harvest your own dandelion, from unpolluted areas, away from urban areas or roads, during this season. Dry it naturally by layering the leaves on a table, or hanging bunches upside down. When it has fully dried, rub the leaves between your hand and store the dried dandelion leaves in paper bags or glass jars. Before we show you the health benefits of dandelion leaf tea, here is how to make dandelion leaf tea at home.
How to Make Dandelion Leaf Tea
To make dandelion leaf tea, scald 2 tsp of dried dandelion leaf in 250 ml (one cup) of boiling water. Cover and steep the tea for 10-15 minutes, then strain and drink it warm. To enjoy its beneficial effects, you can drink 2 – 3 cups of dandelion leaf tea a day on an empty stomach. Ideally, dandelion leaf tea is drunk unsweetened, but if you want to add a hint of sweetness, you can use raw honey.
Drinking dandelion leaf tea for three weeks straight will have beneficial effects on the whole body, and the results will be especially visible on your skin, which will become firmer and smoother. Now let’s see what are the most notable health benefits of dandelion leaf tea.
Health Benefits of Dandelion Leaf Tea
The aerial part of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) contains bitter sesquiterpene principles, pentacyclic triterpene derivatives, sterols, polyphenol-carboxylic derivatives, flavonoids, vitamins (A, C, D), and mineral salts. In other words, it is a natural pharmacy on its own, especially for the liver, gallbladder, and kidneys. The main health benefits of dandelion tea are the following:
- supports the detoxification of the body;
- acts as a gentle cholagogue and the flow of bile in the duodenum;
- contributes to the normal functioning of the stomach and liver;
- supports the development and proper elimination of urea;
- supports digestion and appetite;
- has natural laxative properties;
- helps to maintain a normal functioning urinary tract;
- supports protection against the action of free radicals caused by stress, alcohol, exposure to UV radiation, and other environmental pollutants.
Prepared correctly following the recipe above, dandelion leaf tea is a true elixir for the liver and kidneys, and acts as a natural cleanser for the whole body, effectively contributing to the elimination of toxins. Here are a few medicinal uses of dandelion leaf tea and how to use this tea for certain health issues.
5 Medicinal Uses of Dandelion Leaf Tea
1. Gallstones
Dandelion leaf remedies can increase bile secretion 3-4 times, thus intensifying the action of bile acids in order to dissolve gallstones. You can prepare a refreshing spring salad from the slightly bitter dandelion leaves, and enjoy this salad daily along with dandelion leaf tea. Dandelion leaf tea stimulates bile secretion and improves fat metabolism, as well as the use of cholesterol in the body. You can drink two or three cups of dandelion infusion daily to calm biliary colic and even help reduce and eliminate gallstones.
2. Fatty Liver
Dandelion leaf tea works very well in association with milk thistle as these two herbal tea have a strong cleansing effect on the liver. They help stimulate bile production and relieve liver congestion. To enjoy its healing effects, you can add the raw dandelion leaves to your daily salad, and drink 3 cups of dandelion leaf tea in combination with milk thistle.
Reduce fats or, even better, completely eliminate all fats from your diet, especially in the morning. This way your liver gets some time to rest and heal. At the same time, enjoy plenty of fresh fruit, veggies, leafy greens, freshwater, and air. Read our article on natural remedies for fatty liver, here.
3. Kidney Stones
Dandelion leaf tea (2-3 cups/day) is an amazing remedy for kidney stones. Studies have shown that this herbal infusion can prevent the formation of kidney stones. In the case of infectious kidney diseases, a dandelion leaf tea cure alongside a natural antibiotic such as methylene blue capsules or oregano oil can be of tremendous help. In the past, methylene blue pills represented the main therapy for kidney diseases of an infectious nature. Unfortunately, this therapy has been replaced, with little success, by synthetic antibiotics.
4. Pneumonia
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses dandelion leaves and roots as a treatment for pneumonia and other upper respiratory tract infections, including asthma. To prepare this remedy, put 2 tbsp of dandelion leaf and root mix in a cup of water. Bring the water to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Steep the tea for another 10 minutes (covered), strain and pour into an insulated mug and enjoy the warm tea throughout the day, in small sips.
5. Freckles
Prepare a decoction by boiling four tablespoons of dandelion flowers and two tablespoons of pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain the decoction and leave aside to cool a bit. Use this healing decoction to make compresses that you apply over the affected skin areas. Mash the used herbs in a mortar and mix with hydrogen peroxide into a paste-like consistency. Apply this herbal mask over the areas affected. Wash the mask off after 10 minutes, and apply a natural moisturizing face cream or unrefined coconut oil. You can find other remedies for freckles here.
Dandelion Leaf Tea Safety & Contraindications
Dandelion leaf tea is not recommended when suffering from bile duct obstructions, gastric hyperacidity, and in case of hypersensitivity to this plant. Dandelion leaf tea can be consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Do not drink dandelion leaf tea continuously for longer than 3 months. If you still need to continue drinking the tea, you can resume after a one-month break.
More Remedies with Dandelion
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Dandelion Salad Recipe
Dandelion Syrup
Dandelion Jelly
Dandelion Leaves Mask
Dandelion leaf tea is one of the most amazing herbal teas to have in your natural medicine cabinet. You can mix it with other detoxifying herbs and make a powerful cleansing herbal blend, but you can also take it in powder form, or use it topically for freckles and other skin issues. Dandelion leaf is a really amazing medicine all in all. If you’ve enjoyed learning about the health benefits of dandelion leaf tea and what to use it for, please share this article so more people can use this information. Stay healthy, naturally!
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