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Photo of Dandelion

Dandelion

蒲公英 · Pú Gōng Yīng

Calms hot infections and inflamed glands

Properties

CoolingCooling botanicalBitter, Sweet

What it does

Dandelion is TCM's everyday heat-clearer for infections that swell and inflame. It's used for mastitis, mumps, tonsillitis, sore throats, hot urinary infections, and red eyes. In TCM, these come from heat-toxin pooling in the body's surface or organs. Dandelion drains that heat and disperses swelling. Western herbal medicine uses the same plant for liver support and as a mild diuretic.

How to take it

Drink

Steep 9–30g of dried dandelion (whole plant or root) in 3 cups water for 15 minutes. Drink 1–2 cups daily during acute hot inflammatory patterns or for breast support.

Try dandelion tea once daily during nursing flares of breast tenderness

Safety

  • Generally very safe. Mild diuretic effect
  • Can cause stomach upset on empty stomach
  • Possible cross-allergy with ragweed and related Asteraceae plants
  • Skip if you have bile-duct obstruction or active gallstones
  • Talk to your doctor before starting medicinal use, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Dandelion is one of those rare plants used across nearly every herbal tradition: TCM, Ayurveda, European herbalism, and Native American medicine. The Chinese name is Pú Gōng Yīng. Classical TCM specifically valued it for breast inflammation and lactational mastitis, and it remains a go-to for nursing mothers with hot, swollen breast tissue. Outside TCM, the plant's leaves, root, and flower all have separate uses.