Dandelion
蒲公英 · Pú Gōng Yīng
Calms hot infections and inflamed glands
Properties
CoolingCooling botanicalBitter, Sweet
Concerns
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.
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
How to take it
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
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.