Dandelion is an herb used in complementary medicine throughout the world. Different parts of the dandelion plant are used for different treatments. While dandelion leaves act as a diuretic, the roots are mainly used to improve digestion and promote liver, gallbladder and intestinal health. Although in general dandelion is considered a safe herb, there can be certain side effects to taking this supplement. These side effects include allergic reaction and negative interactions with certain medications.
Allergic Reaction
One possible side effect of taking dandelion root is allergic reaction. The allergic reaction can manifest as mouth sores or a skin rash. People most likely to be allergic to dandelion root are those who have a known allergy to plants, in particular ragweed, daisies, marigold, chrysanthemums and chamomile.
Decreased Absorption of Antibiotics
Another side effect of dandelion is decreased absorption of certain antibiotics. Without the proper absorption, the antibiotic may not be effective. Dandelion is thought to have this negative effect on quinolone antibiotics in particular. Examples of quinolone antibiotics are those which end in "floxacin", such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.
Increased Side Effects of Lithium
Dandelion interferes with the body's ability to metabolize, or get rid of, lithium. This can cause the negative side effects of lithium to increase. In psychiatry, lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder and can have a number of side effects including tremor, thirst and nausea. Because dandelion can reduce the excretion of lithium, patients taking this drug should not eat dandelion.
Increased Bile Flow
Dandelion is thought to improve gallbladder function and to increase bile flow. Although this may be beneficial for some, this can have a potentially negative effect in people with existing gallstones. Because of this, those with gallbladder disease are warned not to take dandelion.
Member Comments