Dandelion: Preparation, Dosing and Timing in TCM

Dandelion comes in more forms than most people expect: raw, dried, powdered, extracted, steeped, simmered. Which one you pick changes what it does.

The classic preparation

9 to 30 grams dried leaf or root in decoction; young leaves also go into salads and soups.

Combining herbs is normal practice, not a novelty. A pairing that works well here is honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), the heat-clearing pair for hot infections.

Timing and rhythm

Cold in nature, so the usual rhythm is steady daily use with occasional pauses. Warm preparations land better in the morning; cooling ones can go later in the day.

What to buy

Buy from a source with turnover. Herbs fade with light, air and time, and a pharmacy that sells a lot of Dandelion will have the freshest stock. Smell matters: the aroma should be clean and distinct, not dusty.

Start low, watch how your body responds, and give it a fair run of a few weeks before judging. If something feels wrong, stop; that feedback matters more than any article.