Dandelion Root Diuretic Effects for Detox, Bodybuilding & Edema

Why does dandelion root work as a diuretic? This herbal extract has long been used to reduce water retention, swelling and inflammation.

Research shows that it can increase urine production and frequency as well as eliminate water weight from the body. [1] Many people use dandelion root and leaf as a natural diuretic or “water pill”.

Dandelion is also purported to help facilitate detoxification and reduce bloating. Bodybuilders sometimes use it to decrease water weight and improve the appearance of muscles before a competition.

Because this herb can promote urination, it has also been used to support urogenital tract health. In combination with uva ursi leaf extracts, it appears to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.

Dandelion root supplements can be taken in the form of liquid tinctures, oral capsules, herbal teas, bulk powders or as a food ingredient. For use as a diuretic, it is sometimes combined with potassium, cranberry extract, buchu, green tea and juniper berry.

Dandelion Root

Herbal Supplement

Liver Health

Detox

Immunity

How It Works:

• Supports liver and kidney health
• Used as a diuretic & detox supplement
• Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties

Dosage:

Varies depending on formulation

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Dandelion Root – An Herbal Diuretic

Use of dandelion extract as an herbal diuretic is well-established. This plant has been used to increase urination for over 2,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.

Its ability to stimulate diuresis resulted in its French name, “pissenlit”. This translates roughly to “pee in bed” in English.

As an herbal diuretic, this plant has been widely employed to address urinary and renal (kidney) conditions.

The German Commission E, which is responsible for regulating herbal medicines, has approved the use of dandelion to promote diuresis. The German Standard License also supports this use for drinking dandelion tea.

Health Canada has approved the following claim for dandelion root products: “Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to increase the amount of urine to achieve flushing of the urinary tract as an adjuvant in minor urinary complaints”

Health Canada has also approved claims that this plant is used in herbal medicine as a:

• Diuretic
• Laxative (aperient)
• Help increase bile flow (choleretic)
• Help treat digestive disturbances (dyspepsia)
• Alterative to help relieve dermatological conditions
• Help stimulate appetite

Dandelion Root Diuretic Effects

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) acts to increase the volume of urine that the kidneys produce. It also increases the frequency of urination.

This helps the body to get rid of excessive salts that accumulate in the bloodstream and may be beneficial for conditions such as edema.

In one clinical study from 2009 published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17 participants were given 8?mL of a high-quality fresh leaf hydroethanolic extract of dandelion.

The volunteers were then monitored for their urinary output and fluid intake for a 1-day dosing period and 24 hours postdosing.

The study participants all experience a significant increase in urination frequency for the 5-hour period after the first dose. There was also an increase in excretion after a second dose, but not after a third dose.

According to the researchers, “T. officinale ethanolic extract shows promise as a diuretic in humans. Further studies are needed to establish the value of this herb for induction of diuresis in human subjects.”

How Does Dandelion Extract Work?

The exact mechanism of action involved in dandelion’s diuretic effects is not well studied.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD), “Sesquiterpene lactones are responsible for diuretic effects and may contribute to dandelion’s mild anti-inflammatory activity.”

Dandelion root also contains taraxasterol. Taraxasterol is a plant sterol that is purported to remove excess fluid accumulations from between the skin and other tissues.

More research is needed to understand why dandelion increases urinary output and frequency.

Dandelion Root for Bodybuilding

Bodybuilders frequently look for natural ways to reduce water weight prior to physique competitions. This helps them qualify in lower weight classifications and can also improve muscle appearance by eliminating retained water.

However, competitive bodybuilders are not permitted to use pharmaceutical diuretics (water pills) to help them prepare for their competitions. This practice is banned by most bodybuilding federations around the world.

Dandelion is a natural diuretic and its use is permitted by all bodybuilding federations currently.

Many bodybuilders describe using dandelion root extracts, teas, tinctures and/or supplements to help them shed excess water between the skin and muscle tissue. This is purported to make their muscle appear “tighter” and more “ripped” while improving vascularity.

Dandelion is also purported to have benefits as a pre-workout supplement and may support stamina and workout intensity.

Korean traditional medicine has long used dandelion for improving energy levels, and overall health and immunity.

In mice, dandelion extract has affected the following parameters associated with energy metabolism: [6]

• Significant decreases in blood urea nitrogen levels;
• Increased NO (nitric oxide) synthesis;
• Decreased lactic dehydrogenase;
• Increased blood glucose levels;

Dandelion Root for Edema

Edema refers to abnormal swelling caused by excess fluid accumulation in the body. Edema is a symptom; not a disorder.

Water retention is a natural response to injury and is a healthy part of acute inflammation. However, if the accumulation of fluid persists longer than necessary, it can lead to health problems.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), if chronic edema occurs it can be indicative of a number of different health conditions. UMM states that some of the signs of edema include:

• Swollen hands, arms, feet and/or legs;
• Bloating of abdomen;
• Breathing problems;
• Coughing up blood;
• Aching muscles;
• Puffy face;

Some factors that can contribute to developing edema include sitting still for too long, use of certain pharmaceutical drugs, hormonal imbalances and blood vessel infection/injury.

Other possible causes include lymphedema (blocked lymph passages), insect bites and eating salty foods.

Edema is also caused by thyroid, liver, heart and kidney disease and may occur together with either high or low blood pressure. Excessive heat and high altitudes can also cause fluid accumulations and swelling.

Many doctors prescribe diuretic medications to patients with chronic edema. Prescription diuretics cause serious side effects in some users.

According to RXList, prescription diuretics like Lasix and Luvox are associated with side effects including neurological damage and gout.

Some natural healthcare practitioners recommend use of dandelion root and leave as an herbal water pill to reduce fluid accumulation linked to edema.

The German Commission E has approved the use of dandelion for reducing edema. However, it has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or prevention of this symptom.

Additional Health Benefits

Research from the IMDEA Food Institute in Madrid, Spain states that, “dandelion contains a wide array of phytochemicals whose biological activities are actively being explored in various areas of human health.” [4]

Some of the active plant nutrients isolated from this herb include, “sesquiterpenes, saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and sugars, among others.” [3]

According to a 2016 research review, taraxasterol in dandelion root has been found to:

• Shows significant anti-inflammatory activity;
• Benefits Alzheimer’s and Parkinsonism;
• Exhibits activity against snake venom;
• Inhibits COX2 (cyclooxygenase 2);
• Induces antitumor activities;
• Improves diabetes;
• Exhibits anti-allergic effects; [2],

According to NMCD, dandelion root contains high amounts of an oligofructan called inulin. Inulin is a prebiotic fibre that has been shown to promote healthy gut bacteria concentrations.

Dandelion root improves the growth rates of beneficial bifidobacterial, which is a genus of probiotic bacteria that can support digestive function and gastrointestinal health.

Dandelion is also being studied for its “choleretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, anti-hyperglycemic, [and] anti-coagulatory” effects. [5]

Diuretic Side Effects

According to UMM, dandelion root is not associated with any serious side effects. It is generally well tolerated and is safe for most people to take within a standard dosage range.

People with allergies to members of the Asteraceae plant family should be careful using dandelion root, leaf or extract supplements.

Various prescription diuretics cause potassium to be depleted from the body. This can result in a serious mineral imbalance called hypokalemia.

Dandelion root is not associated with hypokalemia. This plant is a concentrated source of potassium and is sometimes referred to as a potassium-sparing diuretic.

It is not recommended to consume dandelion in combination with prescribed diuretics or water pills. This can result in having too much potassium in the body (hyperkalemia).

This herb can interact with a number of other medications. Some of these include antibiotics, anticoagulants and the drug lithium. Talk to your doctor about which medicines are safe to use in combination with dandelion.

Do not use dandelion if you have renal (kidney) impairment, gallbladder disease or any type of bleeding disorder. If you have been diagnosed with any other health conditions, consult with a doctor before using this plant as a natural diuretic.

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