Is P婆婆丁 (Herba Taraxaci) effective for clearing heat and detoxifying?

Dandelion, also known as Pu Gong Ying, generally has a heat-clearing and detoxifying effect on heat-related conditions such as wind-heat感冒 (wind-heat感冒 should be translated as "wind-heat感冒" since it's a TCM syndrome pattern), sore throat, and other symptoms of excessive internal heat. However, it is not suitable for discomfort caused by wind-cold or for individuals with cold-deficient body constitutions. Detailed explanation is as follows:

Dandelion is cold in nature and can help eliminate heat pathogens from the body. When symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, red and swollen throat, and dark yellow urine appear due to external contraction of wind-heat, appropriate use of dandelion, such as drinking dandelion tea, may help alleviate these heat-related symptoms and provide auxiliary regulation effects.

However, for cold syndromes caused by wind-cold感冒 (similarly, retain "wind-cold感冒"), such as chills and clear nasal discharge, or for individuals with inherent spleen-stomach deficiency-cold conditions and frequent diarrhea, the use of dandelion may exacerbate internal coldness, leading to discomfort such as abdominal pain and loose stools. In these cases, it will not only fail to clear heat but may also negatively affect overall health.

Before using dandelion, individuals should identify their symptom patterns and body constitution. Those with heat-related conditions and a predominantly hot constitution may use it appropriately, while those with cold syndromes or cold-deficient constitutions should avoid it. If symptoms persist or do not improve, timely professional medical advice should be sought rather than relying solely on dandelion for self-treatment.