Can drinking dandelion tea help relieve constipation?

Dandelion is rich in dietary fiber, which can promote intestinal motility. Drinking dandelion-infused water may assist in the treatment of constipation, especially the type of constipation caused by excessive internal heat in the body.

Dandelion is cold in nature and has functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and relieving urinary discomfort, thus it can help alleviate this type of constipation. However, for some severe constipation issues, treating with dandelion water alone may have limited effectiveness. Clinically, constipation can be categorized into excess constipation and deficiency constipation. Dandelion mainly shows certain therapeutic effects on heat constipation but is less effective for other types of constipation.

The treatment of constipation should start with adjusting dietary structure and increasing dietary fiber intake—for instance, eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains—while ensuring adequate hydration and moderate physical activity. It is advisable to avoid raw, cold, spicy, and irritating foods, drink plenty of water, and develop regular bowel habits to enhance intestinal motility. If constipation symptoms are severe or persist without relief, laxative medications that soften stools and facilitate easier defecation may be considered.