- Chemicals that occur naturally in dandelion root, including sesquiterpene lactones, promote digestion, act as a laxative and increase bile production and bile flow from the liver. These chemicals, also referred to as "bitter principles" in literature about herbal medicine, also cause dandelion roots' side effects.
- Dandelion root can cause problems for people who are already suffering from gallstones. Gallstones are associated with bile that contains an excessive amount of cholesterol. Dandelion root increases bile production. The use of dandelion root by someone who already has gallstones should be supervised carefully by a health care provider, according to the online health library of the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
- Dandelion root is not recommended for people who have obstructed bile ducts, as dandelion root increases bile production, according to the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
- Dandelion root stimulates the stomach to produce more stomach acid, according to the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. This can lead to an overproduction of stomach acid. This is particularly problematic if a person has an ulcer or gastritis.
- Dandelion root contains a fiber called inulin. Inulin is a common food ingredient. However, there has been at least one documented case of a serious allergic reaction to inulin, according to the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
- Dandelion root is known to have adverse reactions with some drugs, including both the loop, thiazide and spironolactone classes of diuretics. Dandelion root may also decrease the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin, which is an antibiotic.
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