Evidence supporting the use of: Dandelion
For the health condition: Nephritis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Europe and Asia, for supporting kidney and liver health. The plant is considered a "diuretic," meaning it promotes increased urine production, which traditional practitioners believed could help "cleanse" the kidneys and remove toxins. In the context of nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), dandelion was sometimes employed to help reduce fluid retention and support urinary function.

However, while these traditional uses are well-documented in ethnobotanical and herbal literature, there is limited modern scientific evidence specifically validating dandelion’s efficacy in treating nephritis. Some laboratory studies indicate that dandelion extracts may have anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects, but these findings have mostly been observed in animal models or in vitro studies, not in controlled clinical trials on humans with nephritis.

Current clinical guidelines do not recommend dandelion as a treatment for nephritis, and its use should be approached with caution, especially since nephritis can be a serious condition requiring medical supervision. The evidence rating of 2 reflects the reliance on traditional use and preliminary pharmacological data, rather than robust clinical validation.

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