Dandelion Root and Self-Heal (Prunella) Tea

Why people make this tea

Whether from modern stress or environmental factors, breast nodules — essentially lumps — are common in women. Many health-conscious women self-check, and those entering puberty often experience benign breast-tissue changes. Most are benign and not cause for excessive worry, but a doctor’s check is always best. This very simple tea uses just two herbs and is traditionally favored to clear heat and soothe stuck liver-qi.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Women looking for a simple, traditionally “lump-dispersing” daily tea, and anyone wanting a cooling herbal drink also said to offer some anti-radiation benefit.
• The tea is cooling. Those with a cold, weak constitution should not overuse it, or can add a few slices of ginger or some tangerine peel to temper the coolness. Always have any breast lump checked by a doctor.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dandelion root (pu gong ying): Traditionally used to drain damp, support the breast meridians and disperse lumps; often taken as a tea to soothe stuck liver-qi.
• Self-heal / prunella (xia ku cao): Traditionally used to clear heat, cool the liver and disperse stagnation; pairs with dandelion for nodule support.

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dandelion root	~5 qian (~19 g)	Roasted type reduces coolness; dandelion leaf also works
Self-heal (xia ku cao)	~5 qian (~19 g)
Brown sugar	a little	Added at the end

Method

1. Rinse the herbs.
2. Cook with 5 bowls of water for 20 minutes.
3. Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved, reducing to 2 bowls.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea has a mild taste and is said to have an anti-radiation effect, but it is cooling in nature. If your constitution is cold and weak, don’t overdo it — or add a few slices of ginger or some dried tangerine peel to soften the coolness.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Siu Ling): I have a nodule and calcification in my left breast and can’t find dandelion root — can I use whole dandelion? Any other food therapy? Bro Niu: You can use dandelion leaf, no problem. Also try dang shen, bai zhu, dan shen and poria (3 qian each) with 1 tangerine peel as a daily tea — traditionally helpful for breast-nodule support.
• Q (Siu Ling): Buying dandelion root online, I see roasted and un-roasted — which should I choose? Bro Niu: Choose the roasted type, to reduce its cooling nature.

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Published July 12, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.