In September 2016, Snopes rated 'mostly false' a headline on an article from the website Health Eternally, which referenced a testimonial from John Di Carlo, a 72-year-old man in Canada, who told the Canadian broadcaster CBC that he had gone into remission from leukemia after drinking dandelion tea. This isn’t the first time such a claim has circulated.
But it leaves out important context about the nature of the research and its conclusions. The claim about cancer cells appears to draw on real scientific studies of dandelion root extract as a natural aid in fighting cancer. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. 'Not only that, but it acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory, immunity booster, antioxidant and organ detoxifier.' 'Did you know? Dandelion root is able to kill 98% of cancer cells within 48 hours,' an Instagram post reads. But a sweeping claim on social media about its effectiveness as a cancer remedy calls for a dose of skepticism.
Dandelion root extract is purported to hold many health benefits, such as supplying antioxidants and reducing cholesterol.