Taraxacum officinale, Aka Dandelion

A pile of dandelion blossoms

I absolutely love this time of year! I love walking around and seeing all those lovely yellow flowers! Yes, I’m happy! It means spring is here, and picnics and family gatherings aren’t far away. It also means it’s time to make dandelion jelly and fresh dandelion tea; time to dry the blossoms and tender young leaves to be used later in the year.

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) to many people is just a weed that is invading their garden beds and yards, but to the environment it plays a vital role. It is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, making it vital to bees for their first food after a long winter. The blossoms, leaves, and roots are used in herbal traditions to treat common diseases.

Identifying dandelion              

                             

Bee on a dandelion

There are several plants that look like dandelion. Because of this, it is important to properly identify the plant before you pick it to use in an herbal preparation or as part of your salad greens. The leaves of dandelion are jagged-cut and variously cleft and lobed. The leaves grow in a whorl about the base of the dandelion, where it emerges from the ground.  The leaves are 2-18 inches in length.  The shorter, younger leaves are more tender and less bitter to taste.

The stems that support the flowers are hollow with a white, milky sap exuding from them when picked. The flowers are yellow and about 1-2 inches across.

 

When the flower is finished blooming, a seed head covered with hundreds of tiny parachute-like bristles develop. The wind blows these bristles and the attached seeds about on the air currents. (references 1, 2, and 3)

Teaching the next generations

Uses of Dandelion

This little plant has many uses. Medicinally the roots, leaves, and blossoms are used to make a tea that has been used traditionally to support the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, and digestion. Tea made from the dried leaves has been used as a mild laxative. The blossoms have a mild analgesic effect. I make a dandelion blossom and peppermint essential oil salve I use on tired, aching muscles.

Dandelion Blossom Oatmeal Cookies

This is my Dandelion Blossom Salve recipe:

1. Pick dandelion blossoms and dehydrate them. Dandelion blossoms have a lot of water content.The water will cause your oil to turn rancid.
2. To Infuse the oil: place the dehydrated blossoms in a glass jar (I use a jelly canning jar) cover with your favorite carrier oil. This can be olive, sunflower, sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, hemp, etc. 
3. Cap the jar of the dried blossoms and oil in a sunny windowsill for several days to a week. Check the jar daily looking for signs of mold before gently shaking the jar.
4. Once the oil has been infused, mix ¼ cup of your infused oil with ½ cup of coconut oil and ¼ cup of beeswax pellets (I order mine from Frontier). In a double boiler, melt the oils and beeswax  together.
5. After the beeswax has melted, remove from heat and add 25 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil (I use Young Living’s essential oils, so you if you use a different brand, you may need to adjust the number of drops to get the same effect).
6. Pour into a container with lid and label. I store my salve in the refrigerator.

Dandelion Jelly

As a food source, dandelion is one of the most versatile plants.  Dried root has been used as a coffee substitute. As I don’t drink coffee, I really can’t say if the taste is comparable or not. Blossoms can be used fresh or dried. A friend recently shared an oatmeal and dandelion blossom cookie recipe with me; the cookies were delicious! The leaves can be used in salads or can be used to replace spinach in many recipes. I also make dandelion blossom jelly. It has a light honey like taste and is great on pancakes, which can also be made with dandelion blossoms. 

Dandelion is high in Vitamins A, C, E and K. The green leaves provide a substantial amount of minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Dandelions are full of antioxidants, including beta-carotene and polyphenols. (reference 4)

Dandelion Jelly Recipe

Improving your health and wellness begins with small changes. The next time you are weeding your gardens, I hope you stop and consider all the valuable ways dandelion can help you support your health and wellness.

Tammy Deatelhauser, LMT BCTMB

Healing Traditions Massage, Essential Oils, Herbs, and 

Young Living Member 1521964   

Check out  www.myyl.com/tmdmassage for more information about Young Living wellness products and essential oils.

FDA Disclosure

I am a licensed massage therapist with training in culinary herbalism. I am not a doctor. Posts in this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Also, these thoughts and opinions do not represent Young Living. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your physician before making any changes. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

References:

1. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb
2. Peterson Field Guides Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke
3. www.hunker.com
4. www.healthline>nutrition>dandelion-benefits