For most people dandelions are simply a noxious weed that they work hard to eradicate each spring. For me it is another healing herb the Lord has blessed us with. Last year we focused an entire month on the dandelion for our nature study and have come to love and adore this despised little plant (although we still don't want it taking over lawn:)) One of my favorite uses for dandelion is to dissolve warts. I tried many natural remedies for getting rid of warts, including very strong essential oils, what finally worked was applying the milk from snapping off a dandelion head, directly on the wart every day for several weeks. It gradually disappeared!
Properties
- Diuretic
- hepatic (strengthens liver function)
- bitter
- digestive
- anti-spasmodic
- laxative
- tonic
Medicinal Uses
- Milk from the dandelion will dissolve warts (apply 2-3 times a day for 2-3 months)
- Milk can also fade aging spots (liver spots)
- #1 digestive aid (use in capsule form before meals)
- Bitter tonic good for liver, kidneys, spleen and pancreas
- Blood purifier (root has strongest action)
- Liver stimulant and decongestant
- Bladder and kidney problems
- Breaks down cholesterol and fat
- Gall and kidney stone prevention and aid (root)
- Bladder infection, won’t kill bacteria but helps wash microbes out a urinary tract
- Use for high blood pressure and heart disease
- Increase milk supply in nursing mothers
- Bloating and discomfort of PMS
- Jaundice
- Hepatitis
- Chronic skin problems (by cleansing the liver and kidneys)
- High in trace minerals, iron, calcium, potassium and other nutrients including electrolytes
*roots have the strongest medicinal properties
Methods of Use
- In the kitchen – this is one herb that must be taken internally to utilize it’s properties
- Decoction of roots or infusion of flowers and leaves
- Powdered sprinkles and in capsules
- Tincture
- Vinegar
- Milk from snapping off a blossom or breaking the stem in half
In the Kitchen
Mix with other greens in salad, steam with olive oil and lemon, mix in pesto and smoothies, make an herbal sprinkle or infuse vinegar with the leaf, flower and root. The root can be chopped, roasted and used as a brewed beverage or thrown into soups and stir fries.
Wildcrafting
Don’t spray the lawn with weed killer and there is your fresh supply, ready to go. Leaves are the best in early spring when they are young but they can be harvested anytime. Pick flowers as they bloom. Roots are harvested in mid summer for the highest medicinal properties, just dig them up, wash them, chop and dehydrate.
Check out this post from Learning and Yearning on how to harvest the dandelion and some recipes for cooking with it.
Check out this post from Learning and Yearning on how to harvest the dandelion and some recipes for cooking with it.
Caution
Some people are allergic to dandelion so patch test before using.
Recipes and Other Resources
Citrus Dandelion Soda (Ferment)
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Digestive Capsules
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Dandelion Lotion Bars from The Nerdy Farm Wife
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Dandelion Salve from The Nerdy Farm Wife
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Dandelion recipe roundup from Little Owl Crunchy Momma
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Things to Do With Dandelion - free ebook from The Nerdy Farm Wife
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Purchase pre-cut and dried leaves and roots
Personally when using dandelion root, I would rather just purchase it already cut, dried and powdered, so I get my supply from Mountain Rose Herb or Bulk Herb Store, they offer cut and dried dandelion root but not the powder. Both of the companies also have dandelion leaf available if you would prefer to not harvest your own.
Nature Study
This is a precious poem from one of our most beloved books called Flower Fairies by Cecily Mary Barker. She has the sweetest artwork of children like fairies that are dressed to match their special plant. We use this book all the time for nature study and love including the poems and artwork in our nature journals as we study different plants and flowers.
The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock has some great information about dandelions told in a "living" context and not a textbook context. We really enjoyed learning about the dandelion from this book. You can find it in various formats for free online here, or you can purchase the book from Amazon, here. I highly recommend this book for any nature loving family.
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