This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
For a long time, dandelions have had a bad reputation as a tenacious weed that ruined the picture-perfect lawns everyone was striving for. Luckily, our view on lawns seems to be slowly but surely changing. And our opinion of these cheerful yellow flowers needs to change with it. Luckily, the many health benefits of dandelion make that pretty easy to do.
Dandelion is one of the first herbs new herbalists go mad for (I know I did), and for good reason. This ubiquitous little herb not only offers a number of powerfully healing gifts, but it also shows us just how generous the plant world truly is. And how skewed our view of “desirable” plants can be.
This often-hated weed is loaded with nourishment and healing and pops up readily all around us as if begging us to take notice. Once you get to know the health benefits of dandelion, I bet you’ll be just as excited to see this sweet plant pop up as I am. Plus, I’ll show you a few super practical ways I like to incorporate dandelion into my day-to-day.
Never Miss A Post! Sign up for the Cultivate & Savor newsletter to get new posts sent directly to your inbox, along with other seasonal recipes, herbal support, and intentional living tips. Join here!
NOTE: The information in this post is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is always best to work with a qualified healthcare professional before incorporating herbs into your diet.
Health Benefits & Ways To Use Dandelion
Dandelion Monograph
- Botanical name: Taraxacum officinale
- Properties: Alterative, nutritive, digestive stimulant, diuretic (leaf), cholagogue (root), mild laxative (root)
- Energetics: Drying, cooling
- Taste: Bitter and salty (leaf) or sweet (root)
- My tasting notes: The leaf definitely has a minerally, bitter taste to it, though not too unpleasant. It’s easily masked by combining it with other herbs. The roots taste earthy and mild and not unpleasant at all.
- Parts Used: Roots, leaves, flowers
- Body Systems Affinity: liver, spleen, stomach, kidney, bladder
Habitat/Growing/Harvesting
I’m pretty sure we all know the habitat of dandelion: basically EVERYWHERE. While the common dandelion is native to Europe, it has become naturalized in the US.
Dandelion is a favorite herb for wildcrafting. And considering how abundantly it grows, there’s good reason for that. Just make sure you harvest it from an area that hasn’t been sprayed or contaminated by chemicals or is close to roadways where it will be affected by car exhaust.
If you want to grow it intentionally (and don’t mind strange looks from neighbors) you can collect or purchase seeds and start them indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date the same way you would start any other seed.
Transplant to the garden bed or container once the plants are 3-4” tall and all threat of frost has passed. Dandelion does well in full sun but for the best greens place it in partial shade. You can encourage bigger roots by removing the flower head before it goes to seed.
The young leaves that pop up in spring are the best for eating fresh. But you can harvest the leaves anytime during the growing season for medicinal purposes.
Taproots harvested in spring tend to have more bitterness while taproots harvested in fall tend to be sweeter.
The flowers are also edible! Use them to make tea, wine, jellies, or added to salads. Just remove the green sepal since that can be extra bitter tasting.
Health Benefits & Common Uses Of Dandelion
Dandelion is a classic herbal bitter. Bitter herbs stimulate digestion and gastric secretions, improving the function of digestion overall.
The leaves help remove excess fluids from the body due to their diuretic effect and can be used to help with issues like edema and hypertension.
The root is particularly beneficial in stimulating a slugging liver and also contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber that helps to feed the good bacteria in the gut.
Because of its positive influence on liver function, dandelion root can be helpful in maintaining hormonal balance. The liver is key to metabolizing hormones in the body. So where there is a hormonal imbalance in the body, a sluggish liver is often at the root. Hormonal imbalances can show up as symptoms like mood swings, PMS, and irregular periods.
Dandelion root can also be helpful for digesting fats because it stimulates bile flow.
The leaf is most often used for its diuretic action to help with kidney issues where increased urine flow would be beneficial. It’s often combined with an equal part of nettles for a diuretic that helps move out excess fluids without depleting potassium levels. It’s can be a great, everyday herb for those who deal with chronic kidney discomfort.
Dandelion Folklore & Magical Properties
Dandelion root tea is often used to enhance divination and prophetic dreams. And, of course, the seed heads are famously used for making wishes by blowing on seeds.
This springtime herb is associated with growth, transformation, and moving on. It represents strength, resilience, and the ability to overcome adversity.
Dandelion Preparations & Dosages
All doses outlined below are for an average-sized adult.
- Fresh: The young leaves are delicious eaten raw just like any other salad green. More mature leaves are better cooked in soups or sautees.
- As a tea: For the leaves, 5-9 grams total in a day
- As a decoction: For the roots, 9-15 grams total in a day
- As a tincture: For the leaves, 2-5 mL 3x/day; For the root, 4-5 mL 3x/day
Dandelion Cautions & Contraindications
Dandelion is generally considered safe. Consult a physician in cases of gallbladder or kidney issues. It is contraindicated with blood thinners and diuretics.
Easy Ways To Experience The Benefits Of Dandelion
Sauteed Dandelion Greens
Much like spinach or Swiss chard, dandelion is delicious when sauteed. Heat a tablespoon or two of oil or butter in a pan over medium heat. Add one onion, diced, to the pan and saute for a few minutes until the onion has softened. Mince 2-3 garlic cloves and add them to the pan and let cook for another 30 seconds.
Add several handfuls of fresh dandelion leaves to the pan, working in batches if needed. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir carefully and let the dandelion leaves wilt. Once all the greens have wilted down, add a splash of balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice to the pan. Stir it in and taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.
This is delicious as a side, plated under roasted chicken or fish, added on top of a fried egg, or stirred into pasta.
Simple Dandelion Leaf Tea
Making a simple dandelion leaf tea is one of the easiest ways to incorporate this herb into your daily diet. Simply steep 1-3 teaspoons of the dried leaf in freshly boiled water for 10-15 minutes. Strain and add honey and/or lemon juice, as desired.
Dandelion Root Vinegar
Infusing vinegar with dandelion is a great way to extract all the nourishing minerals in this herb. And it makes a delicious addition to dishes or vinaigrettes.
Fill a pint jar ⅓ full with dried dandelion root or completely full with chopped fresh dandelion root. Cover with vinegar, filling to the very top of the jar. Apple cider vinegar is always a great option but other kinds of vinegar will work, as well.
Carefully stir the herbs in the jar to get rid of any air bubbles. Top up with vinegar, as needed. Cover the jar with either a plastic lid or place a piece of parchment paper between the jar and the lid (vinegar will corrode metal).
Place the jar in a warm place away from direct sunlight. Shake the jar daily for two weeks, then strain out the vinegar and compost (if possible) or dispose of the used herb.
Label your infused vinegar with the name of the herb and the date made. Store in the cupboard for up to 6 months and use as you would any other vinegar.
It’s no wonder most herb lovers are also huge fans of dandelions. It’s a persistent little “weed” that seems to be able to thrive anywhere.
Overall, dandelion is a great herb to help support the body’s natural detoxification pathways. And the fact that it shows up in springtime is no coincidence. The health benefits of dandelion make it a perfect herb to use as a spring tonic to help the body “wake up” from the cold, sluggish, and heavy winter and flush out anything that isn’t serving you.
Plus, those pretty yellow blooms are just plain cheerful!
References
- Gardener’s Path. How To Grow And Harvest Dandelions For Greens, Roots, And Flowers. https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-dandelion/
- The Herbarium. Dandelion Monograph. https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monographs/#/monograph/1009
- The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne
- Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret
- Learn Religions. Dandelion Magic and Folklore. https://www.learnreligions.com/dandelion-magic-and-folklore-4588986
