Surprising Benefits of Dandelions: Nature's Wonderful Weeds

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Dandelion
• Growing Dandelion
• Garden Uses
• Benefits of Dandelion
• Dandelion Wine
• Dandelion Pesto
• Dandelion Leaf Salad
• Frothy Roasted Dandelion "Coffee"
• Ocodachi Coffee Blend

Introduction to Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale
Family: Asteraceae

Dandelion is a low-growing perennial herb with a thick branching root. The toothed leaves grow in a basal rosette. The vibrant yellow flowers are held on the top of single hollow stems and are followed by the feathery-looking ball of seeds known as a puff ball or dandelion clocks. Each seed is held on a sphere that can carry it far and wide on the wind.

The dandelion is the only flower that represents the three celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars: The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon, and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars. Dandelion flowers open to greet the morning and close in the evening to go to sleep. All parts of the dandelion are edible: the leaves, stems, flowers, and root.

True dandelion is often confused with other plants that look the same, such as Hypochaeris radicata, commonly known as Catsear or false dandelion. All parts of the catsear are also edible but have been suspected of causing stringhalt in horses if consumed in excess.

Growing Dandelion

Growing dandelions takes little effort. They self-seed prolifically each seed has its own perfectly designed parachute so to speak, that carries it on the wind far and wide. Researchers were curious about how these bristly seeds stayed in the air because they looked so different from the wing-like seeds of other plants and thought the mechanism was impossible.

We know that dandelions are very good at spreading themselves around but sometimes it is nice to plant them where you want them to grow. You can grow dandelions from rooted plants here or collect seed and sow it yourself.

Dandelions prefer cool to mild climates but still grow well in hotter areas, provided they get enough water through the hot times of the year. Good drainage is best for dandelions to avoid root rot. They will grow in full sun and shade, flowering is better in a sunny position. Fertile soil will result in a better plant producing lots of leaves and a strong root. Be careful not to over-fertilise, as this can cause the root to split. A friable soil will allow reasonable root growth and make it easier to dig up when the time comes. Cover seeds lightly when sowing, as they need light to germinate.

Garden Uses

Soil improvers

Dandelions are excellent soil improvers:

• They concentrate minerals and bring them up to the surface. This way they help to improve the topsoil.
• Dandelions also exhale ethylene gas that helps plants to mature and ripen early.
• They are natural hummus producers and are great for activating and adding minerals to compost.
• Earthworms travel along the cavities made by the roots improving the soil as they go.
• The roots of dandelion help break up the soil.
• The flowers are used for making the Biodynamic preparation 506. 

Insect attracting

Dandelion flowers attract many beneficial insects such as:

• Native bees - important for pollination.
• Honey bees - important for pollination.
• Lacewings - feed on aphids, mites and other small insects.
• Ladybugs - love to feed on aphids, but they also like other soft-bodied insects like mites, whitefly, and scale.

Tonic for potted plants

From Judith Collins's book "Companion Gardening in Australia".

1. Search your lawn for dandelion.
2. Pick them, shake off the soil residue, and half fill a bucket with them.
3. Add water until the bucket is full.
4. Stand the mix outside of the direct sun for 3 weeks.
5. Dilute: 50% mix to 50% water and apply to pot plants when needed.

Benefits of Dandelion

Roots

The roots of 2-year-old dandelion plants are usually dug in Autumn, when the inulin is higher in the roots. The roots mostly act on the liver, although they also stimulate the kidneys.

Through its bitter principles, dandelion root stimulates the production of bile and liver function, which:

• Increases digestion, helping to relieve bloating.
• Acts as a mild laxative, providing gentle relief from constipation.
• Helps with the removal of metabolic waste through the faeces, which can, in turn, relieve arthritis, gout, and rheumatism.

Purifies the blood:

• Useful for skin disorders such as acne and eczema.

Dandelion root contains a high amount of inulin:

• Inulin feeds the flora in our gut, known as a prebiotic.
• Inulin helps to balance blood sugar levels, making it helpful for type two diabetes.
• Inulin decreases bad cholesterol and triglycerides.

Nutritional constituents:

• Vitamins: A, B, C, D.
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorous, iron, nickel, cobalt, tin, copper, zinc.

How to use the root:

• Fresh roots can be made into a tincture or decoction.
• Dried roots are suitable for a decoction, dosage 3-8g three times a day.
• Roots can be roasted as a coffee substitute.

Leaves

The leaves can be harvested all year. They are stimulating to the kidneys and to a lesser extent the liver. The French were well acquainted with dandelion's diuretic action; hence the name pisse-en-lit, meaning "wet the bed".

Leaves are a powerful diuretic aiding in the relief of:

• Urinary disorders and fluid retention without depleting the body of potassium. Dandelion contains three times more potassium than what is usual in green plants, so it acts as a built-in buffer for its diuretic action. Most orthodox diuretics need to be taken with a potassium supplement as increased urine production usually means a drop in potassium levels.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) due to poor kidney function.
• Edema, caused by premenstrual fluid retention.

The bitter taste of the leaves:

• Stimulates digestion, increasing bile flow and the production of digestive enzymes.

Nutritional constituents:

• Vitamins: A, B, C, D.
• Minerals: potassium, iron, copper.

How to use the leaves:

• Infusion of the fresh or dried leaves taken as a tea.
• Add to a green smoothie.
• Add young leaves to salads.
• Pesto - replace basil with dandelion leaves.
• Use like spinach in frittatas, omelettes, and as a side green.

Stems

The white sap from the stems is used to treat warts and corns. Apply the sap several times daily until results are seen.

The stems are not commonly taken internally; however, in Maria Treben's book 'Health from Gods Garden', she suggests eating 10 of the flowering stems, freshly picked every day for two weeks. Wash them carefully and chew them very thoroughly. Don't cut off the flowers before washing the plants. If you feel tired and listless, this treatment will perk you up quickly.

She also suggests taking between 5 and 10 stems depending on the condition taken the same way as above for the following: To help relieve gout, irritating itching, rashes and skin eruptions, rheumatism, diseases of the gall bladder, gallstones, swollen glands, diseases of the liver, slow metabolism and diseases of the spleen.

Precaution: The white juice found in the stem has been known to make children who have ingested a large quantity nauseous, causing vomiting, diarrhea and palpitations.

Flowers

The young flowers, with the green sepals removed, have a sweet honey-like flavour when young and can be eaten raw.

• Dandelion flowers can be used as a poultice for wounds.
• The flowers are a good source of antioxidants and polyphenols. This means they can help with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
• They are anti-inflammatory so will help with inflammation in the body.
• Flowers can also help block the growth of new blood vessels to tumours.

What is the healthiest part of the Dandelion flower?

Watch this Youtube video by Adam from Learn Your Land.

How to use the flowers:

• Use the flowers as a poultice.
• Make an infusion (tea) of the flowers.
• Make a flower tincture.
• Add fresh flowers to pancakes or fritters.
• Make dandelion flower wine.
• Toss petals in a salad.
• Use flowers for decorating soups and other dishes.

Seed Heads

The seed heads or Dandelion clocks hold a special memory for many of us. Who hasn't held the fluffy looking seed ball up to blow hard and make a wish.

A common belief was that you could tell the time by blowing three times at the seed head, and the number of seeds left was the hour of the day. Hence, the name dandelion clocks.

Give a 'Dandelion Wish' as a gift:

1. Cut a newly formed seed head from a dandelion plant
2. Leave some of the stem so the receiver has something to hold on to.
3. Carefully place the seed head into a jar with the stem facing up.
4. Put a lid on top and tighten.
5. I wrap the lid in paper with a wish on it. Or you could also write a little tag to tie to it.
6. 'A simple wish from me to you, wishing all your dreams come true'.

Dandelion Wine

Recipe from the book 'A Country Herbal' by Lesley Gordan.

Ingredients:

• 3 quarts (3L) dandelion blossoms (with the green parts removed).
• 3 pounds (1.3kg) sugar.
• 1oz (28g) yeast.
• 1 pound (450g)raisins, preferably organic.
• 1 gallon (4.5L) water.
• Rind and pulp of 2 lemons.
• Rind and pulp of 1 orange.

Instructions:

1. Put the flowers into a large bowl.
2. Bring the water to the boil and pour over the dandelion flowers. 
3. Leave covered for 3 days, stirring each day.
4. On the third day add the sugar and rinds only of the lemons and orange.
5. Turn it all into a pan and boil for one hour.
6. Return to the bowl and add the pulp of the lemons and orange.
7. Leave until cool and then add yeast.
8. Cover for 3 days, then it will be ready to strain, and put into bottles.
9. The bottles should be not quite filled and the raisins should be divided amongst them.
10. Do not cork until fermentation ceases. 
11. If the wine is made in May or June, it will be ready for Christmas.

Dandelion Pesto

Take your favourite pesto recipe and substitute dandelion leaves and a little lemon - yummo!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of chopped dandelion leaves.
• 3 cloves garlic roughly chopped.
• 1/2 cup olive oil.
• 1/4 cup brazil nuts roughly chopped.
• 1/4 cup blanched almonds.
• Zest of 1 lemon.
• 1 tbsp lemon juice.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese.

Instructions:

1. Put dandelion leaves, garlic, brazil nuts, almonds and oil into a blender or food processor and blend until the mix is broken down but still a little rough.
2. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and pulse until the desired consistency is reached.
3. Add grated parmesan and mix through.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Dandelion Leaf Salad

Fresh dandelion leaves can be made into many different salads. They can be added to other greens in the salad bowl or used as a single green with flavours added. There are many old recipes where the leaves were used as the base of a nutritious spring cleansing salad. They were often flavoured with a little bacon or bacon fat.

To a bowl of freshly torn dandelion leaves, try adding some of the following combos:

Frothy Roasted Dandelion "Coffee"

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp of roasted dandelion root.
• 1 cup of water.
• 2 tsp butter.

Instructions:

1. Put the dandelion root and water into a small saucepan.
2. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Strain and pour the liquid into a blender.
4. Add butter and blend for a minute or two until it is frothy.
5. Pour into a cup and enjoy.

Note: If you are dairy-free or vegan, omit the butter and use nut milk instead of the water.

How To Roast Your Dandelion using Fresh Roots:

1. Fresh roots should be washed and diced into small pieces (3mm).
2. Place on a tray in an oven heated to 170°C.
3. Takes about 25 minutes.
4. Watch carefully as oven temperatures vary, and some pieces of the root may be smaller and roast quicker.

How To Roast Your Dandelion using Dried Roots:

1. Place chopped dried roots on a tray in an oven heated to 170°C.
2. Takes about 10 minutes.
3. Watch carefully as oven temperatures vary, and some pieces of the root size may vary.

Ocodachi Coffee Blend

Our OCODACHI is a rich full-bodied flavour coffee.

A tasty full-bodied blend of:

• Certified organic coffee beans.
• Certified organic roasted dandelion roots.
• Certified organic chicory root.

Suitable for a drip coffee machine or a plunger. We also use it in the Finum Brewing Basket (Medium) - Tea Strainer for a 1 cup serving.