Why does everyone hate dandelions? I’ve always wondered that, ever since I was a little kid. I’ve always thought of them as flowers – cheery yellow ones or white puffy ones you can make a wish on as you blow their fluff away.
I’ve never thought of them as weeds, even though I’ve seen countless TV commercials for weed-killing sprays promising immaculate lawns – all with big, bright pictures of poor little dandelions on the bottle.
So many people view dandelions as a nuisance that ruins the appearance of their lawns when they could really be viewed as powerful medicinal herbs. I’ll admit, dandelions might not be quite as beautiful as some other flowers are, but it’s such a waste to kill them. They’re pretty in their own simple way, but, more than that, they’re valuable for their healing properties too.
Dandelions Weren’t Always Considered Weeds
“Slightly tonic, diuretic, and aperient. The leaves eaten as greens are excellent for the blood. The milky juice is good for stranguary, dropsy, and inflammation of the liver; two or three table-spoonfuls several times a day. A strong decoction of the roots and leaves is good for the same purpose; a gill may be drunk frequently” (pg 110).
Dandelions were also highly valued because their leaves were among the first new edible greenery to come up in the spring. In previous centuries, before it was possible to pick up a head of lettuce at the grocery store all 12 months of the year, having something fresh and green to eat in the spring was something to celebrate.
Benefits of Dandelion Roots and Leaves
A modern-day herbal book, The Herbal Kitchen, by Kami McBride calls the dandelion a “nutritive tonic that enhances overall wellness.” The inulin in dandelion root also “nourishes the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and enhances digestion” (pg. 59).
Dandelions are pretty amazing. This is a list of just some of the healing properties of dandelions according to The Herbal Kitchen:
- Bitter flavor stimulates healthy digestion
- Contains minerals and vitamins A, C, and E
- Supports healthy liver function
- Supports urinary tract function
- Helps with skin complaints
- Useful for detoxification
(Note: Those with gallstones or bile duct problems should avoid dandelion.)
Harvesting Dandelions
Dandelions are also special because every part of them is useful. The roots can be dried and made into a tea, the leaves can be eaten fresh in salads, and the flowers are pretty to look at (in my opinion anyways.) Not every plant is so multi-purpose as the humble dandelion.
Dandelions grow pretty much everywhere, but I never harvest any dandelions unless they are in my own yard where I know they haven’t been sprayed by any chemical weed-killers or pesticides. (I also mainly harvest the ones that grow inside my garden fence so I know my dog hasn’t done her business on them.) For people who don’t have a dog, this wouldn’t be a problem, but I’d rather not have my dandelions watered that way!
If you have a chemical-free, non-toxic lawn, you can harvest your own dandelions for free. If not, though, or if it’s winter and your yard is covered with snow, you can find dandelion teas in most health food stores or online, and you can sometimes find the leaves in the produce section too when they are in season.
I’ve always liked dandelions as a wildflower, but now I appreciate them so much more as an herb. I’m never planning on spraying toxic weed-killer on my little dandelions. I’m going to harvest them and enjoy them, and, whenever I see one with a puffy white ball, I’ll make a wish and blow those shimmering seeds all over the lawn for next year!
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Further Information About Dandelions:
The Almighty Dandelion: Not Your Average Weed and 7 Reasons to Pick and Eat Them Today
This post is linke to Sunday School at Butter Believer, Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday at Granny’s Vital Vittles, Natural Living Link-Up at Jill’s Home Remedies, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways Wednesday at Frugally Sustainable, Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade.
I have always said dandelions was not a weed , J have them growing all over my yard in the spring , gonna have to get my herbal and try some of Our creator blessings that is out there for us to utilize , in am so glad some else thinks dandolions are Not a weed . Thanks Lori for inspiring
I have them growing all over in the spring too, and I’m so glad that God created dandelions and other plants for us to use! 🙂
They also make a wonderful healing salve
Yes, good point!
I love this post!!! My name is Dani and I got the words “Dente de Lione” tattooed on me (my only tiny little tattoo) because I identify with dandelions so much. Most people view them as one thing, but their true essence is so hidden, visible to only those that can appreciate the true beauty of nature. ….And they are such strong resilient things. They go with the wind (literally) and will always continue to grow because they spread their seeds in the wishes of anyone that blows them. 🙂 that is why I love them. Fact: Their name literally means tooth of the lion.
Thanks for this article and for all of the beautiful comments! I, being so in love with dandelions, did not realize you could eat them straight out of the (natural growing) yard.
I’m so excited! Yay!
I agree – dandelions are pretty amazing! And that’s really interesting about the meaning of their name too!
I remember there was once a drink I loved as a child dandelion and burdock
I love dandelions too. I think their flowers are beautiful, like fat little sunbursts!
Yes, little sunbursts is a great way to describe them!
Great post, Lori! Thanks so much for linking to my dandelion post! 🙂
Thank you, and you’re welcome! 🙂
I dig the dandelions out of my front yard by hand every spring…though I let them live in the side yard. Honestly, the main reason is that my kids run around barefoot and get stung otherwise. Dandelions are wonderful, though. The make good medicine and good wine too! I had a very nice Dandelion wine in Vermont a few years ago. Even my husband liked it. I am not anti-bee, I just don’t like them under my feet. I love bees, and even let the carpenter bees live on my roof. We have large flower beds with diverse plant species including indigenous. This morning I saw a poor hummingbird braving the rain to get to my foxgloves.
Glad to find a dandelion positive article! I am the only person on our street that doesn’t spray for weeds! Thank you for the reminder of why.
Ya! A kindred spirit! I also love dandelions, and lately I have been trying all sorts of recipes with them to try and promote them. I’ve made: Dandelion syrup, muffins, cookies, wine, and salve from the blossoms and pesto from the leaves. I’m always on the lookout for more recipes. And I really do think they look beautiful and add such a nice splash of colour in otherwise boring lawns. Here is one of the posts I did about dandelion wine making.
You can also use the flowers in a tea or the petals in pancakes, cakes, cookies, and fritters! We just made dandelion cookies this morning!
The lovely sunny heads can be helpful for headaches, depression or belly aches!
great post! we might make dandelion wine this spring! I also want to roast the roots to make dandelion ‘coffee’
I love this! It’s funny how differently I see the world now vs. when I was growing up. Makes me look forward to the day when I have my own land and I can harvest my own “weeds.” 🙂
Thanks for linking up to Thank Your Body Thursday. I hope you’ll come back and add more great posts. http://www.thankyourbody.com
I know, when I was younger, I never would have thought of dandelions as something I could eat, but, like you said, I see the world differently now 🙂
We love dandelions!! My girls pick the ones in our yard and eat them all the time! 🙂
You can’t beat the cost of free dandelions right in your own yard! 🙂
Hi Lori just found your blog.
Spooky, i’ve been writing about weeds this week on my blog and the dandelion was one of them. They really are amazing plants but spread so quickly, which is why gardeners do not like them. Some people leave a patch in their gardens just for eating.
Great minds think alike! 🙂