Dandelions
With it being spring now, here in the eastern US, the grass is beginning to grow again and our favorite native yellow flower is starting to pop up. Actually, that might be one of the most controversial things I’ve ever typed because, well, this is one of the most controversial plants: the dandelion. If you have one of those “keep your pets and kids off the lawn” signs by your doors because you spray crazy chemicals on your lawn, you may not agree that this is a beneficial plant but I urge you to read on anyway, because there’s so much to learn about this little guy. Medicine, the very first spring food for the bees, the weather predictor and the dream maker, we’re going to go into some detail about this plant!
Every single child’s bouquet since the beginning of time has been comprised of at least one dandelion. Ok, that is not fact-checked but I’m sure any moms reading can agree. When they pop up they’re magical! Bright yellow, looking like a lion’s thick mane, they draw a child in and, as the lifecycle of a dandelion progresses, it turns into a feathery ball of dreams coming true. Pick it, make a wish, close your eyes and blow and everything a child’s heart can dream, the dandelion holds potential for.
So when our parents began to tell us to stop blowing them because it scattered the weed’s seeds everywhere, is that when we stopped believing in the magic of the dandelion? Or was it when we became too grown up for silly childhood fantasies, or when we got our first lawn and had to keep up with neighbors and appearances? When did the idea that the dandelion was an invasive weed begin to steal the magic of our childhood?
So the more you read here the more you may see that I find the history of plants really interesting. I’m going to try to not sound like your history or science teacher here, and I’ll try to leave out some latin words, but I do think that looking at where we are, the way we are, where we are now and how we might be in the future. Bu I’ll do my best to keep this interesting and exciting!
For being such a controversial plant, what is it exactly? It’s interesting to me that if I google “what is the dandelion” it first begins with a definition calling it a “widely distributed weed” and the next 7 results are the health benefits, uses and research. Mixed messages! A weed is “a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.” So I guess that even if the plant is God’s gift to the world, the cure for cancer, that if it competes with a manicured lawn than it’s got to go. “Invasive” and “weed” are just a few of the words we’ll use to describe most, if not all of the plants, we talk about here at Adev Farm.
Let me point out at this juncture that I am not a doctor and I do not claim to have any certifications that qualify me to assist you with your health. Please check with a health professional before trying any new remedies.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk dandelions.
The plant is native to Asia and Europe. It’s been recorded in ancient Arabian texts as being used in the tenth and eleventh centuries! The Chinese and Indians grew it to treat liver diseases and digestive problems. It arrived in America around the time of the Mayflower, has been grown through history alongside vegetables and herbs in home gardens due to it’s medicinal uses, culinary uses and the benefits the roots play in soil management and nutrition. People would grow dandelion for their own remedies, ranging from everything from baldness, toothaches, fevers, weakness, lethargy, and depression, as well as to cook!
Today, it’s primarily used for:
helping in blood sugar management
helping to fight inflammation
reducing cholesterol and triglycerite levels
lowering blood pressure
promoting liver health
aiding in weight loss
supporting healthy digestion & treating constipation
may boost immune health
may even have anti-cancer effects
a useful skincare treatment
supporting healthy bones
and more!
The entire plant is edible! Extremely nutritious andd each part has it’s benefits:
The greens can be eaten raw, like a salad, or cooked and are an amazing source of vitamins K, A, C, and E, of folate and small amounts of other B vitamins. They provide minerals iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.
The dandelion root is rich in the carbohydrate inulin, which supports and growth and maintenance of healthy gut bacteria in your digestive tract. The root can be eaten whole like other root veggies or dried and made into tea.
The flowers can be….
There are endless opportunities in recipes and medicines!
Jelly
Ice Cream
Gummy Bears
Cookies
Cough Syrup
Salve for aching muscles
Dandelion infused oil for chapped skin
Tea for digestive problems
Coffee as a diuretic and a caffeine alternative
Poultice for sores
and so much more!
& to think, it’s all literally accessible in your front yard!
However, I need to say this, dandelions are obviously everywhere, but please, you do need to practice some caution in foraging for these leaves, flowers and roots. Do not go near any lawns or fields or roadsides that have been sprayed with any pesticides.
So before I leave you to go pick dandelions and channel your inner-child and inner-healer, here are a few more interesting facts about dandelions!
The flowers mature and go to seed in as little as one week’s time
The flower itself is composed of tiny individual flowers
Each dandelion plant can disperse upwards of 20,000 viable seeds and those can travel up to 5 miles before touching down!
The flowers, of course, offer pollen for the pollinators, but the leaves provide an early source of food to caterpillars, too!
The 3 Celestial Bodies of the Sun, Moon and Starts are represented by this flower. Yellow flower = sun ; fluffy seed ball = moon ; dispersing seeds = stars
Undisturbed it can grow year after year for up to 13 years!
The Guiness Book of World Records has the tallest Dandelion plant at 70 inches in Ontario, Canada
The flower releases ethylene gas which helps fruit ripen!
And now for an annoying statistic: 30% of the world’s water supplies go to keeping lawns green and millions of dollars are spent each year on lawn treatments and pesticides which harm the soil, the ecosystem, our insects and pollinators, not to mention the human cost being discovered now.
I will be doing a post on the history of lawns soon. It’s pretty mind boggling.
But until then I’ll leave you with these wonderful facts about this little yellow flower beginning to pop up this spring. I urge you to look at in as though you’re ready to make a bouquet for someone special, not as a weed and an annoyance. Your perspective could change so much!
Do you have any favorite recipes? Let me know!
🖤 Cat
The Adev Farm website is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitude for professional medical advice. The information provided does not intent to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it is the reader’s responsibility to ensure proper plant identification & usage.
Please be aware that some plants are poisonous or can have adverse health affects. We are not health professionals, medical doctors or nutritionists. It is essential to consult with qualified professionals for verification of nutritional information, health benefits, and any potential risks associated with edible and medicinal plants mentioned in this website.