Dandelion

Taraxacum Officinale

Wildly abundant basal rosettes grow all over town. This medicine can reveal themselves in the cracks of sidewalks, lawns, disturbed fields, and in the most unexpected of places. This is one of the things that makes dandelion such potent medicine. The plants that experience more adversity often have more nutrients and minerals. They point to the resiliency that lives in nature and arises in adversity. Medicine transposed in the physical and metaphysical or more subtle body energetics of this plant.

Dandelion is known as an amazing medicine for supporting the liver and digestion. Two actions that often get viewed separately but really make up one moving part. Herbs that are bitter stimulate bile production. This coats our throat, esophagus and gut supporting digestion while stimulating our liver to process waste.

But did you know that dandelion has a look alike. I see much more of this look alike around town than I do true dandelion. False dandelion may even be more wildly abundant here- from what I have seen. But don’t worry false dandelion is non toxic and edible as well. Although it is important to know that while this plant may support digestion with their bitter components, this is not the plant we use traditionally in medicine making.

True dandelion is the plant that we want to use in our medicine making.

That single long tap root points to how just nutrient rich it is. Where as the roots of false dandelion are more dispersed underneath the surface of the soil. Not exactly the root medicine we want when making a tincture or infusion for detoxification, nourishment, and remineralization.

The root of true dandelion is highly nutritive and helps us to mineralize and build nutrients over time. This plant part is safe to use over extended periods of time. Whereas there are many herbs that should only be used in intervals.

Personally, I have found the root of dandelion to be extremely helpful in supporting my liver before my menstrual cycle. This has helped me in relieving a lot of the PMS symptoms I often encounter in my late luteal cycle. I drink dandelion root tea during my follicular, luteal and cycle to help ease symptoms like fatigue and gut disruption.

My new favorite thing to do with dandelion root has been to infuse my water with their medicine before making my cacao in the late luteal cycle. This nourishing root infusion blends with the high antioxidant and magnesium cacao and I find it to be very supportive and nourishing.

Now let’s get into the herbal energetics…

Family:Asteraceae

Native habitat: Eurasia

Parts Used:leaves & stems, flowers, root

Notes: 

• Easily dispersed by puffball seeds that blow in the wind

• A very resilient weed that can grow in the cracks of sidewalk

• To be deciphered from false dandelion which also grows prolifically 

• Great medicine for supporting the liver

  • The leaves are very bitter and help to stimulate bile production while supporting digestion

  • The roots are very nourishing and remineralize while helping the liver to process waste

• Non-native to California but considered naturalized. 

Tastes:

Leaves: bitter

Flowers: sweet, bitter

Roots: Sweet, salty

Stems: bitter

Identification:

• Low growing basal rosette

• Single composite flower from each stem

• Leaves are intensely jagged and do not have hairs on them

• Flowers are puffy, composite, grow in 1-2 inches diameter

• Single, hollow leafless steam that has a milky white sap

• One large tap root that is deep into the ground

False dandelion Identification:

• Fuzzy leaves often called cats ear

• Less jagged leaves

• Very circular, symmetrical flower heads

• Multiple flowers growing from a single stem

• Roots are closer to the surface

Herbal Energetics of Taraxacum Officinale: 

Root:

• Moistening

• Cooling

• stimulant/toning

Leaves:

• Drying

• Cooling

• Toning

Herbal Actions:

Root- alterative, nutritive, diuretic, hepatic

Leaves- digestive, astringent, hepatic, diuretic, nutritive

Tissue State Indications:

• damp/stagnation

• heat/excitation

• lax/atony

Subtle body wisdom:

• It is one thing to build a root system, and another thing to nourish that root system. 

• It takes time to nourish and build. 

• Resilience is cultivated over time. 

• Don’t let others underestimate your power.

• There is medicine in unexpected places.

• We build strength from within. 

Please remember to always use at least 3 identification sources when wildcrafting. Also be mindful of where you are harvesting. For example, making sure the plants are not near roadways or somewhere they can become polluted by exhaust or pesticides.

Disclaimer: These articles are for educational purposes only, they are not a substitution for professional medical advice, and as the reader you are responsible for your own health decisions.