6 WITCHY WAYS TO USE… A DANDELION

I wanted to touch base on the dandelion because they’re my favorite flower and because I put them in the Whiskey Witches logo! Dandelions are a super powerful flower with endless uses.

Dandelions aren’t considered a kitchen herb because we in the U.S. consider them a weed. However, it should be noted that a lot of weeds out there are highly medicinal. I’ll go through a few of those this spring as I go through and start collecting them. Harvesting a bit thing in Alaska and I’m going to try to have fun with it.

History

To read more about the history of dandelions, read this post. This flower was initially brought over as a border flower, but it quickly took over gardens, lawns, and much more. To that end, we’ve declared a war of sorts on this poor flower that has done everything in its power to be the most amazing flower in existence.

Uses

The incredible thing about the dandelion is that every single part of it can be used to better the world around it. It’s like the little engine that could of flowers. It keeps the soil from being swept away from wind or rain as its growing. It takes less water than grass. It’s hard to kill. It’s easy to grow. It’s one of the first flowers of spring and the last flowers in fall. It keeps bees happy and healthy throughout the entire spring, summer, and fall seasons. And those are just the qualities of letting it grow in your yard.

Properties

Origin: Europe

Parts of plant to use: stems, leaves, and flowers

Application: eat, make a vinegar, tincture, tea, infused oil, bath water

Magickal Uses: Happiness; promotes growth, endurance, and stamina; transformation; overcoming adversity

Health benefits: sooth chapped skin; help with mood; calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron; supports kidneys, liver, digestion, lymph, skin

Keep a New Landscape From Blowing Away

Plant dandelions in your new yard with some wild thyme. The roots are quite deep and will keep your landscape from blowing or washing away.

Dandelion Oil

Mason jar with lid

Olive oil

Fresh dandelion flowers

1. Put dandelion flower heads into the mason jar.

2. Pour oil into jar until you have desired amount. (Suggested oils: coconut, sunflower, olive, sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, jojoba)

3. Seal with lid.

4. Set in sunny window sill for 42 weeks

5. Strain the oil.

6. Using a spoon, mash the leaves to get the last remaining basil oils.

7. Use on chapped skin.

Dandelion Salve

Adding beeswax to your oil gives it a good, solid base and it’s easier to take with you.

This is great for cracked skin and achy joints.

Dandelion Vinegar

Gather dandelion leaves and flowers, rinse.

Fill a mason jar.

Pour in Apple cider vinegar.

Cover with plastic wrap and then the lid. Vinegar eats metal lids.

Store in a dark place for 4-6 weeks, shaking occasionally.

Strain.

Uses Of Dandelion Vinegar

• Use on itchy bug bites (something we get a lot here because our state bird is the mosquito)

• Use as a hair rinse that makes your hair shinier, balances your hair’s ph, and unclogs the scalp.

• Use it with Epsom salts for achy, tired muscles – Do not add eucalyptus as this combination smells soooo gross. And you’ll smell gross for… a long while. So, don’t do that.

• Eat it in a vinaigrette

Dandelion Tea

Dried dandelion leaves and flowers

Dried tea of your choice

Small cloth bag

I use dandelion tea almost daily to assist with my mental health. I tend to be depressed, especially in the winter, and dandelion tea helps.

Dandelion Salt Scrub

1 cup salt

½ cup oil

1 tbs of dried dandelion flowers or dandelion oil

Salt scrubs are pretty basic and pretty easy. Combine the ingredients into a mason jar, seal, and shake until well-mixed.

While you’re shaking it, keep your mind focused on your problems, but with a focus on trying to build a way out of your situation.

Now put this into your bath water or use as a bath scrub in the shower. While you’re using it, focus on how you can better your life and the actionable steps you can make to take charge.

This Is Only The Beginning!

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to dandelions. This is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful flowers you can put in your yard. I won’t say garden because it won’t stay there. Drink it. use it as a lotion. Use it to stabilize your landscaping. Eat it in your salads. This little flower is a heavy weight champion of flowers.