There is a large grass field behind our church on the church property, and this past Sunday, to the delight of my young nephew who picked large bouquets for his mama, the field was covered with bright yellow dandelions. My nephew declared, "It's a dream come true!" How sweet is that? The adults laughed and groaned at this sentiment, since a lawn full of dandelions isn't very desirable to most grownups.
I would like to change the mindset of wanting to poison and eliminate dandelions as weeds to wanting to "save" them. Other than being appreciated for the joy and pleasure the sunny, cheerful flowers bring to young children (and their mothers) everywhere, dandelions should be valued for their very powerful, important health benefits.
All parts of the dandelion plant--flower, leaves, and root--are edible, and it doesn't take much searching on the internet to find dozens of recipes. Common uses include teas, salads, sautéed greens, and even roasted dandelion root coffee. Similar to purslane, a nutritious plant that Americans treat as a weed but is viewed as a common food in other countries (I wrote an article on purslane last year), dandelions are consumed as staple dietary greens in countries such as Greece and France.
Young leaves are best; more mature leaves may have a bitter, acrid taste, which can be alleviated by blanching them for 20-30 seconds in boiling water before adding them to soups or salads. Dandelion roots can be used fresh or dried before chopping or grinding for use in tea or coffee. Obviously, only plants that have not been sprayed or treated with weed killers should be used.
Dandelions have been used medicinally since the 10th and 11th centuries. They are probably most well-known for their liver detoxifying properties, but they are also beneficial for the spleen, pancreas, stomach, bladder, kidneys, skin, and eyes. They are anti-inflammatory, aid in digestion, purify the blood, improve circulation, and regulate blood sugar, among other things. Dandelion root has also been studied and found effective against cancer--it caused leukemia cell death and stopped the growth of melanoma cells without harming normal healthy cells.
Dandelion roots and leaves are very high in vitamin K which is important for strengthening bones, necessary for the body to properly use vitamin D, and showing promise in fighting Alzheimers and dementia by protecting brain neurons from damage. Dandelions contain high amounts of vitamin A and fiber as well as protective flavanoids, vitamins C and B6, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, folate, magnesium, phosphorus,
and copper.
As a side note, dandelion flowers are one of the first sources of food for honey bees in the spring, which is another reason not to use weed killer or cut them down immediately. As a side-side note, making sure the flowers you buy are not treated with neoniconoids--which kill bees--is another simple step to help nature, which in turn helps us.
Dandelions do spread prolifically if not kept under control, but please don't spray or treat your lawn with toxic, carcinogenic weed killers and poisons which are harmful for you, your kids, your pets, and other natural animal and plant life. If a lawn full of dandelions bothers you, a very effective way to control dandelions with absolutely no harmful side effects is to simply dig them by hand. This method may be more time-intensive and less convenient, but it is also less costly and much safer. So many of the health and environmental problems plaguing America today are due to choosing convenience over safety, so let's take one simple step to go back to doing what is best instead of what is easiest.
Dandelion Tea
8 dandelion flowers & 5 young leaves, cleaned
1 dandelion root, cleaned and chopped
1-2 cups water
honey, lemon (optional)
Place flowers, leaves, and root in a mason jar. Add boiling water; cover lightly and let steep for about 10 minutes. Strain out the liquid and add honey or lemon if desired.
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