Winter Immune Health: Tonic Not Toxic

In recent years there have been more and more fear-based reports, advertisements, and products pushing US Americans into anti-bacterializing our lives with sprays, wipes, and gels. This war-like mentality of needing to build our defenses and kill all invaders (bacteria) in order to protect ourselves not only shows a very limited view of the function of our immune systems, it actually harms our health. Using toxic products to “clean” our homes and bodies and attacking common infections with a barrage of antibiotics depletes our bodies in the long term. Our immune system is not meant to be a fortress around our bodies. Yes, its function is to protect our bodies, but it is also a means for us to interact with the world around us.

Taking tonic herbs and foods daily helps to maintain our health, and having remedies that help activate our immune systems during times of stress and depletion is far more effective than constantly exposing ourselves to toxic “cleaners” and “sanitizers.” Herbalism and other healing modalities that are much older and more holistic primarily focus not on killing pathogens, but on strengthening our bodies’ natural defenses through foods, herbs, and lifestyle. When we are overtired, stressed, and eating junk food, we are more susceptible to whatever virus is going around; whereas, if we were well rested and taking care of our bodies, being exposed to this same virus may have no affect on us at all. I do not mean to imply an individualist and ableist idea that if we get sick or if we’re not born healthy that it’s our own fault. Rather, I believe it’s empowering to remember that self-care and collective-care (getting enough rest, plenty of water, nourishing foods, movement, and other aspects of creating a culture that encourages this kind of care) is much more effective than trying to hose down our life with toxic chemicals in order to kill bacteria in our environment. We have evolved with bacteria and need them for good health, and fortunately mainstream US culture has shifted in the last few years to recognize/remember that probiotics and cultured foods (sauerkraut, kim chi, kombucha, injera, miso, yogurt, etc. – see Sandor Ellix Katz's books on fermentation) are tried and true ways to support the good bacteria in our bodies.

Practices to Help Stay (or Get) Healthy:

Drink plenty of liquids! Fluids not only give our bodies necessary hydration, they make it more difficult for bacteria and viruses to cling to our mucous membranes (i.e., nose, throat) and cause trouble. So drink plenty of water and tea to prevent getting sick and to heal quicker once you already are sick. Soda, coffee, and other such drinks don’t count as nourishing, immune-supporting fluids (sorry!).

Get rest! Winter is the time for hibernation, to store energy that will fuel that sprouting green spring energy and feisty summer energy. If we rush and take on too much during the resting time of the year, we deplete our bodies. When a full 8-hour night sleep isn’t possible and you need to cram, remember to eat, breathe, and get as much rest as you can. However, try to remember once deadlines are met to take the time to both rest and sleep.  I know, not always do-able, especially for caregivers.  But important to integrate into our lives if and when possible.

Stay warm! Hats, warm socks, mittens, and scarves help us maintain our body’s heat in the colder months. You can also wear a scarf or tube-top around your waist to keep your kidneys warm, a practice that is common in Japan, where the cloth is called a haramaki. In many different traditions wind is an external influence that can enter your body and bring with it sickness, particularly at the nape of your neck and your kidneys (lower back), and especially if you have recently taken a hot bath or received a massage, which opens your body up. If you’re feeling chilled, you can also take a hot bath, foot bath, or wrap around you or lay upon a hot water bottle or microwave-heated rice pack.

Steam! Steams cleanse, hydrate, and improve circulation, while also warming and moistening dry air passages and clearing congestion when we’re not feeling well. In a large glass or metal bowl, pour a kettleful of boiling water over a handful of dried herbs, two handfuls of fresh herbs, or drop 1-3 drops of essential oils into the water. Drape a towel over your head to create a tent over the bowl of steaming herb water, breathe, and relax. Steam for approximately 10-15 minutes. If you get too hot, emerge from the tent to cool down, and then go back in. Aromatic herbs such as Peppermint and Thyme help clear congestion. You can create a mini-steam with a serving bowl or a mug of tea.

Move your body! Unlike our cardiovascular system, our lymph system doesn’t have a heart-muscle to pump and create circulation in our bodies. It’s up to us to get our lymph systems moving, which we can do through movement that we enjoy – walking, dancing, etc. Lack of movement in our lymph systems causes stagnation and can make it difficult to clear infections from our bodies. When we’re feeling under the weather and don’t have the energy to exercise, we can practice self-massage, receive massage from someone else, and/or take lymph-moving herbs such as Calendula, Cleavers, Red Clover, and Spilanthes.

Limit/Avoid Sugar and Dairy! Sugar depresses the immune system and makes you more vulnerable to getting sick. Sweet things like refined sugar, maple syrup, and honey are very concentrated and are a special treat. It's a good practice to limit your intake of refined sugar especially, and during times of stress or when sick, avoid it all together if you can. Honey is nourishing and soothes the mucus membranes and can be added to teas, both when healthy and under the weather. Dairy products create more mucus. Some say this is not true, but it is true for many people, so see how your body reacts to dairy. If you feel more phlegmy after having dairy, you may want to avoid it.

Herbs for Immune Health

Astragalus in flower, Dried Astragalus root, and ripe Elderberries

The herbs below can all be grown in the bioregion of the Northeast US. There are different types of immune herbs – immune tonics to help build immune strength and promote healthy immune response, and immune stimulants to help activate the immune system once you are sick or starting to come down with something. There are also immunomodulating herbs, which can both quiet an overactive immune system (lots of environmental/food allergies) or to build up a depleted one (after a long illness). This is a quick list for your reference. Please keep in mind that each herb has its own traditional use and energetic (i.e. warming/cooling), so research ones that you’re interested in to learn more!

Astragalus - Astragalus membranaceus tonic/immunomodulating - The root is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the prepared root looks like a tongue depressor. It is an immune tonic, meaning that you can use it often and over long periods of time to build strength and maintain health. You can take it to prevent getting sick or during recovery from an illness. I have heard that you don’t want to take it while you’re sick because it can potentially make you worse, but there are immune stimulants we can use at this time. To prepare Astragalus tea, like most other roots: simmer, covered for 10—20 minutes in water. If I have time, I like to soak the root in water for a few hours or overnight before and/or after simmering it. You can simmer the root in immune-nourishing bone broths, chicken soup, and other soups; just remember to remove it before serving, or just let people know there are lil pieces of woody herbs in their soup! Astragalus powder can also be used to make Adaptogen Herb Balls - see recipe below.

Medicinal Mushrooms – such as Reishi and Chaga mushrooms tonic/ immunomodulating – Medicinal mushrooms help support the immune system and liver, and Reishi in particular has an affinity with the lungs. Please seek out an experienced mushroomer to learn more about and correctly identify particular mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms can be taken as soups or decoctions (ideally simmered for many hours), syrups, and tinctures. A simple and alcohol-free way to take medicinal mushrooms daily is to pour the decoction in ice cube trays, freeze, and melt one daily and drink as tea or add to your food. 

Elderberry – Sambucus nigra tonic/stimulant - Black elderberries have a long history of use for colds, flu, upper respiratory infections, and is also a preventative. They are anti-viral and can be taken as syrup, jam, juice, or tea (not to be eaten fresh, so blanch or cook them). Elder is also a very magical plant - it protects the other plants in the garden and is said to be home of the faeries. Be sure not to use red elderberries – as this is a different and toxic plant! In Northern New England the black elder’s flowers bloom in June and the berries ripen in late August/early September. (The red elderberries ripen in June, so this is a way to tell the difference between the red and black elderberry bushes.) The flowers also have traditionally been used for colds and flus, and drying up mucus. If you'd like to make your own Elderberry syrup, please see my Elderberry (and Other) Syrup Recipes post.

Echinacea – Echinacea purperea stimulant/lymphatic - the roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds are all medicinal, though the third year roots are most commonly used. Echinacea is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and stimulates your immune system. This plant is not meant to be taken as immune support over long periods of time. It’s recommended to take this herb when others around you are sick, you feel yourself beginning to come down with something, or you are already sick. To make an Echinacea tea of the roots, follow above instructions for making Astragalus root tea. To make a tea with the other parts of the plant, add them when you remove the Echinacea roots from heat and let them sit and steep for 10 minutes or longer. For a tea with just the leaves, flowers, and/or seeds, pour boiling hot water over them and let them steep 10+ minutes before straining. In general when you are sick, you take smaller and more frequent doses than with tonic herbs.

Spilanthes – Spilanthes acmella stimulant/lymphatic – The leaves and gum-drop looking blossoms of this plant can be taken as a tincture or a tea, and is also used in mouthwashes and toothpowders. This is a fun plant to grow and you can make medicine from it in its first year (rather than three years, like with the fellow immune-stimulating Echinacea [root]). It’s nicknamed ‘the toothache plant’ because it numbs and relieves pain in the mouth, giving a tingly post-Novocain feeling. It is also numbing and pain-relieving in the throat, so you can use it to ease a sore throat as well. Please let others know about the tingling sensation before sharing Spilanthes – it can sometimes feel like your throat is closing up. Some people are sensitive to Echinacea and Spilanthes can be a great alternative.

Thyme , Sage, and other Culinary Herbs - Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, and others – Culinary herbs have been used for many generations around the world to help maintain health, both in our foods and as teas or other remedies. Thyme and Sage, like other culinary herbs, relieve congestion, help break up mucus in the lungs, and can be added to soups and taken as a tea or a steam. Thyme is specific for supporting respiratory health and makes a powerful respiratory steam. Sage is soothing to a sore throat as a tea or you can put the dried herb into honey and take it by the spoonful.  And Rosemary, and Mint, and Basil, and on and on...

There are also versatile plants that you may not think of primarily as immune-supporting herbs, but may be a great match for what ails you. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabsupports the adrenals, soothes mucus membranes, and is calming and anti-viral. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalisleaf and flower is also anti-viral, calming to the nerves and digestion, and is said to gladden the heart. Tulsi (aka Holy Basil/Sacred Basil - Ocimum sanctum) leaf and flower is an adaptogen (helps your body adapt to stress) and has a particular affinity with the lungs, as well as the heart.

Also, please see my Ideas and Remedies for When You’re Home Sick… for more herbal info and suggestions for when you're feeling under the weather.

Echinacea in bloom, Lemon Balm before flowering, and Spilanthes leaf and bud

Recipes for Immune Health

Immune Soup and Spread
Using Miso paste and herbs, you can create a soup base that can be stored in the fridge long term. This is especially nice when you aren’t feeling well and you don’t have tons of energy to put into cooking.

½ cup Miso
1 tblsp fresh Ginger, grated or chopped   
   finely
3 cloves fresh Garlic, crushed and chopped
1 tblsp fresh Turmeric, grated or chopped 
   finely (optional)
pinch of Cayenne

Crush the garlic and leave it to sit for a few 
minutes before chopping, in order to make the most of its medicine, as this releases its allicin. Mix together the other ingredients. To make a simple soup, just put a spoonful of the paste into a bowl, cover with hot water, and stir. (Remember that the good living organisms in miso will be killed if you boil them.) If you want, you can add sliced scallions to the soup. You can also add the paste to a soup of sautéed and simmered onions, garlic, mushrooms, greens, chicken soup, bone broth, etc.

To make a spread for crackers and bread, you can just add Tahini (sesame paste) and/or local Honey to the miso herb paste.  The photo to the left on the bottom is of immune paste with Tahini.

Hot Ginger Lemonade
1-2 inch piece of fresh Ginger root, grated
1 quart of water
Juice of 1 Lemon, freshly squeezed
Honey to taste
Pinch of Cayenne powder

Grate fresh Ginger root and steep in hot water for 10-20 minutes. Strain and add freshly squeezed Lemon juice, Honey, and a pinch of Cayenne. This concoction is warming (Ginger & Cayenne), contains vitamin C (fresh Lemon juice), and is soothing to a sore throat (Honey & Ginger). The Ginger root can be used more than once, and depending on where you live you may be able to find it locally-grown, even in colder climates.  ie Snakeroot Farm in Central Maine, Friends and Neighbors Farm in Marshfield, VT, and Massachusetts-grown Old Friends Farm Ginger root can be found at various farmers markets/Coops.

Adaptogen Herb Balls
Adaptogens are herbs that help our bodies adapt to stress. Coffee and other stimulants that give us rushes of “fake” energy trick us into thinking we have energy while it depletes our energy reserves over time. But these herbs are nourishing.

2 cups of Tahini (sesame paste)
1 cup of local Honey
½ tblsp Cardamom and Nutmeg each
½ cup Sunflower seeds
½ cup Sesame seeds
¾ cup dried Coconut flakes (optional)
1 tblsp Spirulina (fresh water blue-green algae, with tons of protein & B vitamins)
Powdered tonic herbs such as:
Astragalus root, Ashwaghanda root, Hawthorn berries, Licorice root (start with a few tablespoons of one or many herbs, experiment with the taste)
Extra sesame seeds, coconut flakes, and/or cocoa/carob powder

Mix the Tahini and Honey together so that they are smooth. Stir in the herb powders, and then the nuts. If needed, add more herbs, or Coconut flakes, until you can form balls that hold their shape. Roll into balls, and coat with Sesame seeds and Coconut flakes if you like. These will keep for many weeks stored in the fridge. Feel free to experiment with other nuts, dried fruit, and to adjust the amounts.

Demons Begone! Fire Cider
Fire Cider is a spicy concoction that boosts the immune system and relieves sinus congestion. You can take a daily shot of fire cider to keep you well through the winter months, or take as needed when you're feeling under the weather. Fire cider can also be used topically as a liniment by rubbing it into sore muscles and aching joints or as a compress by soaking a clean cloth in the fire cider (either room temperature or warmed) and then placing onto a congested chest.  For the record: I haven't used Fire Cider topically before, I've just heard of it being used and like knowing multiple uses for the same herb/remedy

¼ -½ cup Horseradish root, grated
1 head of Garlic, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
¼ - ½ cup of Ginger, grated
1 tsp Cayenne pepper
1 quart organic Apple Cider Vinegar, preferably local and raw

Place herbs in a quart jar and cover with apple cider vinegar. Cover tightly with a non-metal lid (or put a piece of plastic or waxed paper between the jar and metal lid) as vinegar makes metal rust. Infuse for a month, shaking daily or at least often. After a month, strain and rebottle into a glass jar with a plastic lid. You can add honey to taste, if you wish. You can also eat the spicy strained herbs!

Note:  There is an active boycott of Shire City Herbals, as they have trademarked this traditional remedy and are suing fellow herbalists.  You can take action by spreading the word in your community/ies, contacting your local health food store to encourage them to support small local businesses that offer Fire Cider (instead of Shire City Herbals who is sending those small business cease and desist letters), and signing the petition.  You can learn more about the situation and find recipes and more on the Free Fire Cider website and the Tradition Not Trademark  Facebook page.


Medicinal Mushroom Extract
To create an extract that combines both tinctured and decocted (simmered tea) mushroom, divide your mushroom into two halves. Set aside half - if it’s fresh, allow it to dry whole or sliced. Chop the other half (fresh or dried) and weigh it. Make a tincture using approximately a 1:5 ratio - 1 part weight of mushroom to 5 parts volume of menstrum (liquid that you’re using to extract the mushroom), i.e. 2 ounces of dried mushrooms to 10 ounces of menstrum. Cover the chopped mushroom with a menstrum made of: 70% alcohol, 20% vegetable glycerin, and 10% water. (Glycerin is added to help the blend emulsify – otherwise it supposedly gets goopy.) Let the tincture infuse for a month, and then strain. Measure and put aside the liquid. Put the mushroom that you just strained and the dried mushroom you saved earlier together in a pot. Cover the mushrooms with twice the amount of water as tincture, and simmer for one hour to two days. The longer you simmer the mushroom, the more medicinal properties that are drawn out. When you are finished with the decocting, strain out the mushroom and measure the liquid. Return the liquid back to the pot and let it continue to simmer until it is reduced to the same amount as the tincture. Once this is achieved, remove the pot from heat and allow the liquid to cool. Once the liquid is at room temperature, combine with the tincture, using a whisk to blend the mixture together.

Some medicine-makers, after dividing the mushrooms in two, compost the mushrooms used to make the tincture, and then decoct only the other half that they’d put aside earlier. Others don’t divide the mushroom at all, and both tincture and decoct the same mushroom. When I’ve made mushroom extracts in the past, I try to add at least some untinctured mushroom to the decoction. Once after I completed an extract, I felt like the mushroom still contained a lot of medicine, so I added fresh water to the tinctured and decocted mushroom and continued the decoction process. I let it simmer a long while and then let it cool. I poured the liquid into ice cube trays and once frozen, I stored them in freezer bags that I labeled well. This way, I had a deep immune tonic that was ready to use whenever I needed it, to thaw as a tea or soup. You can also add other immune-enhancing medicines like Astragalus and Garlic to your decoctions, or freeze soup/bone-broths that contain medicinal mushrooms and herbs.

Rosemary, Thyme, and Sage, Reishi mushroom, Tulsi/Holy Basil/Sacred Basil

Please feel free to post additional recipes and ideas in the comment space below. If you don't have these remedies in your home apothecary and you'd like to support the community herbalism/organizing work that I do by placing an order, please see my online shop: Dandelioness Herbals Etsy Shop. Thanks so much!

Additional blog posts:
*Elderberry (and other) Syrup Recipe(s)
*(Im)migration and Lip Balms for Social Justice?

*Ideas and Remedies for When You're Home Sick...
*Ginger Lovers Unite!: Medicinal and Culinary Uses of Ginger

The Dandelions Are Here!!

The Dandelions Are Here!! I am completely biased: I LOVE DANDELIONS! Perhaps your idea of a gorgeous yard involves a lawn as green and weedless as Astroturf, and you are among the masses that spend much time and energy pesticiding, mowing, and pulling out dandelions. We’d do much better to appreciate the dandelions and harvest them for food and medicine rather than poisoning our home-spaces and then spending money on supplements and pharmaceuticals that contain some of the same medicinal qualities that dandelion itself provides! Yup, it’s true! All parts of dandelion are medicinal and they’re completely free – a perfect example of medicine for the people! To me, dandelions embody Persistence, Resilience, Abundance, and Radiance. I love that it grows nearly everywhere – both an urban and rural plant ally.

I have a special place in my heart for dandelion and its far-reaching seeds. In my correspondence with U.S. Political Prisoners (please see Writing to (Political) Prisoners and resources listed under U.S. Political Prisoner Resources) I often draw dandelions in their various stages – green buds about to burst open, blossoms at their height of radiance, and a seedhead sending forth its seed in the wind. I love that no matter how much barbed wire and concrete walls they build up to separate us, confine life, and stamp out signs of hope, still the dandelions find their way in! On my first visit to a particular prison the guards were acting immature and unprofessional and the one escorting me to the visiting area was particularly dodgy. As I entered the area where I’d soon finally see my friend after filling out forms, locking up my belongings, going through the metal detector, and getting stamped, in a crack between the brick wall and cement-covered ground an enormous dandelion plant with about 20 blossoms was thriving! I’d never before seen so many blossoms on one plant and the sight brought me away from my anger at the conditions of the place to total joy at this embodiment of exuberant resistance, and made me more present for a better visit.

Here is information and recipes from “The Dandelions Are Coming!”, a workshop that I taught a couple years ago. Please let me know if you have more info and recipes to share! Don’t hate those weeds, eat those weeds! Make medicine and share knowledge! Hooray for the underdog!

Botanical name: Taraxacum officinale
AKA: Diente de Leon, Caisearbhán, Piss-in-bed/Pissenlit, Tell-time, Clockflower
Plant family: Asteraceae/Sunflower, along with Chamomile and Daisies
Soil uses: Dandelion helps loosen up compacted soil
Best time to harvest: early spring greens and roots, autumn roots, and blossoms anytime they’re out

Identification: The toothed leaves grow in a rosette, then send forth a hollow stalk upon which a golden blossom forms, 1”-2’ across. The root is brown on its exterior, and white on the inside. The root, leaves, and stems all bleed a milky juice when cut.

The WHOLE Plant is Medicinal!
Flower~ has pain-relieving properties, great as an infused massage oil for releasing tension held in the muscles. Can also be taken as food, wine, and mead.
Stem~ contains latex-y sap that, when applied daily for many weeks, is said to get rid of warts 
Leaf~ is rich in Vitamins C and B and minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron. The early spring greens have traditionally been eaten to cleanse the body of the heavy foods of winter and prepare for the warmer months. It is a urinary tonic, relieving water retention without depleting the body of potassium, as pharmaceutical diuretics do. Can be eaten fresh or cooked, taken as a tea or tincture.
Root~ has long been used in liver disease, jaundice, hepatitis, gall-bladder infections, and to dissolve gallstones. It can ease PMS, headaches, skin problems, and other ailments that indicate a sluggish liver. Mildly laxative. Increases insulin secretion, which can help with diabetes and hypoglycemia. It supports those who are in recovery from drug or alcohol-dependence, eating disorders, or long-term use of antibiotics. Can be added to soups and stir-fries. Both the leaf and root are bitter, and this taste activates the digestive system.
Seeds~ The seeds are said to be messengers, “if you whisper the words of love to your favourite person and blow the seeds gently towards him(/her), the seeds would carry the words to your beloved.” The Complete Floral Healer by Anne McIntyre
Energetics~ Dandelion helps to “relieve emotional stagnation and enhances expression of repressed emotions such as anger, resentment and grief.” ~The Complete Floral Healer
Flower essence: “Dandelion suits people who have a tendency to cram far too much into their lives. They are so full of enthusiasm for life that they take on too much and become compulsive ‘doers’. They overplan and overstructure their lives in an effort to fit in everything they want to do, and leave little room for relaxation or reflection, until the point is reached where they no longer know how to be quiet or relaxed. They leave little space in their lives for spiritual or emotional expression, and as they push themselves beyond the body’s natural capacity, they no longer listen to the needs of their bodies. Such harsh physical demands and unexpressed inner life creates great tension, especially in the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Dandelion helps to release this tension, allowing the body to relax and emotions to be release and expressed. It can be added to massage oils and used in bodywork. It enables you to listen more closely to emotional messages and bodily needs, and shifts the emphasis from being a human ‘doing’ to a human ‘being’. Energy, activity and enthusiasm become balanced with a sense of inner ease.” ~The Complete Floral Healer
Sound familiar to anyone else? Aye!

Dandelion concoctions - clockwise from middle: Dandelion Green Vinegar, Dandelion Flower tincture, Dandelion Flower essence, image by Larken Bunce, my Dandelioness Herbals business card, Tigress Balm with Dandelion Flower-infused oil, Radherb patch and wilting blossom, Dandelion Blossom Elixir, and Dandelion Root tincture. (Most of these are on my Dandelioness Herbals Etsy shop.)

Dandelions that I'd dug up from my garden to eat the
leaves and roots went to bloom before I ate them!

Dandelion Blossom Elixir
To preserve the fresh sunnyness of the blossoms all year round.

1½ cups Blossoms (only the yellows)
1 cup Honey
12 oz. Brandy

Twist off all the green bits of the blossoms, leaving only the yellow. Place the unwashed blossoms in a glass quart jar. Cover blossoms with honey and stir. Cover the blossoms with the brandy, being sure to leave at least 1” space from the top of the jar for shake-ability. Shake and let infuse in the sunshine for a day or two. Then move to a spot out of direct sunlight and shake daily if possible. After one month, strain out and compost the blossoms, and then bottle and label your elixir! As the honey and brandy are natural preservatives, your elixir will last years.

Dandelion Blossom Massage Oil
Infusing fresh dandelion blossoms into oil makes a lovely oil for self-massage.  And remember breast/chest massage and self-exams are for all of us – not only cisgender (non-transgender) women!  We can all benefit from this practice, whether we want to promote circulation and lymph movement, release held emotions, connect with and better know our own bodies, and/or to be aware of any changes that may occur so that we can get them checked out by a healthcare provider.  You can purchase a special balm for these self-massages such as Love It Up! Breast & Chest Massage Balm or make your own.

Dandelion Blossom Oil can be used for general all-over massage, as well, to relieve tension. (This is why I include it in my Tigress Balm warming muscle rub.) Infusing this oil is tricky, since the blossoms are so very juicy and not particularly anti-bacterial like other herbs, such as Calendula and St. Johnswort, which helps to prevent mold. If you’d like to wilt your flowers to release some of its moisture, lay out your blossoms in a basket or on a piece of paper bag paper in a well-ventilated space for a few hours or overnight.

Place your freshly harvested blossoms into a clean, dry glass jar, filling it halfway or two-thirds full. Cover the blossoms with Olive oil (or another oil such as Almond or Sesame) filling almost to the top, stirring with a chopstick to release air bubbles as you go. Pour the blossoms and oils in a double boiler. Slowly warm the herbs on very low heat for at least 30-60 minutes. Make sure that the oil is not too hot - you don’t want to cook the flowers in the oil, just warm them. The longer you’re able to warm the oil at a low temperature, the stronger medicine your oil will be. Pour your blossoms and oil back into the glass jar and leave to infuse out in the sunshine or a sunny window, leaving the lid off if possible, to let any moisture out. Usually oils are left to infuse for a full lunar cycle, but dandelion blossoms are apt to mold. You can strain your oil after its day in the sun, or if you’re up for the challenge, you can try the full month and keep a vigilant eye out for mold, removing any if it appears, and wiping out any moisture from the sides of the jar with a towel or napkin. Whenever you are ready to strain your oil, pour it through a mesh strainer or cloth into a dry bottle and label. Store out of the sun and use within a year.  Some folks add a few drops of Vitamin E or essential oils such as Lavender or Rosemary to help preserve this oil.  Just remember that the skin on our breast/chest area can be sensitive so add just a few drops.

Another way to make Dandelion Blossom oil with fresh blossoms is to pour the oil over the blossoms and add a bit of grain alcohol to prevent bacterial growth. I usually add just a teaspoon of organic grain alcohol per quart of oil.  It's still a good idea to keep an eye out and remove any moisture or mold from the oil.

 

Fresh Dandelion leaf, flower, buds, and stem.

Chopping it up to marinade in apple cider vinegar.

Marinated Dandelion Greens
This recipe requires no cooking, making it a great way to get your greens during the busy spring and summer months.

1 bunch Dandelion Greens, chopped
Olive Oil
Honest-To-Goodness Apple Cider Vinegar (or other local a.c.v.)
1 clove Garlic, crushed and chopped (optional)

Clean your Dandelion greens thoroughly and chop. Place greens in a bowl, drizzle on the olive oil and apple cider vinegar, and stir. If you need an immune boost or vampire protection, crush a clove of garlic, letting it oxidize for a couple minutes (to get its full medicinal benefits ), finely chop, and stir in with the greens. Cover your bowl and leave it to marinate for a few hours or overnight. And there you go, your greens are ready! If you don’t eat them all right away, store them in the fridge.   (You can buy Honest to Goodness Apple Cider Vinegar in Central Vermont Coops, or buy it in bulk directly from them.  Call: 802-685-3061 )

Dandelion Leaf Infused Vinegar
Vinegar itself is an old folk remedy. Dr. Jarvis, who practiced medicine in Barre, VT starting in 1909, recorded Vermont remedies in his book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, singing praises for its many uses. Vinegar is a digestive tonic and is high in minerals. Recent studies show that it’s beneficial for diabetes and treating jellyfish stings! Adding tonic herbs such as dandelion leaf adds even more medicinal properties, and gives you a nutrient-rich base for salad dressings and sauces.

Fill a glass jar halfway with fresh, clean chopped dandelion leaves, and then fill the jar with vinegar. Cover with a glass or plastic lid, or a cork, as metal will rust. You can also put a layer of plastic wrap or waxed paper between a metal lid and jar, but I've still had metal lids rust through the layer. Let the herb vinegar infuse for an entire moon cycle, shaking daily if possible. Strain out and eat or compost the herb, and pour the infused vinegar into a sterilized glass bottle with a glass or plastic lid. Store in a cool, dark area such as a cupboard. Folks have varying opinions about how long herbal vinegars keep. Some say 6 months, most say years.

Fresh Dandelion Root

Roasted Dandelion Root Brew
I’m not going to risk upsetting coffee-drinkers or dandelion itself by calling this drink a coffee substitute, but if you are seeking a bitter brew without the jitters or adrenal depletion, you may want to check this out.  Dig dandelion roots in autumn.  Cut off the leaves, eating if they still look vital, composting them if not.  Wash the roots and slice them into small pieces.  When they are dry, roast them in an oven at a very low heat.  Check them often and remove when they seem well-roasted.  Grind them and either brew them in a percolator or simmer the roots alone or with other herbs and spices.  You can add milk (cow/ rice/ coconut), sweetener (maple syrup/honey), and a pinch of cinnamon after you simmer the brew.

Some herbalists make and sell instant beverages that contain contain Dandelion root and can be stirred right into hot water, no simmering necessary.  Even though it's delicious, I stopped buying Dandy Blend, as there are much more local companies (I'm talking Poland where DB is made, not Ohio where the company is based) to get it from, that don't support hateful, anti-immigrant politics.  Let's support business that support justice!

Dandelion Blossom Fritters made by folk herbalist and 

food educator Sandra Lory of Mandala Botanicals

Dandelion Blossom Fritters
If you need something a bit heartier to go along with your Dandelion Blossom Elixir, Roasted Dandelion Root Brew, and Marinated Dandelion Greens with Dandelion Leaf Infused Vinegar, try this recipe. If you’re more into deep-fat frying, you can also dip fresh blossoms in a tempura batter and fry them up! 

1 cup Flour (millet, buckwheat, wheat, etc)
1 cup Water
1 Egg
2 tbsp. Olive oil
1 cup whole Dandelion flowers
Pinch of salt 
Optional ingredients: Chives, Dandelion greens, Stinging Nettles (the young leaves finely chopped), Mushrooms, etc.  

Beat the egg, add water and oil. Stir the liquid into flour, and then add in the flowers. Warm coconut oil or another oil in a pan and cook like mini pancakes. Serve them warm with jam, syrup, butter, sweet and sour sauce, herb-infused vinegar, the juice left in your pickle/fermentation jars, spicy salsas, chutneys, etc.  Serves 2 generously.



Dandelion Root Stir-fry
Harvest the whole plant, digging around it with a shovel or spade and lifting it out of the ground. Cut off the greens and steam, marinate, or add them to soup. Clean the roots, cut into slices, and add to a stir-fry the way you would carrot or burdock root.

Dandelion Mead
A recipe morphed together from an old-time mead (honey wine) recipe and some internet suggestions.

Pour boiling water to 1 gallon over:
(meaning you should have 1 gallon total between both the water and the ingredients listed below)

2 quarts Dandelion blossoms, with greens attached (the green part of blossom, not the leaves)

2 sliced organic Lemons

2 sliced organic Oranges

1 lb organic Raisins minus one handful (reserved to add when cool)

When cool:
add 1 quart local Honey (about 3 lbs)

1 1/4 tsp Baking Yeast

the reserved handful of Raisins

Cover and let ferment in a place with consistent temperature, stirring daily. Bottle after 15 days. (Check out bottling instructions if you're not familiar with this process, or better yet, have an experienced friend help you with this til you're comfortable doing it on your own.) Let ferment at least 6 months.

Notes:  A wine yeast specifically made for mead-making may create a better-tasting mead.  This recipe makes do with baking yeast, which is usually much easier to find.

In lieu of this recipe, it has been suggested: After 10-15 days you should siphon the mead into a new vessel that has an air lock and leave it for 3-6 months and then bottle it. This will insure that all of the yeast has fallen out making a clear beverage and fermentation is absolutely complete.

Dandelions in the field to the stone tower, 
Kinvara, Co. Galway, Ireland

Dandelion remedies available on Dandelioness Herbals' online Etsy shop.

Dandelion References:  ●The Roots of Healing: A Woman’s Book of Herbs (or A Woman's Book: The Healing Power of Natural Remedies) by Deb Soule ●The Complete Floral Healer (or Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body & Soul Through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, & Flower Essences) by Anne McIntyre ●Herbal Remedies from the Wild by Corinne Martin