Is your backyard full of dandelions? Don’t mow them over – make your own dandelion root tincture instead! Not only is it delicious in a salad, but it’s good for you too!
In the United States, most people consider dandelion to be just another weed in the yard. But, it’s not…not by a long shot! Dandelions are packed full of vitamins and minerals, plus they have a pretty powerful medicinal history.
Dandelions have been used by Native Americans to remedy upset stomach and kidney issues. Europeans used dandelion to reduce fever, soothe boils and remedy diarrhea and they were used to reduce breast inflammation, increase milk flow and to soothe stomach disorders, in traditional Chinese medicine, too.
If you’ll notice, the common ailment between the three is that they all treated digestive issues…
Here’s a few more examples…
Here’s a study from 2017, which showed the possible suppression of gastric cancer cells when treated with dandelion root extract!
And yet another study from 2016, suggests that taking dandelion root extract orally, could reduce the growth of colon cancer cells by up to 90%!
Just to be clear, these are studies published on the US National Library of Medicine…
Oh and here’s 10 more health benefits of dandelion from Science Times…
And…according to Medical News Today, more possible health benefits from dandelion are as follows:
- Reduce cholesterol
- Regulate blood sugar
- Reduce inflammation
- Lower blood pressure
- Aid weight loss
- Reduce cancer risk
So, as you can see the Dandelion is hearty little health boosting machine!
Not the useless weed you thought it was, is it?
Now that you know, start adding dandelion to your diet! It’s so good for you and you might just find that you like the taste of it, too.
Here’s some recipes you might like…
Dandelion Recipes
- Dandelion Jelly
- Homemade Dandelion Muffins from Montana Homesteader
- Dandelion Pesto from Healing Harvest Homestead
- Dandelion Mead from Grow Forage Cook Ferment
- Pickled Dandelion Capers from Practical Self Reliance
- Dandelion Honey from Tin and Thyme
Okay, are you ready to make this Dandelion Root Tincture?
Awesome!
First things first! Never pick dandelion from the edge of the road or anywhere that could have potentially been sprayed with road chemicals, pesticides or insecticides. Always try to forage from locations that are as organic as possible.
Head out to your yard and start pulling some dandelion root. Some of them are pretty tough, so pull carefully so as not to break the root off in the ground. If that happens, use a small shovel to dig down around it to pull it out.
No dandelion in your yard? Pick some up from your local health food store or order it online instead.
Please note: I am not a doctor and I am not claiming to treat, cure or otherwise heal anything using this Dandelion Root Tincture. I’m simply sharing my recipe, along with the research I have found pertaining to the health benefits of the dandelion. The use of any herbal remedy could cause allergies and/or interactions with your medications. Please check with a medical professional before trying any herbal remedy.
The only other thing that you need to make this Dandelion Root Tincture is alcohol. You can use vodka, whiskey or bourbon…or really any pure alcohol that is 80 proof or higher.
Alright, now that you’ve got all your ingredients together – here’s the recipe…
How to Make Dandelion Root Tincture
Ingredients
- Dandelion root
- Vodka or Whiskey
Instructions
- Remove greens and/or flowers from dandelion and wash the root well.
- Cut up root into small pieces and place into a 4 ounce jar. Use enough root to fill 2/3 of the jar.
- Fill with vodka or whiskey and cover the jar with an air-tight lid.
- Store in a cool, dark location for 4 to 6 weeks. Be sure to give it a shake every day or two throughout the brew time.
- When the time is up, strain the dandelion root, reserving the liquid.
- Pour liquid into ticture bottles or store in a clean mason jar.
Notes
Dosage - 1/2 teaspoon 2x daily for general health
I am not a doctor and I am not claiming to treat, cure or otherwise heal anything using this Dandelion Root Tincture. I’m simply sharing my recipe, along with the research I have found pertaining to the health benefits of the dandelion.
How to Store Dandelion Root Tincture
You can easily store your tincture in a clean mason jar if that is all that you have on hand.
However, I personally prefer to use these handy tincture bottles, because they have a dropper inside that makes it easier to consume. The dropper holds 1 ounce of liquid and it’s super simple to drop it under your tongue.
A whole lot easier than trying to get that spoon to your mouth…
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to make Dandelion Root Tincture! Knowing how to make your own remedies is an important skill we should all learn and remember.
You never know when you might need to know!
You might also like:
Have an Awesome Day!
~Vanessa
Vanessa Hamlin is the owner and founder of Food Life Design and VLHamlinDesign. With her passion for frugal living and homesteading, Vanessa loves to write about easy recipes, making money, gardening, home remedies and everything else that a good life entails! When she’s not writing for Food Life Design or creating products for VLHamlinDesign, you’ll find Vanessa reading, drawing, gardening, cooking or spending time with her family.