Dandelion Leaves & Roots

Dandelion is a natural diuretic that is great when you need to lose weight or want to detox yourself. You can also eat them: steam the leaves and eat them as greens, or fry the flowers for a delicious treat. These weeds are filled with vitamins and minerals, and they are in such easy access to us!  

To make a tea using the leaves, dry them (either oven or air method...http://herbsteanphotography.blogspot.com/2012/10/drying-herbs.html), use 1-2 tspns, and steep in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Take 3X daily. 

To make a leaf tincture, use fresh, rinsed bunches of leaves, chopped. Fill the jar with the leaves, then fill with alcohol (30%). Tighten the lid, and let sit in a dark area for 6-12 weeks. Every so often, push the leaves back under the alcohol so tincture can get all the nutrients in the leaves. After the 6-12 week period, strain out leaves, and place tincture in jars with droppers. Take 30-60 drops daily for good health. 

Dandelion root is very hard to dig up yourself, since it is a weed and they're deep rooted. To make a dandelion root tincture, take fresh root and fill a jar, then fill with 45% alcohol at a 2:1 ratio ( 2 cups of alcohol to 1 cup of roots).

To make a dried dandelion root decoction, use 1/2-2 tspns and steep in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Strain and take 3X daily.



dandelion info thanks to- http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm