All about dandelions and their health benefits 

Trinity’s Super Healthy Videos (Savoury things)

Trinity’s Plant-based Gluten-free Sweet Treat Videos

Trinity’s Inspiring Videos (that aren’t recipes)

Every springtime in temperate climates they deck fields, meadows, lawns, yards and gardens, with a sunny yellow blanket of bright flower heads. Much to the delight of children, they also throw up tufty seed heads that scatter like elegant fairies with the most gentle breeze. My favourite childhood drink was dandelion and burdock pop, a marriage made in heaven inspired by these much ignored wild plants. I remember eagerly waiting for the delivery man as he brought our weekly order and I’ll never forget that refreshing taste as I gulped down a full glass, after an afternoons work of making mud pies and wild rose perfume. And we used to blow the Dandelion seed heads playing the game of ‘he loves/he loves me not’ for a bit of harmless fun…

These days if you mention dandelions to most folk you’ll hear a mutter about how they keep popping up everywhere in the yard and how notoriously difficult they are to control. Dandelions are born survivors, so I like to think that they’re hanging on so that when we all come back to our senses and embrace them for the amazing gifts they bring, they will be right there waiting for us in plentiful supply. It’s often those little, down trodden beauties that bring us the most divine gifts of all. I feel deeply thankful for the myriad of golden sun-like flowers that brighten the lawns and meadows in early spring time.

Dandelion is a an excellent all rounder and should most certainly feature near the top of any healthy herb collection. They have a thick tap root that makes the perfect coffee substitute, whilst their leaves form a rosette shaped platter of highly nutritious leaves. Bright yellow flowers and tufty white seed heads grow from hollow milky stems, each part having a beneficial role to play for nature, animals and people.

The name dandelion come from the French word dent de lion, which translates to lions teeth. When we take a closer look at their saw shaped leaves, it all makes perfect sense.

The flowers are edible both raw and cooked, especially if you take the yellow petals off the bulky head (the head is much more bitter). Dandelion flowers have however achieved particular popularity for their role in helping to create dandelion flower wine.

Leaves can be eaten just like spinach, raw in a salad, sandwiches, tossed in a stir-fry or soup. Most people prefer to use the youngest leaves, since they can get very bitter as they get bigger and mature throughout the season. One of the easiest ways to enjoy the benefits of dandelion is by making an infusion of tea with the leaves (either dried or fresh).

You can make dandelion tea with either the yellow flower heads or with the leaves.  I prefer to use the leaves, although it can look pretty doing it with flowers. The flowers taste more delicate whilst the leaves have an amazing this-is-really-doing-me-good taste!

Simply infuse the flower heads or a handful of leaves in boiling water in a pot for at least 3 minutes (and for as long as you would like after that). If you have a tea infuser ball you can make it straight in your mug. I would tear about 5 leaves for one mugful.

Use a strainer to pour a cup of tea and sweeten if desired (or enjoy it as it is if you like a a herby hit, like me).

You can usually buy dried dandelion leaves from a good health food store or herb shop to be used as a tea infusion.

The roots are frequently used as a convincing coffee substitute. I am not really a coffee drinker myself, so I can only comment on what I’ve heard from friends who have used this.

Dig up the roots (which tend to be thicker later in the season).

Use a sharp knife to chop them up as small as you can. Spread evenly on a baking tray.

Roast in the oven either on a low temperature over a long period or higher temperature until they’ve dried out completely (usually when they have turned a light brownish colour).

When fully roasted, grind in a nut mill, coffee grinder or with a pestle and mortar and use as regular coffee.

Or alternatively infuse like tea and then strain off the ground root before serving.

It’s worth noting that some people grind – some people don’t. Explore, experiment and just do what you find works best for you. You can also cheat and buy pre-ground dandelion root in good health food stores in the alternative coffee section.

The many health benefits of dandelions – an overview

Dandelions have an excellent reputation as a detoxifier, blood cleanser, stimulant and digestive aid. They act as a liver tonic, removing toxins whilst stimulating the kidneys to ensure that toxins are rapidly eliminated. Bile is cleared out, promoting better digestion and discouraging the formation of gallstones. Whilst there haven’t been many clear and concise studies carried out on the health benefits of dandelions (probably because there isn’t any money in things that grow freely!)… traditional cultures including the North Native Americans and the European Celts successfully used these prolific wild plants for a myriad of different health benefits. I’ve outlined a few of the most commonly known uses here.

Diuretic – Dandelion leaves act as a wonderful diuretic. Their high levels of potassium means that any of this essential nutrient flushed out in the urine is easily replaced (potassium depletion is a common side effect of more conventional diuretics). Dandelions cause great relief for fluid retention issues, especially around pre-menstrual-tension, kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Acne and skin problems – since dandelion acts as a diuretic, detoxifier and anti-oxidant, the juice or tincture can help stimulate and regulate the system to remove the build up of toxins that cause acne. Applying the milky dandelion sap directly can also act against microbial skin infections (but be sure to avoid the eyes). It is believed that the sap found in the hollow stem has good anti-fungal, germicidal and insecticidal properties. This milky white sap can therefore be used to treat skin infections, like eczema and ring worm and especially those diseases caused by microbial and fungal infections. It can also relieve itchiness from bites and stings.

Bladder Issues – Dandelion is a brilliant tonic for the bladder and urinary tract with its ability to cleanse and flush, whilst acting as an anti-microbial to promote a healthy urinary system. It works well on bladder infections like cystitis.

Liver and Gall Bladder – the roots work particularly well to help improve digestion and elimination. This often has benefits for arthritic conditions, gout and skin diseases.

Warts – rubbing the fresh sap on warts every day, over several weeks is said be a painless and effective way of removing them altogether.

Highly Nutritious Superfood – Dandelions offer a potent gift of vitamin A & K, which are excellent at supporting blood health. Vitamin K ensures effective blood clotting, whilst vitamin A regulates blood cell growth. This wild plant also gives a good dose of Vitamin C and calcium to support good bone health. Eye health also benefits greatly from regular consumption of the plant, due to the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin.

So all in all, dandelions make a regular appearance in my cuisine. A real gift from nature to support general health and wellness as well as specific conditions. Dandelions are generally safe for most people, but if any doubt then please do explore further regarding any specific health conditions that you might have or are already taking prescription medications.

These ‘Immune Boosting Juices’:  are some of my favourite combinations, works perfectly with dandelion leaves…

Super Green Immune Boosting juice: www.trinityskitchen.com/dandelion-apple-juice/

For more about foraging wild foods and their benefits, please check out my article “

Thank you for tuning in. Please feel free to share this, but be sure to link back to my page or website

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author: Trinity @ Trinity\'s Conscious Kitchen

Trinity Bourne is a recipe developer, retreat chef and food blogger with over 20 years of experience in the world of conscious cuisine. After a profound spiritual awakening in 1995, Trinity creates from a heartfelt, meditative and joyful space, inspired by her compassion for all sentient life.

Foraging Guide with 12 wild plants that anyone can find | Trinity's Conscious Kitchen May 29, 2014 at 3:49 am - Reply

[…] DANDELIONS (Taraxacum) are amazing wild flowers of which every part is edible. They generally have a bitter taste and the leaves are best eaten raw when the leaves are young, although cooking does generally remove that bitterness. You can eat the roots too. The roots are most commonly dried and ground, which make an excellent, convincing coffee substitute. Dandelions offer an abundance of nutrients, especially vitamins A, K, C & E and the minerals calcium, iron and manganese. Medicinally, dandelions are known to act as a diuretic, helping with liver, urinary and kidney disorders. It’s an excellent tonic and the dried leaves make an excellent all year round tea infusion. For more information on dandelions, be sure to check out my article here: “All about dandelions and their health benefits“. […]

‘Very Nettle’ Wild Vegan Soup | Trinity's Conscious Kitchen June 12, 2014 at 6:49 am - Reply

[…] Related articles that you might find of interest: Essential Guide to Foraging in a Temperate Zone (with 12 wild plants anyone can find) All about Dandelions and their Health Benefits […]

Thank you for posting this story. It is so true that animals communicate. I deeply respect them and their wisdom. Thank you to everyone who cares for Spirit. He is a very beautiful boy and I am glad that he has come to people who love and adore him.

Dandelion & Apple Juice | Trinity's Conscious Kitchen July 23, 2014 at 9:54 pm - Reply

[…] For more about dandelions check out my article here: All About Dandelions and their Health Benefits […]

Grace Ayodele July 24, 2014 at 3:34 am - Reply

Audrey @ Unconventional Baker March 4, 2015 at 3:59 pm - Reply

Love your childhood connection with dandelions, Trinity

I use them quite often as well when in season and find it strange everyone battles dandelions in their yards… Maybe their abundance is nature’s way of telling us we need to consume more of them 😉

Trinity @ Trinity\'s Conscious Kitchen March 4, 2015 at 5:25 pm - Reply

It is indeed so bizarre that they are battled with – couldn’t agree more. They bring such gorgeous colour too. Nature gives us exactly what we need… same with nettles

Full of original recipes, inspired by years of catering as a super healthy plant-based chef. Get a special signed copy now!

Visit Openhand for spiritual evolution with Open & Trinity

“TrinitysKitchen.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com”