Hormone-Balancing – Blood-Building- Detoxifying Dandelion Tincture
Updated 3/2020
Today, I want to show you how to make a simple dandelion tincture.
Our ancestors have used dandelion for centuries as a blood builder, detox, and liver cleanse especially in the spring after the relative inactivity of winter months.
All parts of this fantastic ‘weed’ are used – the leaves as a spring tonic, the flower as delicious fritters, but today, I am concentrating on making a simple dandelion tincture out of the root to stock our medicine cabinet.
Dandelion is Taraxacum officinale, which means the “Official Remedy for Disorders.” It is so well respected, in fact, that it appears in the U.S. National Formulatory, and in the Pharmacopeias of Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, and the Soviet Union. It is one of the top 6 herbs in the Chinese herbal pharmacy. There is no known toxicity so you can eat as much as you like of the greens.
Dandelions are one of the most alkaline herbs you can eat.
The Practical Herbalist states, “It’s ironic that the poisons gardeners use to eradicate dandelions are the same toxins this plant offers to weed (remove) from our bodies.”
Considered a weed by most people, regulating dandelion’s presence for medicinal purposes is a healthful sustainable practice and would be at the top of my preparedness medicine chest list.
Health Benefits of Dandelion Tincture
The How To Herb Book gives us many of the health benefits of Dandelion root:
- One of the best-known blood builders and purifiers available.
- In pregnancy: Helps with swelling during pregnancy when used in moderation. Rich in Vitamin A, calcium, and iron.
- Safely reduces blood cholesterol.
- Contains excellent levels of Vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon.
- Strengthening for the female organs. Excellent to prepare for pregnancy and estrogen balance. Hormone balancing.
- Overweight people when shedding pounds can become too acidic. These acids in the blood are destroyed by dandelion. It also supports digestion of fats.
- One of the best liver cleansers. It increases the activity of the liver and the flow of bile into the intestines.
- The flow of bile is a laxative which speeds the breakdown of various steroid hormones and indirectly has a favorable effect on eczema and skin breakouts.
- Contains all the nutritive salts for the blood. Dandelion restores and balances the blood so anemia that is caused by deficiencies of these blood salts disappears.
- Helps flush and clean out the urinary tract from the kidneys to the bladder.
- The herb to build energy and endurance and fantastic for too-low blood pressure.
- It is first-rate for use in hepatitis.
- Increases activity of the pancreas and the spleen.
- Helps clear skin disorders.
- It rarely causes allergic reactions, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal upset.
- Use during lactation is unlikely to harm the breastfed infant.
Make a Medicinal Dandelion Tincture
What You Need:
- a big bowl and gloves for gathering dandelion roots
- 2 year-old (i t’s just older and thicker), actively-growing dandelion roots dug from a spray-free, pet-free yard
- a spade or small shovel to loosen soil from the roots
- canning jar with tight fitting lid
- vodka, 80 proof is fine
You can purchase already-prepared tincture here and save yourself the digging. (It is hard to find quality organic dried dandelion root at this time).
Directions:
- wash off the soil thoroughly, remove any crushed roots, and leave root hairs
- chop the roots into 1/2″ sections
- place roots into the canning jar, cover with vodka plus an inch or so, and cap jar
- steep contents for 3-4 months in a dark cool cabinet to fully extract medicinal properties
- during this period, shake the jar 2-3 times a week to thoroughly mix contents
- when finished, strain off the tincture with coffee filter, etc. into amber bottles and label
- discard the exhausted root pieces
I save my bottles, rewashing them by hand, or get them here or here.
Dandelion Tincture Dosage
Dosage for dandelion tincture is 1/2 teaspoon 3-4 times per day for the root or leaf. Tinctures can be taken directly under the tongue and held in the mouth for a short time then swallowed, in a small amount of water, or in hot water to evaporate off the alcohol. When stored in a cool dark place extracts have a shelf life of seven to ten years minimum.
I store all the un-bottled tinctures tightly sealed in a dark corner of the old pie safe which is cool and not in direct sunlight. Remember to label and date your final product.
Once you can make a dandelion tincture, you are on the path to being more self-sufficient and can build your own preparedness medicine chest. I can’t think of a much more practical way to be an educated keeper at home. Enjoy!
*Never use dandelion if you have an obstructed bile duct. Also the Susan G. Komen Foundation states effect may be slightly estrogenic, but “the data is inconclusive.”
Note: I realize not everyone can get out and gather their own root.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Roasted Dandelion Root Herbal Leaf Tea is also a helpful product, and I trust this company so much!
“The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind.” -Paracelsus
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