I’ve never understood the war on Dandelions. Who decides which plants have value and which don’t? And why did Dandelion seemingly fail that audition when their value in medicine, nutrition, spiritual growth and artistic inspiration is outstanding?Is it simply because they are abundant and common and grow on every continent except Antartica. Could it be their resilience, or tenacious spirit or uncontrollable nature? Dandelion lives at the intersection of Art and Herbalism and is a perfect plant to profile in todays missive.
The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies the sun, moon and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars. The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.
The sacred geometry of the flower of life held within the flower and seed head of the dandelion, connecting their association with all levels of human consciousness from the mundane to the cosmic, from the solar to the lunar.
With their golden flowers in the early spring, providing early color, dandelions represent the return of life, the rebirth of green growth after a harsh winter, and a display of abundance, resilience and adaptability. Many spring flowers are yellow in color, calling in and anchoring the healing and creative forces of the sun as it becomes a growing part of our life once again during spring.
Etymology and more
Taraxacum officinale is the scientific name for Dandelion. Their yellow composite flowers lets us know that they are part of the larger Compositae/Asteraceae family. This large family includes other popular garden plants such as daisies and marigolds, along with 32 000 other species. Different dandelion species are native to different regions around the world. However, the most common species (Taraxacum officinale) originated from Europe. It spread around the world as early as the 1600s.
It is likely that the name Dandelion comes from the French dent-de-lion, which is derived from the Latin phrase for lion’s tooth which based on the spiky and toothed shape of the leaf.
I love all the common names people in different communities use for the dandelion; blowball, doon-head-clock, cankerworm, milk witch, witch’s gowan, yellow gowan, lion’s-tooth, Irish daisy, priests’-crown, puff-ball, and priest’s crown. Other common names include white endive, swine’s snout, wild endive, faceclock, wet-a-bed, pee-a-bed, and piss-a-bed.
Dandelions have long been a prize medicinal amongst herbalists around the world. Part of the reason for the dandelion’s international success is its adaptability. It can thrive in a wide range of elevations, soil types, and conditions. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans knew of the plant’s benefits, the early Arabian physicians of the 10th and 11th centuries used the plant in their healing. Dandelions were first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians who used them to brew wine. In other cultures, dandelions were also used to make beer but this practice has largely died out now. I have heard that Taraxacum comes from the Arabic word for bitter herb, “tarakhshagog”. In Ayurvedic medicine, the dandelion has long been used to treat a wide variety of urinary and liver ailments and in traditional Chinese medicine (where it is one of the six top medicinal herbs), it has been beneficial in treating stomach problems, appendicitis and to assist in digestion. It was also a popular medicinal and culinary plant with the Ancient Greeks. According to Greek mythology, hero Theseus either ate a diet of Dandelions for 30 days to prepare for his upcoming fight with the Minotaur or was rewarded by the goddess Hecate with a dandelion greens salad following the Minotaur’s defeat. “Horta vrasta”, or boiled dandelion greens, remains a staple in Greek households today.
Native Americans are said to have incorporated Dandelion greens into their diets by boiling the leaves to treat kidney disease and skin disorders.
In Japan, dandelions represent courage because they grow anywhere and everywhere. In Europe, dandelions symbolize hope for the future as well as faithfulness and love.
Dandelions are a gift to beginner students as they are the perfect plant to practice all of ones medicine making skills on. All parts of the dandelion are used in herbal medicine, and are edible. Young leaves are tasty in salads, the roots can be used in making a tincture as well as a dark brew (but don’t call it a coffee replacement). Blossoms are lovely for honey, syrup, and the petals can be added to baked goods. Even the unopened buds can be turned into delightful little capers.
They contain fiber, vitamins A, B, C, K and E and minerals such as iron, zinc, boron, and calcium. Their medicine gets the lymph moving, builds blood, supports the liver boost the immune system, support healthy digestion and so much more. Overall, they offer incredible medicinal benefits as well as culinary potential!
The Recipes
The flowers:
There are several fun recipes you can make using dandelion flowers. Here are a few of my favorite.
Dandelion Flower Syrup Recipe:
You will need: 2-3 cups of dandelion flowers (i remove the stem and green bract). Put the dandelions in 4-6 cups of water and bring to boil. Remove from heat cover and let infuse over night. Strain the following day, add 1/2 lemon juiced and the drop in the lemon. Add no less that 1 cup of sugar per 4 cups of liquid and simmer until it thickens into syrup. Remove the spent lemon let cool and enjoy as a condiment/ drizzle on the following recipe.
Dandelion flower + lemon muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups org. unbleached flower
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup pecans
2 cups dandelion petals (separated from the green bract)
1 egg
1 1/2 cups milk (or butter milk)
1/4 cup melted butter
zest of 2 org lemons
juice of 1 lemons
4 TBSP honey (you could even use dandelion flowers honey)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together including lemon zest and petals. Whip eggs, milk, lemon juice together/ Whip butter and honey together. Slowly combine all ingredients. Spoon into muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake at 375 for 20 mins
Enjoy with Dandelion Honey or Dandelion Jelly! And a cup of roasted dandelion chai!
And for those of you who are massage therapists I would try your hand at making Dandelion Flower Oil, make sure the flowers are dry from dew when collected. Fill a jar and cover with olive oil. The oil massaged onto the body promotes awareness and release of emotional tension held in muscle tissue; increases body-mind communication so we are better able to identify the underlying issues and attitudes that lead to the creation and holding of tension in our bodies. The oil can also be used as breast massage oil.
The Leaves:
Raw dandelion greens are also packed with iron and are a good source of prebiotics, as well as having a bitter flavor which stimulates good digestion. Here in the US a pound of dandelion greens from the farmer’s market or Whole Foods may set you back $7! which is why I recommend wild foraging. Just be sure that the leaves you harvest have not been sprayed. Pesto and other green sauces/dressings can be made from the leaves. You can use your favorite pesto recipe with or without added basil. You can add cheese (Romano/parmesan) your favorite nut; pine nuts, cashew, or pumpkin seeds to make it a little creamier and lemon, garlic.
I remember years ago my first herbal teacher Wise Woman Tradition herbalist, Susun Weed saying that whenever she eats a burger instead of lettuce she adds a few dandelion leaves to aid the gall bladder in digesting all the fat! I have tried to do the same.
Alternatively, you could juice the leaves along with carrot, apple, ginger, turmeric lemon and make yourself a rather yummy morning green juice.
The Roots
Harvest and dry the taproot. You can even try roasting the roots and adding traditional chai spices to make various yummy and health promoting tea/chai blends. There are so many possibilities
Here is a tea recipe for you if you are in need of some re-mineralization and iron assimilation help
3/4 cup of Burdock Rt dried
1/2 cup of Dandelion root dried
1/2 cup of Elderberries dried
1/4 cup of yellow dock root dried
Make a decoction and then add 1/4-1/2 cup of black strap molasses
Whole Plant Medicine
Try making a small amount Dandelion tincture either whole plant or just root. Fill a jar with a chopped up whole plant or just clean chopped up clean root, and cover with either 100 proof vodka! Let sit for 6 weeks before straining and voila you have made a dandelion tincture!
Dandelion as a Muse
There is no denying that dandelions have become a muse to artists and designers alike.
After a recent search on eBay for “dandelion” resulted in over a quarter million listings! (about one-third of these in the “Cell Phones & Accessories” category, and a tenth in “Home Décor” category) On Etsy resulted in nearly 30,000 results, (top categories being “Jewelry,” “Art & Collectibles,” and “Home & Living.) Pretty impressive considering this is the plant we are trying so hard, and have invested so much money in trying to eradicate. I tried to find an exact number for the economic cost of trying to eliminate dandelions but could not find one just for dandelion as it appears with other residential weeds and lawn care but the number is up there in the Billions of dollars!
What is it about dandelions that we are drawn to and yet resist? Do we relate to the both rebellious and beautiful. The dandelion has become the perfect symbol of survival and rebellion, a bright, unstoppable fighter that refuse to follow rules and regulations. It also introduces uncontrolled chaos and randomness to our supposedly organized lives. We also associate it with hope, dreams, creativity and playfulness.
When searching on Etsy one of the most common art forms for the dandelion was embroidery which I found intriguing having recently read Rozsika Parker’s The Subversive Stitch.
The book traces a hidden history (Euro-Centric) of embroidery from medieval times until today. Examining embroidered artworks from the Bayeux Tapestry to Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, Parker seeking to disrupt the notion of embroidery as a purely decorative art, instead illuminating not only its significance in the art world, but also its influence on female behavior (this was of interest to me). Initially a craft enjoyed and practiced by both sexes it became used as a tool used to construct femininity and female subservience. This particular quote from the eighteenth century sums it up: "Sir, she's an Artist with her needle....Could anything be more laughable than a woman claiming artistic status for her sewing?" (page 172). Over time it became used as a way women formed community and over time as a revolutionary act, using this seemingly “docile” activity as an act of resistance citing French born Louise Bourgeois and contemporary British artist Tracey Amin. These chapters were of particular interest to me the reveloutionary act of contemporary embroidery.
I love this piece by Shamsia Hassani, Born April 1988, considered the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. Through her artworks, Shamsia portrays Afghan women in a male dominant society.
Did their fall from grace happen during the Victorian Era when Dandelions were unique in being one of the few flowers common to England that didn’t receive particular meaning in floral language. It was so familiar, even considered vulgar, that it was never given as a gift or included in a bouquet. The plant was widely eaten by the poorest people in society at the time, so it was considered more a food crop than an ornamental flower. That is also when it commonly became known as “piss-the-bed” due to its diuretic properties during this era.
Since then Dandelion flowers have amassed a surprising amount of different meanings; The warmth and power of the rising sun, Surviving through all challenges and difficulties, Long lasting happiness and youthful joy, Getting your wish fulfilled Since the Dandelion can thrive in difficult conditions, it is no wonder that people say the flower symbolizes the ability to rise above life’s challenges. I believe dandelions are here to stay!
Be more like a dandelion, whenever they fall apart, they start again, have hope. The next art show I am curating Rhynia is called “Where flowers bloom so does hope” I wonder whether they’ll be dandelions in the show!
Stay tuned for next weeks missive to hear the Interview with Hillary Waters Fayle fiber/fextile artist extraordinaire whose embroidered leaves recently caught my attention.
This week May 22-May 27 2023
🎨 Deadline for the June’s group show at The Wall Gallery @rhyniainc. themed “Where flowers bloom so does hope” If you have not already emailed me your artwork please do so now!
🌿I will be teaching at the Midwest Herbal Conference May 26-28th in Almond WI
🎨 It’s the last week to sign up for summer session of Botanical Art In Studio Program
Fascinating newsletter. I love Han's work, great lead image.