How To Make Dandelion Oil (And Also, Why You Should Want To)

May 31st, 2016 - filed under: The Farm » Home

dandelion oil

I may be an experienced gardener, but I am very much a fledgling herbalist. An enthusiastic fledgling, but a fledgling nonetheless. For example, this is the first year that I’ve worked with elder. My first year making nutritive vinegars, and my first year growing a medicinal garden. I’ve been making Meadow Tea infusions for ages, but it was only two years ago that I infused my inaugural healing oil — that Oil Of Oregano that kicked off this whole herbalism love affair.

And now? This year? Well now I’m in deep with Dandelion, and I think I’ve met my herbal soul mate!

Dandelion is so unassuming — ubiquitous yet misunderstood. It’s everywhere, but it’s completely overlooked. Powerful, but easily passed over. Resilient to its core (and to many people’s chagrin), Dandelion is brimming with magic and mystery and wisdom and warmth. And yet, to most who know it, it’s written off as a weed — nothing more.

I must say, I very much relate to Dandelion. I think it is my spirit plant.

And for herbalists, Dandelion is used in every possible way, from root to tip, from food to tincture, and every possible piece or preparation in between. This oil, for example, uses the young flower heads. Dandelions flower in early spring, and dandelion oil is a great skin conditioner to help transition from dry winter into warmer, more humid summer months.

Dandelion Oil is sold commercially of course, in health food stores and herb shoppes (and also online), but it just seems silly to me to buy something that’s made from weeds that are literally growing everywhere. And it’s so simple to make at home!

So here’s how you can make your own — practically free and powerfully potent:


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Dandelions grow wild in every sidewalk crack, alleyway, city park, creekside, abandoned field, and anywhere else that an industrious, persevering plant might find a patch of dirt in which to grow.

To make your own Dandelion Oil, first you’ll need to procure some Dandelion flowers. This shouldn’t be too hard, as Dandelion blooms from early spring through midsummer, depending on where you live. But no matter where you are, it’s certain that you’re not far away from Dandelion. They’re everywhere.

You’ll need to collect quite a bit. They shrink down as they dry, so you’ll need more than you think. I collected a full pint to fill a small (8 oz) mason jar.


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Gently rinse the dandelion flowers to remove any excess dirt or bugs. You don’t want to bruise them or rough them up, so be gentle!

Then, spread the flowers out on a cloth or piece of cardboard. Dandelion retains a lot of water, so you want to give the flowers some time to dry out. Otherwise you’ll end up with too much moisture in your oil.

Allow the flowers to sit out for ~24 hours. They will shrink up quite a bit, which is fine.


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Pre-shrinking.

Now, add your dry-ish flowers to a clean glass jar, and cover them with organic oil (I used extra virgin olive oil). Place the jar in a sunny window (the warm sun will help your infusion along) and let it sit for, eh, 4-6 weeks or so. I like to turn mine over every few days, or give it a good shake now and again. Really keep things moving and mixing and breaking down. Releasing all that medicine!


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Finally, your infusion will be ready. All you need to do is strain it through cheesecloth to separate the oil from the flower bits. Easy peasy.


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Look at that lovely golden color! It’s so gorgeous.

Strain it into a new jar, cap it, and keep it safe. That’s precious magic!

Dandelion Oil is an ancient traditional remedy used for achy joints and arthritis, sore muscles, and rough dry/chapped skin. I made this oil specifically for my housemate, who has chronic inflammation and joint pain, and for Jeremy, who is constantly sore in one way or another. I’ve got them both using it now, so I’ll report back to you and let you know how it works for them.

♥ ♥ ♥

Do you have a spirit plant? Some herb that you adore and love to work with? What’s your favorite way to use it?

I’m pretty much obsessed with herbalism right now, and quickly building my own little home apothecary. And I know that so many of you out there share my passion, so I’d love to hear your wisdom, insight, and experience!

Cheers!

  • Bianca Phillips

    Ooooh, I so need to do this! While I suck at gardening, I am TOTALLY into making herbal concoctions. And I have a yard full of dandelions because I’m too lazy to mow. :-) I also have a giant elderberry bush in my backyard, and I collected a ton of berries last season and froze them for making elderberry syrup. Figured I’d wait for this year’s harvest so I’ve got lots to work with.

    Christmas before last, I made some great wellness and sleep tinctures from dried herbs to give away as holiday gifts. And I kept some for myself too, enough that I STILL have some left even though I consume a little of each daily. I swear I haven’t had but one cold since I started taking that wellness tincture a year and a half ago! And the sleep one knocks me right out! Herbs are so magical!

  • Ninazephyr

    I’m just short of a decade into my studies and am still obsessed with all things plants, welcome to your new life :)

    My plant ally right now is an unassuming weed here in FL called sida. Sida acuta, in the mallow family.

  • Jamie Rich

    So do you only apply it topically? or are there other uses for it, like it you ingest it? Thanks!

  • http://runlittlelady.blogspot.ca Claudia

    This is probably a ridiculous question – but are there different types of dandelions? In the photo above of the ones in the garden, they look tall and gangly, where as the ones I have around my home are flat, and wide, and their flowers are differently shaped than the ones pictured. (mine look like this example – http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/Plants/Commono%20Dandelion/060.JPG) would these still be safe to use?

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    They are all the same! Just different looks depending on their surroundings, whether they were mowed/cut, the soil characteristics, and other influences. I have both talls and shorties around my yard and use them both indiscriminately. Hope that helps!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Yes, this is a topical oil. Great for sore muscles and achy joints. Also excellent for dry skin!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    It’s soooo fun! Gosh I love it and I can’t get enough. I feel a lot like I did when I went vegan. I just want to fully immerse myself!

    Going to look up Sida right now . . .

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Oh that sounds awesome! What was in your wellness tincture? With the kiddo on school we see a lot of bugs coming through our house. I’d love a little extra herbal support!

  • Rebecca Carnes

    Love this!! We are surrounded by dandelions so this is definitely our next project:) I love being able to use more natural remedies

  • lysette

    Wow I have never heard of using dandelion oil! Thanks for your super clear instructions. I might be able to convince my mom to love dandelions rather than the vendetta she has against them ;) My spirit plant might be gum nuts from eucalyptus trees or pondarosa pine pitch, just cause those to smells fill me with well being, I don’t know any herbal properties of either (other than eucalyptus oil of course)

  • http://windycityvegan.wordpress.com/ Monika {windycityvegan}

    Our grounds are exploding with dandelions right now! This will be a fun project with the girl. I’m also starting to dabble in herbalism, and I can’t wait to see more posts from you over the summer. :)

  • http://runlittlelady.blogspot.ca Claudia

    It does, thank you!!

  • soft tissue

    They are all in the dandelion family but what you’ve posted is a
    different species of dandelion (smooth hawksbeard maybe). I also have
    tons of Hypochaeris radicata (or catsear) growing
    in my yard which looks a lot like dandelion but isn’t. Not trying to
    nitpick just want to say that being mowed or cut, etc doesn’t make them
    grow that way. They’re a different species. :) So glad to see you
    posting about herbalism!! I love plants. Gonna need to try the oil infusion some day! My only worry with dandelion is the smell.

  • meowmeow

    There’s a mallow family plant in the picture she posted too. :) The one growing near the ground with little round leaves. My family used to make a stew with the leaves which are a great thickener. Kind of like okra though in it’s sliminess.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    I thought that was a mallow! It grows all over around here but I don’t know exactly what it is or how to use it.

  • Ninazephyr

    It looks like malva neglecta, but I’m not positive. Try the plant identification Facebook group!

  • Ninazephyr

    There are a TON of dandelion look alikes- chicory (which blooms blue) is nearly identical. Try keying it out, or get a botanist/experienced forager to confirm.

  • Ninazephyr

    The drying/dried flowers look like they could be dandelion, but the picture is almost definitely sow thistle!

  • Ninazephyr

    Actually meow meow now I’m not sure- my sow thistles are puny but when I compared pictures of the flowers of sonchus/taraxacum they’re pretty indistinguishable!

  • meowmeow

    That’s what I’m thinking. Common dandelion (Taraxacum) only has one flower per stem.

  • meowmeow

    We always just called it cheeseweed. haha

  • Nicole Lee-Sye

    Just strained mine into its final container.. It’s not nearly as yellow. I’m hoping it still works.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    It should be okay, maybe you used less flowers per volume of oil? As long as you let it steep for a few weeks, it should be good!