Got dandelions? Don't despair. Often dismissed as pesky weeds, these flowers offer many health benefits when used in cooking, health and beauty products made with dandelion oil.
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
This oil has been used for centuries across cultures and traditional medicines. Learn how to make dandelion oil and discover the health benefits of adding this well-known garden weed to your pantry and home remedies chest.
And when you learn to use healthy plants that are freely available, you'll be taking an important step towards self-reliance and living off the land.
Harvesting and Preparing Dandelions
Forage for dandelions wherever there are plenty, and you know they haven’t been sprayed with harmful chemicals.
It may take you several days to gather them until you have enough. And that's fine. You'll need to dry them out before using them for oil because you'll need to remove the natural water.
To make a good dandelion salve, you need first to make a dandelion Infused oil. The recipe below gives you enough oil for a couple of 4 oz. containers of dandelion salve.
How to make dandelion infused oil
To create your own oil, you'll first need to infuse the dried flowers into a carrier oil. Carrier oils, such as olive, almond or jojoba oil, help to thin out thicker essential oils. They make transferring the essential oils onto the skin easier without irritating it.
For this batch I used extra virgin olive oil.
Sun infusion
An easy beginner method for making dandelion-infused oil is the sun infusion technique. You'll see the step-by-step instructions down below.
Basically, you'll just fill a clean glass mason jar with your chosen carrier oil, add dried dandelions, seal the jar and place it in the sunfor two weeks. This allows time for the healing properties of dandelions to transfer into the oil.
Ingredients for infused oil
Here's what you'll need to make the oil.
- 1 cup dried dandelion flowers
- 1 ½ cups extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Rinse, drain, and lay dandelion tops on a clean, dry towel for 24-48 hours to dry. Don't use fresh flowers to make infused oil because the water content is too high.
Place dried flowers into a pint jar.
Next, pour olive oil over the top, be sure they are completely covered.
Add the lid to keep your oil infusion clean.
Allow flowers to steep in the oil in a sunny window for two to three weeks.
Alternatively, you can make your infusion quicker by simmering the jar in water on low heat for about two hours.
Once ready, strain the oil into a clean jar through a cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Be sure to squeeze out every good golden drop.
Your infused dandelion oil is now ready to use.
Store it in an amber-colored bottle away from direct sunlight to maintain its potency. Use it in stir fry recipes, salad dressings, soap, or health and beauty items.
Making Dandelion Salve with Beeswax
Now you can use your oil to create a soothing dandelion salve for your family's natural medicine cabinet. This homemade remedy is perfect for treating various skin ailments.
Ingredients for dandelion salve
Here's what you'll need. Note: I used Tamanu oil to make the salve because this is what I had on hand. You can buy it online through Amazon or ask for it at your local health food store.
- ¾ cup dandelion-infused oil
- 2 Tablespoons beeswax pastilles
- 1 teaspoon Tamanu oil (or almond oil, olive oil, or another favorite carrier oil)
How to make dandelion salve
This recipe will fill 2- 4 oz. containers.
Melt beeswax over medium heat, either in a double boiler pan or in a microwave-safe container. I prefer a glass measuring cup with a lip for easy pouring into the containers.
Heat in microwave for 1 minute, then repeat with 30-second increments and stir each time until completely melted.
Remove from heat and stir in dandelion oil and Tamanu oil.
Pour into 4-ounce containers to store.
The Dandelion salve is good for 10-12 months.
Dandelions for home remedies
For centuries, healers have used dandelion roots and leaves for medicinal purposes, particularly in Chinese traditional medicine. The plant's diuretic activity and bioactive compounds also help fight inflammation.
Drinking dandelion tea or using dandelion extracts are other ways to enjoy the health benefits of this plant. Use the entire plant, including dandelion roots, leaves, flowers and stems.
The diuretic effect helps increase urine production and promote the excretion of excess bodily fluids. (Basically, it helps you pee more.)
So, the next time you see those yellow flowers popping up in your yard, don't be so quick to pull them out. Instead, pick some dandelions and try making your own infused oil, salve or tea to enjoy their many health benefits.
Note: dandelion may have side effects and can interact with certain medications such as diuretics. Consult a healthcare professional before using it for medicinal purposes.
Urban foraging for self reliance
Learning urban foraging is a good start if you want to become more self-reliant.
As one of the most recognizable weeds in North America, dandelions are also a delicious edible garden weed. Look for our posts on dandelion tea, cookies, and wine coming in the next few weeks.
7 ways to use dandelion oil or salve
Now that you've crafted your dandelion oil and dandelion salve it's time to put this versatile remedy to work. Add it to your at-home first aid kit. And also add a smaller container to your wilderness kit.
Here are seven practical ways you can incorporate dandelion oil into your daily routine,
Treating minor cuts, scrapes, and burns
Apply a small amount of dandelion oil directly onto the affected area for its soothing and healing properties.
Soothing sunburns and bug bites
Gently massage the oil or salve onto sunburned or irritated skin to relieve itching and inflammation.
Calming skin irritations
Dab some dandelion oil on rashes or dry patches for natural moisturization and reduced redness.
Making homemade body balms
Combine your infused dandelion oil with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, goat milk or cocoa butter to create a luxurious DIY body balm. Check out this simple guide on making goat milk soap.
Creating facial serums for damaged/inflamed skin areas
Add a few drops of dandelion oil into your favorite carrier oils, such as jojoba or almond, creating a customized serum that promotes healthy skin regeneration.
Dandelion oil contains bioactive compounds known to reduce inflammation and provide a protective effect on the body. Dandelion oil, abundant in fatty acids and endowed with antioxidant properties, is a great choice for medicinal use.
Use dandelions in your kitchen and medicine cabinet
Using dandelions in cooking, baking, and home remedies is easy.
Make a homemade dandelion salve with beeswax by foraging pesticide-free dandelions and infusing dried flowers in carrier oil using the sun-infusion method.
Then use this salve for treating minor cuts, scrapes, burns, sunburns, bug bites, and skin irritations. Create facial serums for damaged or inflamed skin areas.
Learning how to make your dandelion oil at home from scratch is a great way to become more self-reliant and save money while making the most of natural resources around us.
While dandelion oil is generally safe for most people, it is essential to note that it may cause side effects when taken with diuretic drugs. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any underlying medical conditions, it is best to consult your healthcare provider before using dandelion oil.
FAQs
Dandelion oil offers numerous benefits, including its anti-inflammatory properties, ability to soothe skin irritations, and potential for promoting healthy liver function.
What are the benefits of taking dandelion oil?
It can also help treat minor cuts, scrapes, burns, sunburns, and bug bites. Additionally, dandelion oil may be used in homemade body balms and facial serums for damaged or inflamed skin areas.
Is dandelion anti-inflammatory?
Yes, dandelions have natural anti-inflammatory properties due to their high content of polyphenols and flavonoids.
These compounds help reduce inflammation by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting enzymes that promote inflammatory responses. This makes dandelion an excellent choice for treating various inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or skin irritations.
Is dandelion safe to take every day?
Dandelions are generally considered safe when consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet or applied topically using infused oils or salves.
However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating any new supplement into your daily routine, especially if you have allergies to plants like ragweed or are on medications that could interact with herbal remedies.
Are dandelions good for stress relief?
Dandelion root has been traditionally used as an herbal remedy for supporting emotional well-being by helping alleviate stress-related symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
Its detoxifying effects on the liver may contribute positively to mental health since research shows poor liver function can impact mood regulation.
Dandelion Oil and Salve Recipe
Make dandelion oil and dandelion salve to add to your herbal medicine cabinet.
Ingredients
Dandelion Oil
- 1 cup dandelion flowers
- 1 ½ cups extra virgin olive oil
Dandelion Salve
- ¾ cup dandelion infused oil
- 2 tablespooons beeswax pastilles
- 1 teaspoon Tamanu oil
Instructions
For Dandelion Oil
- Rinse, drain, and then lay dandelion tops on a clean dry towel for 24-48 hours to dry. You do not want to use fresh flowers because the water content is too high.
- Place dried flowers into a pint jar.
- Pour olive oil over the top, be sure they are completely covered.
- Add the lid to keep your oil infusion clean.
- Allow flowers to steep in the oil in a sunny window for 2-3 weeks. Alternatively, you can make your infusion quicker by placing the jar in a pot of water on low heat to simmer for 2-3 hours.
- Once ready strain the oil into a clean jar through a cheesecloth, be sure to squeeze out every good golden drop.
Dandelion Salve
- This recipe will fill 2- 4 oz. containers.
- Melt beeswax over medium heat, either in a double boiler pan or in a microwave-safe container. I prefer to use a glass measuring cup with a lip for easy pouring into the containers.
- Heat in microwave for 1 minute, stir, and then repeat with 30-second increments and stir each time until completely melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in dandelion oil and Tamanu oil.
- Pour into 4-ounce containers to store.
- The Dandelion salve is good for 10-12 months.
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