Dandelions

The plants that need you will find you

Dandelions currently blanket my yard. It’s magical, especially at sunset. The natural light illuminates each globe shaped flower holding the promise of a new beginning. This field of dreams incites requests from my kids to call off Todd, our gardener, from his usual visits. They want to pick each and every flower, make a wish, and send the seeds flying into the wind on a new journey. I agree to this reasonable request and ask Todd to postpone his visit. We all need more magic in life. Besides, I live in the country and it’s acceptable to have a lawn with overgrown grass. 

In this phase of the dandelion life cycle the flower stalk extends higher so it can reach the breeze.

The bright yellow dandelion appears rapidly each spring, announcing to the world messages of hope, resilience, healing, and transformation. The Earth is constantly providing us with signs, our job is to observe and listen and remain curious. The messages we each gather and receive are unique to our individual Earth voyage. Before my divorce I would consistently see birds in groups of three. I felt a universal nod of approval to leave the marriage as my new family would be a group of three instead of four. The birds were flying free and freedom was what I was seeking. Paying attention to the signs nature gifts us feels like a treasure hunt and the good news is you can’t get it wrong. Things unfold in perfect timing. What’s meant for you won’t miss you, so the worry can be shelved. 

As the dandelion broadcasts messages in my yard, I’m reminded this plant is so misunderstood, overlooked, and undervalued. The potent plant holds medicinal properties originating from the taproots, which tunnel 10 to 15 feet below the Earth collecting nutrients in ancient soil. Dandelions are chock full of vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals, such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Herbalists and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) doctors rely on them for liver detoxification, improvement with kidney function, protection against cell damage, and reduction in oxidative stress. Additionally, the dandelion is used to support the immune system by reducing inflammation and cleansing the lymphatic system. The cosmetic companies even mix dandelion into products for anti-aging properties. 

Individual plants may survive for 10 to 13 years in undisturbed sites.

 Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all recognized the therapeutic properties of dandelions. In Greek mythology, Theseus ate dandelions for 30 days to fortify himself to fight the Minotaur, a half man-half bull that ate the young adults of Athens. Ancient civilizations were reliant on plants from the Earth to survive and thrive. Over time, people have forgotten the dynamic powers of plants scattered over landscapes. 

Not all communities have forgotten. Ikaria is a small village in Greece that I plan to visit. What piques my interest is that in this blue zone region, sections of the world generally live older than the average, the residents value edible plants. They know what wild plants to eat. Plants are consistently harvested for tea, meals, or made into medicinal tinctures or salves. Scientists and demographers claim consistent herbal medicine is one of the reasons why this community has such a large population of centenarians. 

Unfortunately, dandelions have developed a bad rap over the twentieth century. People view them as weeds and seek toxic herbicides to eradicate them. Glyphosate is one of the strongest weed killer chemicals available on the market and people are waking up to the truth about it and other  herbicides. However, it’s hard to wake up when reading conflicting stories. EPA scientists performed an independent evaluation on glyphosate and found no risks to human health from glyphosate. They claim glyphosate products used according to the directions do not result in risks to children or adults. This makes my blood boil because in January 2024, jurors in a Philadelphia state court awarded $2.2 billion to a man who said the weed killer product Roundup (glyphosate being the active ingredient) caused his cancer. As of March 2024, Monsanto has reached settlement agreements in nearly 100,000 Roundup lawsuits. Monsanto is the company that produced Roundup until Bayer acquired the company in 2018. 

Who programmed us to believe weeds are so bad? 

Dandelions provide a bevy of blessings. If you have a field of dandelions in your yard, why not consider how you can incorporate them into your tea, salad, or medicine cabinet. Instructions on how to do so are below. A field of dandelions in spring could be an excellent invitation for a liver detox after winter. Additionally, contemplate the other messages the plant may want to share. The dandelion seeds don’t stay stuck to the stalk. Remaining stuck prevents growth. The seeds adhere to the law of buoyancy and float through the air, letting go in order to find a new beginning. This plant surrenders to the flow. A lesson humans need to revisit again and again. I certainly do.