I have a confession to make.
I’ve love dandelions! I realize that many people think dandelions are
weeds. I know that people spend lots of
money to have dandelions chemically removed from their lawns. But I think these weeds are beautiful. To me,
dandelions are a sign of resilience. Even after the harshest of winters, come
spring, dandelions are always there, with their little yellow heads pointing
towards the sun.
Dandelions make me happy.
And it turns out that they have lots of health benefits too. All parts of the dandelion (including the
roots) can be ingested, and are often used as a natural remedy for many
ailments. As I’ve read more about dandelions, I learned that when they
are infused into oil, they can help relieve aching muscles and joints. That sounds good to me and my sore
fibro-body! So, I’ve decided to give the
dandelion oil a try. Here in Wisconsin, we’re still waiting for the dandelions to
forge their way out of the frozen tundra.
But I thought while I was waiting, I’d share the recipe for dandelion
infused oil with you. That way, as soon
as those gorgeous yellow blooms show up, we’ll be ready!
How to Make Dandelion Infused Oil:
- Pick a bunch of dandelions, while they're still yellow. (If you have young children, they’ll love to help with this step!) You only need the heads of the dandelions for the oil. You’re going to need enough dandelion heads to fill a jar.
- This step is optional, but you may want to dry out the dandelion heads so that your infused oil doesn’t get too watery. To do this, cover a cookie tray with a few sheets of paper towel and lay the dandelion heads on the tray. Let it sit overnight before you move onto the next step.
- Fill a clear jar with the dandelion heads.
- Add olive oil to the top of the jar. Stir the dandelions around a bit to make sure the oil filters down into the jar, and add more oil if needed. (Grapeseed oil or almond oil would also work.)
- Cover the jar with a coffee filter or paper towel. Wrap a rubber band around the jar to hold the cover on. Set the jar in a sunny spot for two weeks.
- After two weeks, strain the oil into a clean container and discard the dandelion heads. Keep the oil in a cool, dark place. (It can be kept in your refrigerator.)
The oil can used warm or cold (heat it in the microwave for
a few seconds to warm it up). Rub the oil onto your sore joints or muscles to feel relief from the pain.
