Medicinal Monday- Dandelions - A super star of multiple uses

Many of us are familiar with this bright yellow flower as a stubborn weed that seems to pop up in sunny lawns, in the garden, in fields, playgrounds, and meadows. Whether you consider dandelions the bane of your garden and lawn or have a begrudging respect for them, this hardy little flower has many health benefits. Dandelions are revered by many Native American communities because every part of the dandelion is useful and can be used for food, medicine, and even dye for coloring.

About Dandelions

Dandelions are in the family of flowering plants that grow in many parts of the world, including Connecticut. Dandelions are a common meadow herb that is of the Asteraceae or sunflower family.  There are over 100 species of dandelions that are native to North America and Eurasia.  As an early spring flower, they are very important to birds, insects, and butterflies that consume their nectar or seeds.  One of their outstanding characteristics is that their toothed leaves always point back toward the center of the basal rosette.  Another characteristic is that each stem produces only one flower, there may be multiple stems but never multiple flowers on them.

Dandelion flowers don't need to be pollinated to form seeds resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.  The seeds of the dandelion are most often transported by the wind and travel like tiny parachutes for up to eight miles before reaching the ground.  The flowers open when it is sunny out and close at night.

Medicinal Uses

Dandelions were not originally native to North American and were brought here by Europeans in the 1600s.  The Ojibwas and Mohegans made a tea from dandelion leaves and drank this as an overall wellness tonic. They also boiled dandelions in water to treat kidney, skin and stomach problems including heartburn.  The Navajo, Ramah crushed the entire plant making a poultice that would be applied to swellings. The Tewa pulverized the leaves of the dandelion and mixed it with dough then applied this concoction to bad bruises.  The pulverized leaves were also used to treat bone fractures.

Did you know...

The name dandelion comes from the French and means lion's tooth.

The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puffball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

From root to flower dandelions are highly nutritious plants that are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. 

Dandelions are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, K, and E with small amounts of vitamin B.

Dandelion roots are rich in fiber and when made into a tea it supports the maintenance of healthy bacterial flora in your intestinal tract.

Dandelions are rich in antioxidants including polyphenols which are found in the flower, stem and roots of this plant.

The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village.  Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semi-permanent and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.

The Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Native American cultures. Through archaeology, the IAIS is able to build new understandings of the world and history of Native Americans, the focus is on stewardship and preservation.  This is achieved through workshops, special events, and education for students of all ages.