Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Recently I’ve been sharing guides to the magickal properties of all of my favourite herbs and plants, like this post about the magickal properties of vanilla, another about mint, one about roses and a post all about lemongrass. I’ve also shared a botanical witchipedia for when you need a quick overview of lots of different plants. Today I want to continue in this vein, namely by sharing the magickal properties of dandelion with you.
Dandelion is an extremely old healing herb which has been used medicinally for as long as humans have recorded their histories. It is a potent diuretic and a good source of vitamin A, C and K. Magickally it is used for psychic work, wishes, creativity and sun magick among other things.
Disclaimer: Any medicinal benefits given here are a product of my own research and as such should not be taken over the advice of trained medical professionals. If you are ill, please go and see a doctor. Always make sure that anything you consume is 100% safe. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or midwife before consuming something you haven’t tried before.
History of Dandelion
Dandelion, also known as Taraxacum, is a member of the Asteraceae family. There are 2 common varieties of dandelion, T. Officinale and T. Erythrospermum which are native to Eurasia and North America. These two species are so common that they are considered an invasive species due to their hardiness and ability to spread quickly.
There is some evidence that dandelions evolved as far back as 30 millions years ago. Seeds have been found which can be dated back to the Pliocene Epoch, 5.33-2.58 million years BP (before present). Some variation of dandelion has been consumed and used for healing for as long as recorded history exists.
T. Officinale is the most commonly used dandelion, and probably the oldest. There is fossil evidence of it having existed all the way back in glacial and interglacial times. It’s native to Europe and Asia and was originally imported to America as a food crop.
Plant historians think that dandelions have been used in Chinese medicine for at least 1000 (quite possibly 2000) years. The Ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians also used it for healing purposes. Native Americans also used it medicinally and as a food source.
Fun Facts about Dandelion
- The name Taraxacum is thought to come from the Persians who name it Tarashquq about 900 years ago and then changed it to Taraxacum about 100 years after that.
- The name dandelion comes from the French “dent-de-lion” which translates to “lions tooth”. Funnily enough, the french word for dandelion at the moment is “pissenlit”, which translates to “wet the bed”. There is also an old English folk name which is “pissabeds”.
- Dandelion root was, and sometimes still is, substituted for coffee.
- You can make both beer and wine from dandelions. Beer is generally made from the leaves and wine is made from the flowers. Some people will make root beer with dandelion root in it.
- Many dandelions reproduce asexually, without the seeds needing pollination. This means that the offspring of a plant is genetically identical to the parent plant.
- The facts that dandelions flower abundantly and early, making them an extremely important early spring nectar source for lots of wild pollinators.
- The dried seed heads of dandelions are called a “clocks” in both American and British English. They are also sometimes referred to as “blowballs”.
- “Officinale” is a name which is only given to plants with a proven medicinal background.
- The common dandelion (T.Officinale) can indicate whether you have potassium or calcium in your soil. It loves soil which has a lot of potassium and very little calcium.
- Seeds of a dandelion will remain viable for years. A study has proved that a seed could still germinate after 9 years of storage.
- A single dandelion plant can make more than 5000 seeds a year. Each flower it produces will produce between 50 and 175 seeds.
- When picked, dandelions will weep a milky latex.
- You can make an excellent plant dye out of dandelions. The flowers make a gorgeous pale yellow and it’s possible to use the inner ribs of the leaves to make a purple-ish dye.
- The entire plant is edible, though quite bitter.
Medicinal Benefits of Dandelion
Dandelion is an old healing herb and has been used for centuries for health purposes. It’s most commonly used as a diuretic (hence the “pissabeds” nickname I assume) and as a cleansing tonic for liver and kidney complaints.
- It’s a powerful
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