Dandelion Infused Oil

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Dandelion oil is so versatile and a staple to have in your herbal medicine cabinet. It’s easy to make and so fun to collect the dandelions!

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Spring is my favorite season, I love seeing all the bright yellow dandelions start popping up!

It’s easy to think of dandelions as stubborn lawn weeds, and many people do everything they can to keep them out of their yards. I think we need to shift our thinking about them, they are a powerful and healing medicinal flower that’s often taken for granted. Dandelion has been used in many forms of traditional medicine for centuries. One of the best and easiest ways to use dandelions is to make dandelion infused oil.

Dandelion oil benefits & uses

Dandelion salve, use your oil to create a nourishing salve. https://thesproutinghomestead.com/dandelion-salve/

First aid

Dandelions have pain-relieving properties, the oil can simply be rubbed into sore and tense muscles or joints. Helpful for cuts, scrapes, minor burns, sunburns, bug bites, or skin irritation, apply dandelion oil, salve or balm to the injury. It help the wound heal and also nourish and moisturize the skin. 

Massage oil

Dandelions can help eliminate heat and reduce inflammation. Dandelion oil is great for those suffering from stiff joints or tired muscles. It has amazing anti inflammatory properties. Make it scented! Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and use this as a massage oil. 

Dandelion infused oil is known for its for its calming effects and can help reduce feelings of stress.

Skin care

Dandelion oil is a great skin moisturizer, either on its own or in a salve or balm. Dandelions are high in antioxidants which can help reduce the sign of aging. In one study, dandelions were proven to speed up the rate at which skin cells regenerate.  This is important for anti-aging and for dry skin or eczema.

Dandelion oil for hair

Using dandelion oil for hair can help promote hair growth by stimulating the scalp. The vitamins and minerals also promote healthy hair, which helps prevent breakage and encourage stronger and thicker hair.

How to make dandelion infused oil

Fist you need to harvest your dandelions! This is my favorite part, but it can get a bit tricky so here’s a few tips.

Make sure your ready to harvest and dry in the same day! If you harvest and leave them for a day they will go to seed and be white puff balls!

When using dandelions, you want to make sure you only harvest from unsprayed lawns. To many people spray their lawns which chemicals to kill weeds, make sure you know the dandelions are clean and safe to use. Avoid picking dandelions from pathways and public parks where dogs are walked and will pee on the plants! Harvest your dandelions on a sunny day when they are dry. Only harvest the flowers that are open and full. Take a pair of clean scissors or simply pop the flower heads off the stem of the plant.

There is no exact measurement for how many flowers you need. You just need enough to fill an entire jar, depending on what you plan on making. Make as much or as little as you want!

Washing and drying

After you harvest all the dandelions that you need, its time to wash them them. Of course Insects live inside these flowers, but you don’t want them to end up in your dandelion oil. You can set them outside for 30 minutes and let the bugs find their way out.

Next you can add them to a clean sink or bowl full of COLD salted water. Let them soak for 30 minutes or so, this will help draw out any remaining bugs and clean the dirt off.

Next, you have to dry the dandelions, this is one of the most important steps. There’s a couple different ways to do this. Spread dandelions out on a drying screen or a baking sheet and leave the sheet somewhere warm and dry for 1-3 days. Another option is to spread your dandelions on a dehydrator sheet and let them dry on a very low temperature. You’ll need to dehydrate the flowers for 12-24 hours. Its very important to dry them slowly but quickly, if you leave them before drying they will dry on their own and turn to seed, those white puff balls!

Wet dandelions can cause your oil to go rancid, make sure they are fully dry especially if you choose to use the cold infusion method.

THE COLD (SLOW) INFUSION METHOD

Place dried dandelions into a clean glass jar, and then fill the rest of the jar fully covering the flowers with oil. You can use any oil that you like, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, almond oil, I use olive oil. Gently stir around to remove any air bubbles. Place an air tight lid on the jar, and keep it in a dark place for 2-3 weeks. Gently shake the jar every few days to help move the herbs around inside the oil. Its recommended to only do 2 weeks, but if needed can stretch to 3, just check and make sure its not molding. Make sure you mark it on your calendar and write it the date on the jar!

After the 2-3 weeks are over, strain the flowers from the oil through clean cheese cloth, and fine mesh strainer and store the oil in a clean jar ill ready to use.

THE FAST (HOT) INFUSION METHOD 

Many herbalists recommend avoiding the hot infusion method for dandelion oil, but it takes less time and reduces the chances of the herbs going moldy or rancid if the dandelion flowers are improperly dried.

Place your herbs and oil in your glass jar. The quick infusion is the best way to infuse coconut oil.

Set the glass jar into a pot filled ⅓ of the way with water and gently heat the water. You want to keep the water warm but not hot. The goal is to speed the extraction process, not fry the flowers.

Be careful, the oil should be warm to the touch but not at all hot enough to burn your skin.

Turn off the heat once the temperature reaches 100 to 120 degrees.  Turn the heat on ever 4 or so hours to keep the jar warm for 24-48 hours but not hot. Strain the flowers from the oil using a clean cheese cloth and fine mesh strainer and store the oil in a clear jar till ready to use.

Store your prepared dandelion oil in a cool, dark place. Shelf life of strained infused oil is around 1 year. If you store the infused oil properly, it will last around one year, but smell it before using. If it smells bad, the oil is rancid and needs to be tossed out. 

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