Dandelion Infused Oil

[Tamohara dasa ADMIN.]

5 Helpful Tips For a Successful Oil Infusion

1. Make sure you are getting your plants from a location that isn’t near a road or hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals.
2. Collect your plants on a sunny afternoon during a week that’s had very little rain or no rain. This helps prevent your dandelions from mold.
3. Make sure your glass jars for the infused oils are completely dry and sterilized, if possible. This includes the lid! Make sure any tools you use also do not have water on them.
4. Label your jars with the name of the oil and the date you made it to help keep your natural medicines and tinctures organized.
5. Most infused oils will last for a year or longer, if stored correctly. A sign that your infused oil is oil is if it begins to have a smell. This means that your oil infusion is going (or already gone) rancid and the oil will need to be discarded.

Dandelion Infused Oil

• 1 pint jar with lid (sterilized)
• 3-4 cups dandelion blossoms
• olive oil

1. The day before you are going to make your infused oil, you will want to collect your dandelion blossoms. Gently cut the dandelion heads from the stem and when you get a bunch of dandelions, carefully shake them off to help remove any possible residents. I try and collect three to four cups of blossoms. As a note: Don’t take all of the dandelions. These blossoms are some of the first flowers to bloom and bees depend on it as their first food. As a note try not to take more than 40% of each plant.
2. Place your freshly picked dandelions in a paper bag and allow them to wilt for 12 hours before making the infused oil. This will help the blossoms dry out a little to prevent the blossoms from molding and will also help being the medicinal properties out more to prevent a more potent infused oil in the long run.
3. Fill your glass jar half full with the dandelion blossoms and and then completely cover them with your oil right up to the brim. Remove air bubbles that may be trapped by using a spoon or butter knife to gently stir the plants. Cover tightly. Place the jar in a warm and sunny spot and let it steep for only 2 weeks.
4. Shake the jar once a day to ensure the medical properties are incorporating with the oil. Don’t store it for long periods in sunlight though, as it tends to fade flowers over time.
5. After 1-2 weeks has passed, strain the infusion through a thick sieve or using a cheesecloth.
6. Store your infused oil in a cool, dark place.

Uses

Use the infused oil in place of the oils you would use for lip balm, lotion bars, or in salves. It can also be used as a massage oil. The medicinal properties in dandelions help relax muscles and relieve tension

You can make a cough soothing syrup. We found this dandelion cough syrup recipe and plan on making it soon!

Dandelion cough syrup:

• 250 dandelion flowers
• 4 cups raw honey
• 2 lemons
• 1 l of boiled and cooled water

1. Rinse and pat dry the flowers. Put them in the pot with the sugar or honey, pour the cooled boiled water and squeeze in the lemon juice.
2. Boil on a low heat until the liquid reduces at least by half and gets thick and sticky.
3. Strain the syrup and pour into a sterilized glass bottle or jar.
4. Store in a cupboard and use as a cough relief.