I love dandelion and had a powerful experience with it many years ago during a heavy metal detox.
I was abroad for a while during the detox and didn't have access to an infra red sauna. As part of the protocol this was crucial for moving the heavy metals out of the body as they were released.
I knew dandelion was a liver/ kidney supporter and detoxifier so I decided to take it two to three times a day. One would expect liver enzymes to be elevated while taking chelating agents. After a month when I had stopped my liver was tested. To my doctor's astonishment my results showed the liver of a baby! To say I was thrilled would be an understatement.
Wow! That is incredible, Siobhan, thank you for sharing your experience with us, no wonder you love it so much after it did that for you! How did you take it, and how much?
I took about 25 drops of tincture two to three times a day. Mostly three. I've been a Flamekeeper for Brighid for twenty two years as well, and dodn't know at the time it was sacred to Her. Love those synchronicities! 💚💚💚
Ah... that's great to know, thank you. I'm just learning about tinctures now. I hadn't thought of using the dandelion, but I think it would be very useful. 💕
I went to sit with Brigid's flame for a while last year, it was a very gentle and calming experience. I am feeling called to go and visit her birthplace this spring, I have never been even though its not so far from where I live.
Well worth a visit. You might like to visit the Wayside well which is in the carpark of the Japanese Gardens. It's the original well.
I've been making tinctures for many, many years. Though I bought the dandelion tincture. I love tinctures for their ease of administration and carrying around with me.
This was fun to read. I enjoyed the illustrations, especially. Your Yeats reference reminded me of an interview I listened to this morning with Imelda May about her new documentary about WB Yeats' sisters who were as much or more talented, apparently, than their brother...I think it's on Sky. x
Hi Whitney, where have you beeeeeen? I've not seen any posts from you lately, I do hope there are no dodgy social media 'algorythms' at work on Substack. I saw something about this program from Imelda May on Instagram recently, I must check it out... I know very little about his sisters, Ireland is all about Yeats and his brother, Jack, who was an artist. Women creatives were typically not well recieved or documented in Irish history or the literary canon, sadly. When I did my Masters, I learned about a female poet from the mid 40s, Freda Loughton, and although poetry isn't really my thing, I did fall in love with hers. I wrote about her for one of my essays, but she is so little known, there is hardly any information about her life, and few copies of her work.
Hello! I am so sorry. I can't believe I am just now responding. I needed a break, but I am back now. I think of you constantly because dandelions are everywhere! Have you seen the documentary yet? I am hoping it will stream in the US soon. xx
Here in Texas, dandelions are the first food for bees, and I write notes on Facebook each year, encouraging folks to leave them be. Many still chop, dig and/or poison the little bursts of color into submission. Sitting on the back porch, I can see their cheery little faces popping up and giving their nectar to the bees. When they are more numerous, I like to add the flowers to salads. I can never get enough of them to make a full meal of greens, so I add them to other greens. I also like to dehydrate and powder them to add to my powdered greens.
Robin, you really are a Green Goddess! I would never have thought of dehydrating and powdering them! I am going to eat them while theyre fresh, and once they have blown their seeds, I'm going to dry the leaves and stalks for weaving, I think they might be nice for making miniature baskets, but I don't know anyone who's tried it, so it will be a voyage of discovery!
What a timely piece this post is! I have been noticing dandelions along the sidewalks where I walk this past week. They are such a bright spot in our gloomy days. My mother cooked us dandelion greens one night for dinner when we were kids. The dish did not go over well but it didn't stop her. She was always serving us wild greens. .
Hi Noelle, your mother sounds amazing! We don't have too many dandelions here yet, but we usually have tons of them in the summer, and the bugs love them. You're right, they really are such a glorious hit of colour right now. We need that after the darkness of winter, don't we?
Such a beautiful piece. Dandelions are too often overlooked, I wrote my own reflections of them and their Irish lore last March. They are my son’s favourite too.
Hi Siobhán, your writing is so lush, I'm looking forward to reading more. I love that the dandelion is your son's favourite flower. My sons are in their 20s now, and you made me realise that I don't even know if they have a favourite flower anymore. I think that needs to be rectified! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
What an incredible crafted and passionate dedication to Dandelion. Always loved them myself, the delicate formation of petals and yellow is my favourite colour a happy colour. Dean Cecht’s porridge make a lot of sense to me as at least a tonic and sorting out the bowels and blood flow
Thanks, John! Yes, you're right, its such a happy colour, and somehow the dandelion appears to me so carefree. I knew you would have thoughts on Dian Cecht's porridge, it reminded me so much of your ale house wives series, which I will need to go back to at some point soon and reread. Hope you are well!
Thank you, as you have now motivated me on something I was pondering, and that was to attempt to go more into the possible cauldron brews of the ‘Ale House Wives’. I may well do that from September next. I look forward to how you may now follow up on this beautiful Dandelion post.
What a stunning piece of writing. Thank you so much! It moved me so deeply. I too love dandelions, they cannot fail but bring a smile to my face, they've so much character and tenacity! I enjoyed hearing about your writing experience too, we are all grieving so much in this world right now, but still hope remains.
Hi Kelly, thank you so much, I am so delighted it resonated with you. The dandelion is something of an underdog, but it doesn't let that hold it back... you are right, character and tenacity in bucketloads, I think! The grief is hard to cope with at times, and it's palpable because it's so communal, rather than an individual experience. We can't look away. It would do those suffering, human and more-than-human, a disservice. Thanks for reading and your lovely comment!
I always think of dandelions as a symbol of optimism, that bright cheery orange an early reminder of summer sun re-emerging from the dark of winter. They’re also very valuable nutritious early greens for lactating ewes so there’s some truth in them nourishing the lambs!
Yes! Optimism, I like that! I love that you have identified a kernal of truth in the old traditions, thank you for that. I always worry about the lambs being born so early when the weather can still be so attrocious. I used to see this a lot when I lived in the lake district, they had only the thinnest covering of wool, and looked so fragile and vulnerable. Love the work you do, Carly!
I would do that too, if I had littls lambs in my life, so you're not the only soft touch! I'm sure you're right about how hardy they are, otherwise nature wouldn't have evolved them to be born so early in the season. x
Wonderful!
Ah... thank you! 😘
I love dandelion and had a powerful experience with it many years ago during a heavy metal detox.
I was abroad for a while during the detox and didn't have access to an infra red sauna. As part of the protocol this was crucial for moving the heavy metals out of the body as they were released.
I knew dandelion was a liver/ kidney supporter and detoxifier so I decided to take it two to three times a day. One would expect liver enzymes to be elevated while taking chelating agents. After a month when I had stopped my liver was tested. To my doctor's astonishment my results showed the liver of a baby! To say I was thrilled would be an understatement.
Beautiful dandelion, I'll love you forever
Wow! That is incredible, Siobhan, thank you for sharing your experience with us, no wonder you love it so much after it did that for you! How did you take it, and how much?
I took about 25 drops of tincture two to three times a day. Mostly three. I've been a Flamekeeper for Brighid for twenty two years as well, and dodn't know at the time it was sacred to Her. Love those synchronicities! 💚💚💚
Ah... that's great to know, thank you. I'm just learning about tinctures now. I hadn't thought of using the dandelion, but I think it would be very useful. 💕
I went to sit with Brigid's flame for a while last year, it was a very gentle and calming experience. I am feeling called to go and visit her birthplace this spring, I have never been even though its not so far from where I live.
Well worth a visit. You might like to visit the Wayside well which is in the carpark of the Japanese Gardens. It's the original well.
I've been making tinctures for many, many years. Though I bought the dandelion tincture. I love tinctures for their ease of administration and carrying around with me.
That's the one I am thinking of visiting. 💕
So glad to read and to learn so much about dandelions. When I was a kid, my favorite book for a spell was Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.
Hi Heather, thank you for reading! I actually don't know that book, but will go and check it out, thanks for the recommendation.
This was fun to read. I enjoyed the illustrations, especially. Your Yeats reference reminded me of an interview I listened to this morning with Imelda May about her new documentary about WB Yeats' sisters who were as much or more talented, apparently, than their brother...I think it's on Sky. x
Hi Whitney, where have you beeeeeen? I've not seen any posts from you lately, I do hope there are no dodgy social media 'algorythms' at work on Substack. I saw something about this program from Imelda May on Instagram recently, I must check it out... I know very little about his sisters, Ireland is all about Yeats and his brother, Jack, who was an artist. Women creatives were typically not well recieved or documented in Irish history or the literary canon, sadly. When I did my Masters, I learned about a female poet from the mid 40s, Freda Loughton, and although poetry isn't really my thing, I did fall in love with hers. I wrote about her for one of my essays, but she is so little known, there is hardly any information about her life, and few copies of her work.
Hello! I am so sorry. I can't believe I am just now responding. I needed a break, but I am back now. I think of you constantly because dandelions are everywhere! Have you seen the documentary yet? I am hoping it will stream in the US soon. xx
No, I haven't seen it yet! Thanks for the reminder... hope you enjoyed the break, hugs to you! x
I can hardly wait for you to post a photo!
Here in Texas, dandelions are the first food for bees, and I write notes on Facebook each year, encouraging folks to leave them be. Many still chop, dig and/or poison the little bursts of color into submission. Sitting on the back porch, I can see their cheery little faces popping up and giving their nectar to the bees. When they are more numerous, I like to add the flowers to salads. I can never get enough of them to make a full meal of greens, so I add them to other greens. I also like to dehydrate and powder them to add to my powdered greens.
Robin, you really are a Green Goddess! I would never have thought of dehydrating and powdering them! I am going to eat them while theyre fresh, and once they have blown their seeds, I'm going to dry the leaves and stalks for weaving, I think they might be nice for making miniature baskets, but I don't know anyone who's tried it, so it will be a voyage of discovery!
What a timely piece this post is! I have been noticing dandelions along the sidewalks where I walk this past week. They are such a bright spot in our gloomy days. My mother cooked us dandelion greens one night for dinner when we were kids. The dish did not go over well but it didn't stop her. She was always serving us wild greens. .
Hi Noelle, your mother sounds amazing! We don't have too many dandelions here yet, but we usually have tons of them in the summer, and the bugs love them. You're right, they really are such a glorious hit of colour right now. We need that after the darkness of winter, don't we?
Yup. Their brilliant yellow lights up my walks!
Such a beautiful piece. Dandelions are too often overlooked, I wrote my own reflections of them and their Irish lore last March. They are my son’s favourite too.
Hi Siobhán, your writing is so lush, I'm looking forward to reading more. I love that the dandelion is your son's favourite flower. My sons are in their 20s now, and you made me realise that I don't even know if they have a favourite flower anymore. I think that needs to be rectified! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
What an incredible crafted and passionate dedication to Dandelion. Always loved them myself, the delicate formation of petals and yellow is my favourite colour a happy colour. Dean Cecht’s porridge make a lot of sense to me as at least a tonic and sorting out the bowels and blood flow
Thanks, John! Yes, you're right, its such a happy colour, and somehow the dandelion appears to me so carefree. I knew you would have thoughts on Dian Cecht's porridge, it reminded me so much of your ale house wives series, which I will need to go back to at some point soon and reread. Hope you are well!
Thank you, as you have now motivated me on something I was pondering, and that was to attempt to go more into the possible cauldron brews of the ‘Ale House Wives’. I may well do that from September next. I look forward to how you may now follow up on this beautiful Dandelion post.
What a stunning piece of writing. Thank you so much! It moved me so deeply. I too love dandelions, they cannot fail but bring a smile to my face, they've so much character and tenacity! I enjoyed hearing about your writing experience too, we are all grieving so much in this world right now, but still hope remains.
Hi Kelly, thank you so much, I am so delighted it resonated with you. The dandelion is something of an underdog, but it doesn't let that hold it back... you are right, character and tenacity in bucketloads, I think! The grief is hard to cope with at times, and it's palpable because it's so communal, rather than an individual experience. We can't look away. It would do those suffering, human and more-than-human, a disservice. Thanks for reading and your lovely comment!
I always think of dandelions as a symbol of optimism, that bright cheery orange an early reminder of summer sun re-emerging from the dark of winter. They’re also very valuable nutritious early greens for lactating ewes so there’s some truth in them nourishing the lambs!
Yes! Optimism, I like that! I love that you have identified a kernal of truth in the old traditions, thank you for that. I always worry about the lambs being born so early when the weather can still be so attrocious. I used to see this a lot when I lived in the lake district, they had only the thinnest covering of wool, and looked so fragile and vulnerable. Love the work you do, Carly!
Oh me too, I’m a soft touch and keep mine in if they’re born in bad weather, even though I know they’re much tougher than they look! Thank you, Ali :)
I would do that too, if I had littls lambs in my life, so you're not the only soft touch! I'm sure you're right about how hardy they are, otherwise nature wouldn't have evolved them to be born so early in the season. x