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Dandelion tincture is a natural spring tonic that’s traditionally used to increase energy and cleanse the system after a long winter indoors. It’s often made as a simple dandelion root tincture, but you can also make a whole plant dandelion tincture to enjoy the benefits of every part of this medicinal wild weed.
After a long winter, dandelions are a welcome sight in the yard. Their bright sunny blossoms signal that spring has arrived, and their golden blossoms are food for the soul.
While some people hate dandelions and do their best to eradicate them, their determination and weedy growth habit make that all but impossible. But why would you want to destroy such a nutritious and beneficial spring weed?
Dandelions arrive just when our bodies need a little pick me up after a long winter of heavy foods. They’re a bitter tonic, perfect for cleansing the system and boosting energy so you can make the most of sunny spring days.
Every part of a dandelion is edible and medicinal, from the bright yellow petals, down the stem to the green spring leaves and into the soil with their long tap root.
The leaves make for delicious fresh spring salads, and the flowers make a tasty dandelion wine. Dandelion roots can be cooked like carrots, believe it or not, and they’re tasty in their own right too.
Beyond just eating dandelions in season, you can also preserve their medicinal benefits for use year-round as a simple dandelion tincture.
(Always consult your doctor or a clinical herbalist before trying any new herbal remedy, as there’s always the possibility of unintended consequences, allergic reaction, or interactions with other medication. If you’re harvesting wild plant material, make sure you’re 100% confident in your identification and consult multiple sources for your ID. The following is based on my research and experience, but I don’t claim to have any certifications that would qualify me to advise you on your health. Please do your own research and always verify with multiple reputable sources.)
What is Dandelion Root Tincture Used for?
Dandelion is a well-known digestive herb, and a few drops can be taken before meals to prevent gas and after meals for heartburn. It’s also known as a cleansing herb that supports healthy liver and kidney function. The same cleansing action is used as a blood purifier that can help reduce blood cholesterol.
As a gentle diuretic, a dandelion tincture is used as a treatment for UTIs and water retention.
Herbalists also prescribe dandelion tincture to promote healthy, clear skin. Traditionally, it’s also been used to help build energy and endurance, which can be helpful after a long winter indoors.
According to the herbalist Julie Bruton-Seal, a dandelion tincture is used for:
- Skin Problems
- Sluggish Liver
- Constipation
- Urinary Problems
- Fluid Retention
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Hangovers
- Chronic Illness
Here’s where you can read more about the medicinal benefits of dandelion if you need more convincing.
Ingredients for Dandelion Tincture
Generally, a dandelion tincture is made either with just dandelion roots or as a whole plant tincture.
The roots have the most concentrated medicinal benefits when it comes to moving lymph and promoting healthy liver function, and if you buy dandelion tincture, it will almost always be made from just dandelion roots. Since dandelion roots are often roasted to make dandelion root coffee, you can often buy dried dandelion root online, which will help you make this tincture before your own spring dandelions arrive.
These days, however, herbalists are starting to use more whole-plant extracts to get a more balanced tincture that incorporates the medicinal benefits of the whole plant.
When you’re making a dandelion tincture, you can choose which parts to use, be it whole plant or just roots. If you do opt to use the aerial parts, be sure you include a lot well washed dandelion roots into the mix. (If you want something light and floral instead, you can make a dandelion flower liqueur, which is delicious…but doesn’t pack the medicinal punch of whole plant or dandelion root tincture.)
Beyond the plant material, you’ll also need what’s known as a herbal menstruum or extraction liquid, which is almost always a neutral spirit like vodka. I like to use a mid-shelf vodka, as the bottom-shelf brands can be a bit harsh and make it hard to take your medicine.
Vodka has a neutral flavor and really just works to extract the medicinal benefits from the dandelion plant and preserve them at the same time.
You can also use any other spirit you’d like, and whisky, brandy, or gin work well too.
Generally, tinctures need to be at least 20% alcohol for preservation, and nowadays, herbalists shoot for 25% for safety. Since the dandelion plant material contains a good bit of water when fresh, you’ll need to use a spirit that’s at least 60 proof (30% alcohol).
If you’re avoiding alcohol, you can make an alcohol-free herbal glycerite instead, and I’ll include instructions for that in the recipe card as well. *see below
Harvesting Dandelion for Tincture
Be aware that when you harvest dandelion for tincture, you’ll be harvesting the whole plant, including the root. For most plants, that means killing the plant, but dandelion is surprisingly resilient. If you leave just a tiny portion of the root in the soil, it can often resprout the following year.
To fill a quart jar for whole plant dandelion tincture, you only need 2 to 3 whole dandelion plants. If you’re using just dandelion root, you’ll need the big tap roots from about ten good-sized plants, and you can save the greens for salads.
On our 30 acres here in Vermont, we have enough wild dandelion to harvest several tractor-trailer loads each spring without really denting the population. We’re basically dandelion farmers.
For the most part, I leave them in place to feed the bees, but I do weed out my raised garden beds each year before planting time. I’ll “harvest” several wheelbarrows full of whole dandelions each spring in the process of weeding my garden beds, without even touching the acres of fields surrounding my house.
That’s more than enough for all the dandelion tincture I could ever want, plus every single dandelion recipe in the book! (Don’t worry, not a bit is wasted…)
How to Make Dandelion Tincture
To make a dandelion tincture, first, decide if you’re making a dandelion root tincture or whole plant dandelion tincture.
Next, harvest the dandelions from a clean, unsprayed location that’s far away from roads or other sources of contamination. If you’ve missed the season, you can buy dried dandelion root online.
You’ll need about 2-3 plants per quart for whole plant tincture or about ten good-sized roots for plain root tincture.
Thoroughly wash the dandelions, scrubbing to remove any dirt. While it’s true that you will strain out all the plant material from your tincture before using, any dirt that’s in there will impact the flavor. It doesn’t “hurt” you in any way, as they say, “a little dirt don’t hurt,”…but it doesn’t taste good either. And, if there’s a lot of grit in there, you should filter with cheesecloth rather than a plain fine mesh strainer so that you really pull it all out and just save the liquid in the end.
Once the plants are washed, chop them really thoroughly to aid extraction and then pack them into a jar. I’m using a quart jar, but you can use a pint or a half gallon, whatever suits your needs.
Pack the chopped roots into a mason jar, and cover them with alcohol. Ideally, the jar is about 2/3 full of fresh roots (or freshly chopped whole plant) and then it’s filled to within an inch of the top with vodka.
I like to use Smirnoff for my homemade tinctures because it’s relatively cheap, but not so cheap that the tincture is hard to take. For your own use, choose the cheapest vodka that you’d voluntarily drink.
Allow the tincture to infuse in a cool dark place, giving it a shake anytime you remember. The dandelion root tincture needs at least a month to infuse, but ideally, 6 to 8 weeks to gain full potency. If you need the tincture sooner than that, you can buy prepared dandelion tincture online to tide you over while your own dandelion tincture is infusing.
Once the tincture is finished, strain it through a fine-mesh strainer, and store the tincture in amber dropper bottles.
Dandelion Tincture Dosage
The book Backyard Medicine offers detailed recommendations for dandelion tincture dosage:
- General Health Maintenance ~ 1/2 teaspoon twice daily.
- Acute Skin Eruptions ~ 10 drops in water frequently throughout the day.
- For arthritis, gout, eczema, psoriasis & liver trouble ~ 1 teaspoon 3 times a day in water.
- Indigestion ~ 10 drops in water every hour until resolved.
Dandelion Tincture Formulations
Often tinctures of more than one plant are combined to create herbal formulations, and the benefits of one plant can be enhanced by a complimentary herb that helps promote the same goals.
Dandelion combines well with other bitter spring tonic herbs to help encourage the movement of lymph throughout the system, and promote energy and vitality.
Burdock tincture is another bitter green that’s also a blood cleanser and diuretic, and it’s also made with wild foraged burdock roots harvested in the early spring. (You can also sometimes purchase burdock root in the grocery store, as it’s used in Asian cuisine where it’s known as “gobo.”)
Chickweed tincture is made with early spring greens from fresh wild foraged chickweed, and it also combines well with dandelion tincture.
If you’re interested in the science behind combining herbs to enhance their effectiveness, I’d recommend taking this online course in Mastering Herbal Formulations from the Herbal Academy. It covers the science of blending herbs into homemade formulations in detail.
Dandelion Remedies
Looking for more ways to tap into dandelion’s medicinal benefits?
Dandelion Tincture
Equipment
Ingredients
- Dandelion Roots or Whole Dandelion Plant, roots included
- Neutral Spirit such as vodka*
Instructions
- Fill a clean, empty mason jar 3/4 full of fresh dandelion roots or chopped whole dandelion plant, or 1/2 full of dried dandelion root. (Dried dandelion roots are often available from herbal supply shops.)
- Cover the fresh or dried dandelion with alcohol, making sure the contents of the jar are completely covered.
- Screw the lid on tightly and gently shake the contents of the jar. Place in a cool, dry location away from light, allowing the extraction to occur over the next 6 to 8 weeks.
- Give the contents of the jar a gentle shake every couple of days.
- Keep an eye on the alcohol level, adding more alcohol to cover the plant material if needed.
- Once the tincture is ready to be decanted, line a funnel with cheesecloth and place the tip of the funnel into the neck of a dark amber glass bottle. Pour the solvent and the dandelion flowers into the cheesecloth-lined funnel, pressing to make sure all of the liquid makes it into the bottle.
- Label the tincture with its contents, date of production, recommended dosages, and suggested usages. Store in a cool, dry area away from light.
Notes
I’ve been foraging wild medicines and treating my family with herbal remedies for the past 20 years, but I’m self-taught. Be aware that I am not a clinical herbalist, and this is based on my own research and personal experience using medicinal plants. I do not claim to have the experience that’d qualify me to advise you on your health, and I’m only providing this as a reference to encourage a broader interest in medicinal plants.
Please use this as a jumping-off point, but always do your own research and verify anything you read with multiple sources.
It’s always possible to have an adverse reaction to any medicinal herb, and plenty of people are allergic to even gentle herbs like chamomile. Always consult your doctor or a certified herbalist before trying any new medicinal plant. Often, they can have unintended reactions in combination with other herbs and supplements, and many herbs have side effects even when they are effective for their intended purpose.
If you are seriously interested in herbal medicine, I’d suggest investing in a course in herbal medicine, and I’d recommend any of the online courses put out by the Herbal Academy of New England. Specifically, the introduction to herbal medicine course and the family herbalist group of courses.
They also have a mushroom course, covering both medicinal and edible mushrooms, and a Botany and Wildcrafting Course. I’ve taken both and they’re informative, inspiring, and artfully presented.
Herbal Tincture Recipes
Looking for more herbal tincture recipes to stock your herbal medicine cabinet?
Spring Foraging
Dandelions aren’t the only thing to harvest this spring, get outdoors with these spring foraging guides!
- Foraging Morels
- Foraging Dryad’s Saddle
- Foraging Chickweed
- Foraging Ramps (Wild Leeks)
- Foraging Fiddleheads
- 60+ Dandelion Recipes
Hey there, I just made my first batch of whole plant dandelion tincture. My finished product is dark. Is this to be expected? Also, can I take this in something sweet to cut the bitterness?
It coming out dark is normal, as the plant material darkens in the alcohol over time, especially fresh plant material. And yes, you can definitely take it in something sweet to cut the bitterness. You can take it in more or less anything you want. I know some people take it in a tall glass of water to dilute it, and others cut the bitterness with lemon (either lemon water or a bit of lemonade).
This honestly might be the most detailed recipe I have ever read in my life. And while normally I would say that as a complaint (“just get me to the recipe already”), today I mean it as the biggest compliment. You are so insanely knowledgeable and it shows through your writing. I just found you through Pinterest, but you have a huge fan! Thank you.
Wonderful Kara, so glad it was helpful to you!
I forgot about a bottle of tincture (dandelion flowers in vodka) . It’s been in the back of my storage cupboard since last summer. Can I still strain and use this or has it been too long?
As long as it looks and smells ok it should be just fine.
I’m curious to know if it’s possible to add some honey to tinctures to sweeten/take the edge off the alcohol flavor a bit? Or would it harm the effectiveness of the tincture?
You can definitely add honey to tinctures. It will not hurt the tincture one bit and you can get the additional benefits from the honey.
If I use 100% VER liquor, is there a need for you to dilute the final Ture or is this OK just to stick with 100% proof
It really depends on which constituents you’re looking to extract. Some are water soluble and for those you would want a certain amount of water in order to extract those constituents.
I steamed them to remove skins, probably shouldn’t have done that, can I still use them for tincture?
I’m honestly not sure exactly how that might effect the benefits of the tincture.
I decided not to, they seemed more like a cooked vegetable. Snow on the ground now, will wait for spring roots. Thanks so much for all you share. I grew ashwaganda because of you, zone4
Hello I made dandelion tincture for the first time this year, unfortunately, I left it to sleep in a window for approximately one month.
I can’t seem to find the answer as to what colour your tincture is supposed to be when finished.
Mine is coffee coloured, but I just wanted to know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
That is the normal color for a dandelion tincture especially if you used the roots. It’s possible that the direct sunlight could change the effectiveness of the tincture but it should still be fine to use.
I looked up Dandelion Tincture and found you. Very interesting, Have tons of herbal books but never formally studied any of it. Im on2 acres so you can imagine how much of this is growing like crazy. Looking froward to exploring with this.
We hope you enjoy your new adventures. You will soon learn that dandelions are quite and amazing little plant.
Is it ok if some dandelions have gone to seed and use them in the tincture?
I would not include the dandelion heads that have gone to seed.
I started using this tincture for hot flashes. They stopped happening within 24 hours of my first dose. I take 5 drops morning and evening. So amazing!
Wow! That’s incredible. Thanks so much for sharing.
I chop my tincture roots or materials in blender with some vodka, pieces are still big enough to easily filter out.
This is a very well presented article on the use of dandelion. I have used several herbs for various reasons and this year I am working with dandelion. We are on a 4 1/2 acre farm and really enjoy our retirement. Thank you
You’re very welcome. We’re so glad you enjoyed the post.
Even though having a significant amount of dandelions in my yard, it still hurt to pull up 3-4 plants, hut I did hear a snap, and probably left a small amount of root i the ground to promote new growth. I did the whole plant tincture, and will do another quart soon. Whether I use it or not, it’s good to use an herbal remedy vs traditonal, meds. I’ll be ready!
Great job! It’s definitely important to be ready.
Great to have on hand.
I know I’m late getting to my dandelions (it’s almost the solstice!) but a sprained ankle got the best of me most of the spring. I’m wondering if the roots I harvested are ok if they have hollowish centers with what looks like bone marrow (!) inside. Thanks from southern VT!
If you’re wanting to harvest the roots, then it would probably be best to wait until fall.
I just harvest my first Dandelion roots and would like to know if its possible to use 96% grain alcohol diluted in destilated water or combined with veg. glicerin for mske the Tincture.
You can definitely use a 96% alcohol and dilute it to the appropriate percentage with distilled water. You can also use vegetable glycerine if you don’t want to use alcohol. If you’re using alcohol then I would just stick to diluting it with water rather than mixing it with the gylcerine.
Beautiful post, thank you. May I suggest using organic vodka wherever possible. Yes, it’s much more expensive than the big, mainstream (and cheap) brands, but the last thing you want in your medicine is pesticide residues, which non-organic alcohols all have. Plus we want to put our dollars where our hearts are, and take care of the earth by supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
Thank you and that’s a good point. Thanks for sharing.
You could also use organic apple cider vinegar which is much cheaper and defintely healthy!
I have seen people using hot water 1st over the dry roots,followed by the alcohol (especially wellness mama)
I plan on making the tincture out of the whole plant,but in the dry form as I don’t have any access to organic dandelion around me.Any idea about what percentage root vs leaves should be used?
Also, should I add hot water and let steep for a bit before adding the vodka? Some people say that water extracts certain things from roots that alcohol alone can’t (not sure about this as 40% alcohol already has water)
I love drinking teas,but I can’t make my kids drink them,plus it would be a lot of cups a day.
Thank you.
It really depends on what benefits you are looking for. Alcohol can extract most constituents except for minerals and trace elements. So if you aren’t looking for those specific constituents then a simple alcohol extraction would be fine.
What percentage vodka should you use
Standard vodka is 80 proof or 40% alcohol.
I have strained my tincture several times but it still separates and then is white on the bottom???
This is simply the inulin from the dandelion root. This doesn’t always happen but is completely normal. I would just give it a good shake before using.
When aging the tincture should it be in a cool dark place or can it be on a sunny warm window sill?
You will want to keep it in a cool, dark place.
Is it still usable if you sat it in a warm window? What is the difference? Will it make me sick? I made a dead nettle tincture but with dried plant and video said to use heat. Just learning all this and have so many questions.
I have never heard of using heat when making a tincture. The alcohol extracts the constituents without the need for heat. It’s possible that the sunlight could degrade your tincture and make it less effective or shorten the shelf life but it should still be fine to consume.
What is the dosage?
You can scroll to the top of the article and under the second heading titled “DANDELION TINCTURE DOSAGE” you will see several suggestions that came from the Backyard Medicine book.
Hello
can i use brandy instead of vodka? just that i have loads in the house already
thanks
Yup! That works just fine.
How do you make sure contaminated, like along the road or in my lawn, are gone before I use any part to eat or make tincture?
You really want to avoid foraging near roadways if possible. The further you can get from the road, the better. If you are uphill, there is less risk of contamination from runoff. If you are foraging in your lawn, just be sure that you are not foraging from an area that has been treated with chemicals and you may not want to forage in an area where animals frequently urinate.
Can you over infuse a tincture? I’ve had one brewing for 6 months. Is it still usable?
Yup, still usable. I’ve forgotten a few like that, and they’re still just fine.
Hi is dandelion tincture safe to take during pregnancy if so what is the dosage
I’m definitely not qualified to answer that. I’d say you’d have to talk to your doctor/herbalist/midwife for an answer.
Google suggests that dandelion tincture is not contraindicated during pregnancy, and I found an article supporting its use here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/dandelion
“There are no reports in the literature of dandelion being either safe or contraindicated during pregnancy. Herbalist-midwives may recommend it taken alone in small doses (1 to 15 drops) as a tincture in water, or this same dose added to half a glass of ginger ale or lemon-flavored carbonated water.”
Still, as I said, I’m not a doctor and you should do your own research or talk to a medical professional for a qualified answer.
I have read that dandelion tinctures may help to raise low blood pressure. If I have high blood pressure should I avoid this tincture ?
I’m definitely not a medical professional and can’t advise you at all. At least according to a quick google search, it says dandelion lowers blood pressure? At least this article: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits
But you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, I’d say you should ask your doctor or talk to a herbalist.
Hi I made a dandelion tincture, it’s a few weeks old, it has a milky substance at the bottome of the jar, it’s a little cloudy, is that normal? Or has it gone bad?
Cheers
I believe that’d be inulin, which is a type of starch in the dandelion root. I’ve never had it settle in the jar like that, but I’ve read that others have seen it. To the best of my knowledge, it’s normal.
That’s normal, shake it up before putting in dropper bottle or before use, the milky part is the medicine, probiotics, antioxidants and lymphatic ( cancer fighting) .
Thank you
Am learning about natural remedies and just found your site…love it! These instructions are the most clear I’ve seen for tinctures! Quick question, though…other resources have said to be sure to dry plant materials to ensure no water contaminates tincture or oil infusions, is that a concern with the dandelion roots here?
Your tinctures can be made using either fresh or dried plant matter.
Can you make a tincture from the dandelion flowers?
Yes, but I imagine the medicinal value may be different? Honestly I don’t know if or how it would be different, though I’ve seen many people make dandelion cordial by basically making a tincture of the flowers and adding sugar. The medicinal value is unclear, but I bet that tastes good.
In Europe they make from flowers dandelion honey. by simmering flowers in water for 15 min. than it is left covered in pot for 24 h. Than it liquid is separated and from the infusion syrup with sugar is made. hot su Traditional proportion – 1 liter of infusion to ! 1g of sugar. I make 1 to 0.5. It is used as cold medicine with ho tea It is very effective and kids love it. My grandma use to make also linden tincture with sugar to taste and pasteurized in hot water bath, also for cold and flu in tea.Great Blog!
I am sorry is very difficult to see what is written. Edit 1kg o sugar to i liter of tincture boiled for for few minutes until auger is dissolved
How many drops would be a good start and then how many for maintenance would you suggest. Thank you kindly.
Cheryl.
What is the tincture used for and is the vinegar based tincture as effective and does it last as long as the alcohol infused?
Hello. After harvesting could I wait a day before I prepare it in the jar?
Yes.
Can I use Everclear instead of vodka?
Yes, you can do that. You can also dilute it with some water to get it down to 80 proof which is what a standard vodka proof is.
Is there any way to use the roots after the tincture is all finished?
Thanks much!
Good question. I’ve tried to use things after tinctures, but I’ve never been really satisfied with the results. I tried making chutney from strawberries in a strawberry-infused vodka, but as you might imagine, all the flavor infused into the alcohol and it tasted like nothing (except alcohol). Similar results with other things. I imagine you could cook them, but just about all the good stuff (except perhaps fiber) has been extracted into the tincture and the resulting roots will taste very strongly of alcohol.
They might be a nice addition in a Jamaican rum cake or similar Christmas plum pudding if pulverized and added to the mix along with the alcohol soaked fruits. Those “cakes” already contain and taste like alcohol so it would be
That’s an interesting idea. Let us know how it goes if you decide to give it a try.
Compost!😊
Do you know if the inulin in dandelion roots comes over in the alcohol? I cannot digest inulin that is in most roots (a lot in dandelion). I realize I would only be taking a small amount with tincture. Thanks. Fantastic blog!
You know, I didn’t know the answer to that…but I did a bit of research and inulin is water-soluble (but I can’t seem to find if it’s alcohol soluble). The alcohol you use in tinctures isn’t 100% alcohol, so there is water in it, which means the inulin will likely be present in the tincture.
How long is the tincture good for once stored properly?
In theory, the alcohol should keep it from “spoiling” indefinitely, but I’ve read that tinctures lose potency after about a year.
Alcohol does not mix with my medicine. What else can I use besides alcohol?
Good question! You can also make tinctures with vegetable glycerine or apple cider vinegar. Same process, just substitute either of those for the alcohol.
Can I make the tincture from dried tea leaves like from a tea bag?
Yes you can. Tea bag teas tend to be very fine inside the bag, and you might have trouble filtering it out though. Either leave it in the tea bag or filter the finished tincture through a coffee filter at the end. You’d also need A LOT of tea bags to make even a small quantity of tincture. It would be a lot more cost effective to just find dried plant material in bulk, and many natural grocery stores have a bulk herb section these days where you can get a whole jar of dried herbal material for just a few dollars. But to answer your question, yes, of course, you can use tea bags if you have them and you want to make a tincture. Just make sure they don’t have other additives of any kind.