Last year after a big rain I harvested tons of dandelion root! It was quite a process. Think of a muddy mess, a shovel, a mom and three kids. HA! Not only did I dig them up all day: I then had tons of roots to scrub and dry. I received some help on occasion but they played lots. I remember being quite sore the next day. These were dandelions from my front yard because I know I don’t spray. Anyways as I was going through my “home apothecary” I knew it was time to use up the rest of my dandelion roots because it’s that time and I will have plenty soon! So I decided to make some tinctures!

Because I always get asked….what is a tincture? A tincture is a medicine made by dissolving the plant in alcohol. I always say, it’s the old way of doing medicine. Plants have so many medicinal properties and you are basically extracting the life force from the plant in a very concentrated way.

Are tinctures hard to use? NO! And if you hate taking pills it could be a very good alternative. You can either take it under the tongue (many blood vessels) or I like to take it in a shot glass with two ounces of water. Quick and painless. If you enjoy the taste you can also put it in a full glass of water and enjoy.

How much do you take? I always encourage people to listen to their body. Start out small and work your way up. Every tincture is different and can be used differently. Remember this is a very concentrated amount. 1-3 dropper fulls are probably adequate.

Can kids take it if it has alcohol in it? Cough syrup has alcohol in it. It’s a small amount and lots of people give their child cough syrup. Of course it’s every parents choice but you would just decrease dosage. Just like you wouldn’t let your kid drink a whole bottle of cough syrup, you don’t let them drink the whole bottle of a tincture. Keep up in a safe place.

Featured Tincture: Detox

My detox tincture includes dandelion root, burdock root, and clover. I also used some spices that stimulate the digestive system which are anise and fennel seeds. Dandelion and burdock root both are rich in inulin which is a dietary fiber that may benefit gut health by stimulating bowel movements, it can prevent overeating, it can also assist with a mental health boost (gut and brain are closely related), and it is a preventive measure for other health concerns. This tincture may also help with regulating blood sugars, assist in fighting inflammation, as well as promote healthy liver and gallbladder activity. I tend to work with the seasons and in general spring is a good time to detox your life. Spring cleaning doesn’t just mean your house. It’s good to do a good spring clean internally as well!

If you have any more questions please feel free to reach out. If you are on medications consult your doctor. And I feel everyone has to say something to this effect nowadays…I’m not saying this will cure anything just putting the info out there for people who want to take a more active role in their own health and well being.

Cleaning up internally,

Nichole