The Dandelion blog

Supporting Our Community Through Devastating Loss

This new year was meant to bring fresh beginnings, but for so many in our community, it has brought unimaginable loss. Fires have destroyed lives, homes, possessions and a sense of safety, leaving many of our neighbors facing the hardest days of their lives. My heart aches for everyone who has lost everything - your strength in the face of such devastation inspires us all.

In the midst of this tragedy, our local firefighters have shown incredible courage and have worked tirelessly to help save lives and home. As a small token of my appreciation, I created a Restorative Lung Tea to share with local fire departments. This blend uses the highest quality and responsibly grown herbs such as mullein and marshmallow root to soothe irritated lungs, especially for those affected by the heavy smoke and ash. It’s a small way to say. “Thank you for all you do.”

For the wider community, I also want to make this tea available at cost to anyone struggling with the effects of poor air quality. I know it’s just a small gesture in the face of such overwhelming loss, but my hope is that it brings some comfort as we begin to rebuild our community.

• Restorative Lung Tea - A blend of soothing herbs to promote lung health after smoke inhalation. This tea has been lovingly formulated to sooth and reduce inflammation, while detoxifying and supporting lung function. Herbs like mullein, marshmallow root, and licorice root contain mucilage or anti-inflammatory compounds that coat and calm irritated mucous membranes in the throat and lungs, reducing inflammation caused by smoke exposure. Herbs such as nettle, and eucalyptus help clear toxins, expel mucus, and improve overall respiratory function by promoting lung detoxification and enhancing oxygen flow.

• Herbal Defense Tea - My favorite and most loved product! Echinacea is known as a natural infection fighter for the prevention of illnesses. It is very high in antioxidants, which help the immune system make more white blood cells to kill pathogens like bacteria, germs, and dead cells. Echinacea also has strong anti-inflammatory properties and works as an immune system stimulant. It’s the main ingredient in the Herbal Defense Tea, along with a thoughtful mix of petals, leaves, flowers, and roots that herbalists have used for centuries during cold and flu season.

• Elderberry Tincture - This new formula tastes amazing while supporting immune health. I have been soaking organic elderberries in premium brandy to extract the active ingredients and have included a dash of organic cloves and a very special vanilla bean I acquired on a trip to Tahiti! This potent tincture can help knock out the flu right when it starts, so it’s important to take it immediately upon having symptoms.

I also continue to offer the Elderberry Tincture & Herbal Defense Tea as a special immunity bundle at a special rate and can ship to friends and family with a special note if you would like to send a gift of herbal love.

If you or someone you know could use this tea, it’s available on my website. Please don’t hesitate to reach out - community support is everything right now, and I want to help however I can.

Welcoming Autumn: The Season of Change, Cozy Rituals, and Keeping Your Immune System Strong

Even though the temperatures during the day here in Los Angeles certainly don’t feel like fall, the crisp morning fog and early sunsets remind us that we are deep into eclipse season. The plants in our gardens are decaying and enriching the soil after a season of growth and bountiful giving.

As we usher in the dark half of the year and begin to celebrate rituals such as dancing, feasting, taking nature walks, building altars to honor ancestors, carving pumpkins, and pulling on our cozy sweaters, this is the time of the season when most people start getting sick, so it is important to slow down, find comfort in mindful moments and nourish our bodies.

Here are my favorite herbal remedies to help battle the seasonal changes in the climate that can compromise your body’s ability to fight colds and cases of flu, which is why colds tend to circulate in the fall season.

• Elderberry Tincture - This new formula of Elderberry tincture tastes amazing while supporting immune health. I have been soaking organic elderberries in premium brandy to extract the active ingredients and have included a dash of organic cloves and a very special vanilla bean I acquired on a trip to Tahiti! This potent tincture can help knock out the flu right when it starts, so it’s important to take it immediately upon having symptoms.

• Herbal Defense Tea - There was nothing to change here because this tea is one that everyone LOVES. Echinacea is known as a natural infection fighter for the prevention of illnesses. It is very high in antioxidants, which help the immune system make more white blood cells to kill pathogens like bacteria, germs, and dead cells. Echinacea also has strong anti-inflammatory properties and works as an immune system stimulant. It’s the main ingredient in the Herbal Defense Tea, along with a thoughtful mix of petals, leaves, flowers, and roots that herbalists have used for centuries during cold and flu season.

• Chaga Tincture - I only have about 10 of these tinctures left, and haven’t started a new batch, so grab one if you’ve loved them. Chaga is a beneficial fungus that supports ongoing immune health. Chaga is a renowned adaptogen, which means it helps the body adapt to internal and external daily stressors and has been revered for hundreds of years to support skin health and promote youthfulness. I add a few drops of this to my morning coffee.

I will be offering the Elderberry Tincture & Herbal Defense Tea as a special immunity bundle at a special rate and can ship to friends and family with a special note if you would like to send a gift of herbal love.

I have more products in the works and look forward to sharing soon!!! Thank you again for the support.

Welcome to Dandelion Wish!

My plant journey started as a child growing up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. The woods were my playground, where I felt a sense of independence, adventure, and happiness.  After stepping back from a very stressful and successful career in technology, I needed to reset and immerse myself in nature.  I spent my days in my backyard hillside, planting and tending to my organic garden while absorbing every bit of knowledge I could about plants, their healing qualities, and how to integrate them into my modern life.

I devoured books by today’s most revered herbalists, enrolled in online courses to study herbal actions and understand holistic support for healthy body systems, and spent hours in my kitchen preparing herbal formulations. I was influenced by the wisdom of folk healing traditions, some of which I remembered as family remedies and modern herbal practices, research, and science.  

Herbal medicine is one of the most ancient of the healing arts, and I feel fortunate to be on this path of learning ways to help the well-being and holistic health of my family and friends. I am very excited to share what I have learned and the products I have handcrafted for you. I hope you love it!