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Burdock Root
(Arctium lappa)
COMMON NAMES: Bardana, burr seed, clotbur, cocklebur, grass burdock, hardock, hardock, hareburr, hurrburr, and turkey burr seed.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Root, seed, leaves.
DESCRIPTION: Burdock is a biennial plant found in the northern U.S. and in Europe, along fences, walls, and roadsides, in waste places, and around populated areas. The root is long, fleshy, gray-brown outside, and whitish inside. In its second year, the plant grows a furrowed, reddish, pithy stem with woolly branches. During the first year burdock has only basil leaves. Both basil and stem leaves are oblong-cordate to cordate, green and hairy on top and downy gray beneath. The purple flowers appear in loose corymbs clusters from July to September.
PROPERTIES AND USES: Aperient,
cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic. The decoction or infusion of burdock
root so Aperient, but not for all individuals; for some it may even be
constipative. Both the tea and tincture can be used for stomach ailments.
Burdock is also said to neutralize and eliminate poisons in the system.
The leaves are not generally used but so contain a substance that stimulates
the secretion of bile. If they are to be used for liver problems,
use fresh leaves only. A decoction of leaves also
makes a good wash for sores
and may be helpful for acne. The fresh bruised leaves are sometimes
used as a remedy for poison oak or poison ivy. The seeds contain
oil that is used medically, but only with medical supervision.
The root is one of the best blood purifiers for syphilitic and other diseases
of the blood. It cleanses and eliminates impurities from the blood
very rapidly. Burdock tea taken freely will clear all kinds of skin
diseases, boils, and carbuncles. Increases flow of urine. Excellent
for gout, rheumatism, scrofula, canker sores, syphilis, sciatica, gonorrhea,
leprosy. Wring a hot fermentation out of the tea for swellings.
It is good to make a salve and apply externally for skin eruptions, burns,
wounds, swellings,
and hemorrhoids. Excellent
to reduce flesh.
PREPARATION AND DOSAGE: Collect the root is the spring or fall of the second year, i.e., when the plant has a stem. The root may be used fresh or dried.
Decoction: Use 1 tsp. root with 1-cup cold water. Let stand for 5 hours, and then bring to a boil. Take 1 cup a day.
Tincture: Take 10 to 25 drops, in water, chamomile tea, or regular tea, three or four times a day.
Juice: Grate the fresh root and half again as much water. Squeeze out the liquid. Drink 1 cup a day, a mouthful at a time.
