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Yellow
Dock Root
(Rumex cripus)
COMMON NAMES: Curled dock, garden patience, narrow dock, sour dock, and rumex.
MEDICINAL PART: The root.
DESCRIPTION: Yellow dock is a perennial plant found as a very common weed in open woods, lawns, fields, and waste places in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The slender, creeping rootstalk produces ascending or procumbent stems, which grow from 1 to 3 feet in height. Lance late to oblong-lance late in shape, the pointed light green leaves have predominantly wavy margins. The lower leaves are larger and longerpetioled than the upper. Blooming from June to July, the numerous pale green, drooping flowers are loosely whorled in panicle racemes. The fruit is a pointed, three-angled and heart-shaped nut.
PROPERTIES AND USES: Astringent, cholagogue, tonic. Known as a medicinal plant since ancient times, yellow dock has been used as a laxative or mild astringent tonic. In the nineteenth century, it was considered a “blood purifier” and was prescribed for eruptive diseases, such as scrofula, and skin problems. The ointment is valuable for itching, sores, swellings, and scabby eruptions. American Indians applied crouched Yellow Dock leaves to boils and the pulverized roots to cuts. Excellent and effective remedy for impure blood, tones up the entire system, good in eruptive diseases, scrofula, glandular tumors, swellings, leprosy, cancer, ulcerated eyelids, syphilis, running ears, and for itch, Makes a valuable ointment, for itch and sores. For glandular tumors and swellings, apply fermentations wrung from the hot tea. Most wonderful blood purifier.
PREPARATION AND DOSAGE:
Infusion: Boil 1 tsp. root in 1 cup water. Take 1 to 2 cups a day.
Powder: For skin problems, the dose is 12 grains.
