Herbal Profile: Burdock /Arctium lappa
Burdock Root / Arctium lappa
by Carla Berg CMH, HHP
Arctium lappa is a member of the Compositae or Aster family and is commonly known as burdock, lappa, clotburr, gobo, thorny burr, fox’s cloth, hardock, hareburr, or burrburr. Native to temperate regions in Europe and Asia, but naturalized in North America. It grows in open woodland, hedgerows, roadsides, and waste ground.
Burdock is a tall, coarse-looking biennial weed with branching stems that grow up to six feet high. The oblong leaves are toothed, rough, and petiolate. The purple, globular flowers are in clusters, each flower head with many hooked bracts to aid seed dispersal by animals. The root is nearly simple, thick, fleshy, and edible.
Alterative herbs, such as burdock, improve nutritional status through improved digestion and elimination. They are often rich in minerals, phytonutrients, and other nutrients that stimulate metabolism and healing. Alteratives are also referred to as tonics due to the tonifying and optimizing of different organ systems. They indirectly help with energy production by improving the body’s overall health. Most can be used long-term because they generally have a low potential for toxicity.
Plant Parts Used: roots (first year’s growth), leaves, and fruit. The seeds are known for their diuretic effect, which may play a part in helping with skin conditions.
Taste/Temperature: slightly bitter & acrid/cooling
Therapeutic Actions: antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hapatoprotective, antiplatelet, antitumor, alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic.
Medicinal Uses: skin issues (rash, pimples, boils, scurvy, eczema, psoriasis, burns, wounds, and itching), liver, gallbladder and digestive. Gout, rheumatism, cancer, pulmonary affections, catarrh, urinary deposits, hemorrhoids, canker sores, sciatica, kidney and bladder troubles, colds and fevers.
Constituents: inulin, lignans (arctigenin, arctiin, and matairesinol), lappin, galactonic acid, mucilage, resin, pectins, sugars, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, thiophenes, and tannins.
Inulins are a water-soluble fiber, a prebiotic primarily for bifidobacteria, which nourish the colonocytes and maintain a healthy pH to discourage the growth of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Burdock tea is an excellent way receive the many benefits of inulin.
Nutrients: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, quercetin, iron, CI, Zn. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins A, C, P, and more.
Synergy: “Arctium lappa root contains various bioactive molecules, such as polyphenols including caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids, oligosaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and pectin, a non-inulin polysaccharide, and it is well known that flavonoids, polyphenols, and also pectin affect the microbiota . For example, chlorogenic acid is present in A. lappa root in significant quantity, and this bioactive molecule has been shown to modulate gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice. Therefore, it is suggested that A. lappa root has a more potent influence on microbiota because of a synergistic and/or additive effect between inulin and the other bioactive molecules.” – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7074855/
Thiophene compounds, which are toxic to many microbials when photoactivated, which may contribute to the plant’s topical skin healing properties.
DID YOU KNOW….. part of burdock’s action is related to bitter stimulation of digestive juice secretion, especially bile secretions. The bile duct is a thin tube, about 4 to 5 inches long, that moves bile (a fluid that digests the fats in food) from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. The ducts are found inside and outside the liver and both are susceptible to tumors. This cancer is reported to be rare; 8,000 cases/year. A “rare cancer” is defined as less than 40,000 cases per year. https://www.lytgobi.com/about-bile-duct-cancer
DOSAGE
- Tincture (1:5 in 40%): 2-4 ml, 3-4x/day
- Infusion (leaves): 1 cup, 3-4x/day
- Powder: 2-4 grams, 3-4x/day
- Liquid Extract: 1/2-1 teaspoon
- Solid Extract: 325 mg-1 gram
- Decoction: 2 ounces or one teaspoon of root/cup of water, 3-4x/day
DURATION: Take for up to three months.
Contraindications: Those with diarrhea should start with a low dosage at first. In some people, prolonged use of burdock seed can cause urinary tract irritation. May cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae family. Not recommended in pregnancy.
MORE ON BURDOCK ROOT
This is one of the best blood-cleansing alterative herbs in nature for chronic infection, arthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases, and sciatica. It has a gentle and non-nauseating effect. It stimulates and nourishes the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to help adjust the hormone balance in the body. It soothes the kidney’s by removing excess wastes and uric acid and relieves congestion in the lymphatic system. It reduces swelling around joints and breaks down calcification deposits.
Another valuable remedy is for healing dry and scaly skin patches, such as psoriasis if used over a long period of time. It’s also great for many other skin problems, including dandruff. Burdock root can be used externally on wounds and ulcers, however it is important to remember that many skin problems can be healed from within, with the help of internal remedies.
Inflammation: Burdock has been used for centuries as a healthy and nutritive medicinal food in East Asian countries. “In addition, its various botanical parts have been traditionally used for burns, tumors, eczema, gout, and hepatitis, indicating the existence of anti-inflammatory activity. Many recent studies have revealed that A. lappa extracts and its bioactive constituents inhibit several inflammation processes, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), proinflammatory cytokines TNF, and IL-6 expression.”- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822850/
BURDOCK ROOT USES
Internally; taken as a decoction, fluid extract, infusion (leaves), powder, solid extract, tincture.
Externally; applied as a compress or poultice to speed healing of wounds and ulcers.
- Infected Boils:: combine burdock and echinacea
- Allergic Eczema: combine burdock, tansy, licorice root, gotu kola, and astragalus for eczema or any recurring skin rash with red, raised, itchy bumps. Eczema may be aggravated by stress, bowels, food allergens, and/or dry skin. Adding fat soluble vitamins, other alteratives and liver supporting herbs may help.
- Psoriasis: combine burdock with sarsaparilla for psoriasis.
- Skin Problems: drink the decoction regularly. For larger sores, inflammation, or swelling, apply a hot fomentation of the tea and cover. Repeat until healed. Ointments can be used for burns, skin eruptions, swelling, or hemorrhoids. A burdock root and yellow dock root decoction (drink and skin wash) is used for rashes, pimples, boils, scurvy, and eczema.
- Gentle Blood & Lymphatic Support: equal parts echinacea, burdock root & seed, and nettles. 20-30 drops three times per day for lymphatic drainage and immune support.
BURDOCK ROOT RECIPES
The inner stalk, when cut and the rind removed before the flower opens, can be boiled or used in salads. Simply add oil and vinegar to eat alone. The taste is similar to asparagus and absorbs the flavors cooked with, so use your imagination and harvest only the young, tender stalks.
HOT TEA for ITCHING: 2 parts burdock root, 1 part each of echinacea and valerian roots may help relieve itching. This makes a great tincture too.
SUPER IMMUNITY SYRUP: onset of infections with rash, like chicken pox and measles, take one teaspoon every hour for six hours after the first 24 hours and through the course of infection, until the symptoms clear; make a syrup with 2 parts oats (milky green tops), 1 part each of astragalus root, burdock root, and echinacea root and tops. Use two ounces of herb mix per quart water and simmer down to one pint. To each pint of finished liquid, add one cup with vegetable glycerin or honey.
Enjoy your Journey!
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DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a medical doctor with medical questions and before trying new treatments.
Sources:
- School of Natural Healing, 15th edition, Dr. John R. Christopher
- Herbal ABC’s, The Foundation of Herbal Medicine, Dr. Sharol M. Tilgner
- The Ultimate Healing System, Donald Lepore, ND
- The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies, Mark Stengler, ND
- Medical Herbalism, David Hoffman
- A Clinical Materia Medica, Jeremy Ross
- Herbal Constituents, Lisa Ganora
- Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, Rosemary Gladstar