Latin Name: Arctium lappa
Alternate Names: Bardane, Clotburr, Beggars Buttons, Gypsy Rhubarb, Gobo, Wu Shih And Niu Bang (Seeds), Burr
Family: ASTERACEAE
Parts Used: Root, seeds.
Properties: Alterative, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Antitumor, Aperient, Aphrodisiac, Choleretic, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Galactagogue, Hypoglycemic, Laxative, Mucilaginous, Nutritive, Rejuvenative .
Internal Uses: Abscess, Acne, Anger, Cancer, Candida, Chickenpox, Colds, Cough, Cystitis, Dandruff, Eczema, Edema, Fasting, Fever, Flu, Gout, Hives, Hypoglycemia, Indigestion, Irritability, Jaundice, Keratosis, Lymphatic Congestion, Measles, Mumps, Obesity, Pain, Pneumonia, Psoriasis, Rheumatism, Scabies, Sore Throat, Sprains, Staphylococcus, Urinary Infections, Uterine Prolapse
Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules. Juice is drunk to rid the body of scabies and mites.
It is a mild laxative. Burdock aids in the elimination of uric acid. The herb contains polyacetylenes that have antibacterial and antifungal properties. By improving the function of many organs of elimination (liver, kidneys, bowels) many health conditions can be improved.
Topical Uses: Bruises, Dandruff, Glandular Swelling, Gout, Joint Pain, Knee Swelling, Oily Skin, Ringworm, Sprains
Topical Applications: Bath for sore joints and gout. Compress for glandular swellings, knee swellings, sprains and bruises. Hair rinse for dandruff. Facial toner for oily skin. Bruised leaves are applied to ringworm.
Culinary uses: Young leaves can be cooked in several changes of water and eaten as a potherb. Stalks (before flowering) may be peeled and eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. Root is added to soup, stew, stir fry and sukiyaki. Roots can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Energetics: Bitter, Cool, Dry.
Chemical Constituents: Polyacetylenes, chlorogenic acid, taraxosterol, arctigen, inulin, lactone, essential oil, flavonoids, tannin, mucilage, resin, potassium, iron, calcium. Seeds contain essential fatty acids.
Contraindications: Avoid seeds during first trimester of pregnancy.
Comments: The genus name Arctium is from the Greek, arktos, meaning ‘bear’ in reference to the shaggy burrs. Beurre is French for ‘butter’ as French women would wrap their cakes of butter in leaves of Burdock to transport it to the marketplace. During the Industrial Revolution, Burdock was used as a medicine to help people cope with the pollution or as John Kelton said in 1870, ‘the constant deterioration of the blood from impure air and exhaustion by day, bad ventilation at night and want of attention to ordinary requirements of life’.
The Swiss inventor, George de Mestral who invented Velcro ™ was inspired by the Burdock burrs that covered his dog; when he observed the burrs under a magnifying glass, he saw the tiny curved hooks.
In Hawaii, the roots are sometimes given as a ‘gag’ wedding gift because of the herb’s aphrodisiac powers.