Plant Medicine 101: How Effective is Burdock as a Purging Herb?

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Also, while every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, you are strongly advised to take responsibility and do your own research.

In the previous article, we looked at a plant that comes with a high severity warning, because it is such a deadly plant.

In this article, we are going to look at a common plant root used for cleansing and purging.

Burdock root

Burdock (Arctium lappa, Arctium minor) is a plant that is related to the daisy family. It is also closely related to Echinacea, Dandelion, and Feverfew.

It is a biennial plant which means that it lives for only two years. In the first year, just the leaves emerge. The second year, the plant shoots up a flowering stalk. As one of the thistles, the flowers turn into burrs later in the growing season. These are the burrs that stick to clothing and to animal fur. This is how most of us get to know this plant.

Burdock is used for such things as easing liver problems and digestive disorders. It has also been found to be very effective for cleansing the skin from problems such as acne.

With regard to research into this plant, according to a review at PubMed, the medicinal uses of burdock in treating the following chronic diseases have been reported:

• cancers,
• diabetes and
• AIDS.

Burdock is also very helpful in strengthening the immune system when it has become weakened by environmental toxins. When mixed with other herbs such as Dandelion and Ginger, it can be a very powerful blood purifier.

The most unique component?

The most unique fact about Burdock is that it has a very high amount of inulin which is a natural occurring chemical within the body that mimics actions of insulin. Because of this, Burdock has been used to combat hypoglycemia and pre-diabetes, as it helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Different ways to cook it

If you look for Burdock in the market, you may find it called “gobo” instead as that is what some refer to it as. It is often combined with other vegetables or added to Tofu. Some boil Burdock while others sauté or deep fry it.

Some additional characteristics

It looks thick, dark, and woody. Burdock is well recognized as a health food because it has low calorie content and is high in fiber. It is also loaded with potassium, iron, and calcium. People claim that Burdock tastes like nothing else, despite its looks. In other words, it has a taste all its own.

It is often added to stews, soups, and stir fries. As food, Burdock is highly nutritious and full of vitamins and is an effective herb for bringing the body back into balance.

When not to use it

Here is a list of things to consider:

• If you are pregnant, burdock might harm the foetus.
• Do not take it if you are already dehydrated, as its diuretic properties could make your situation worse. Especially if you are already taking prescribed diuretics.
• Do not take with blood-thinners, as burdock may slow down the clotting of blood. If you do take burdock, you risk bleeding and bruising.
• If you are taking medications for diabetes, because burdock lowers blood sugar, you might end up being hypoglycemic.
• Some people may experience contact dermatitis if they are already allergic to daisies, chrysanthemums, or ragweed.

Tip: Making a Decoction

Your liver is the powerhouse for your digestive system, as this is where the food that you eat is processed and stored for use as energy by the body.

You may wish to detox your liver if you:

• are on medications (consult with your doctor before you do),
• plan on trying a gut health protocol,
• take steroids that harm the liver, or
• wish to remove toxic stresses from the environment.

Of course, you could take a supplement such as milk thistle. However, you cannot go wrong with a liver cleansing tea. Here is a tip for making a decoction (consisting of multiple herbs) from herbalist Elizabeth Heck:

In the next article, we will look at the popular and versatile Catnip (Nepeta cataria) plant. It is not just for cats!

To a better, wiser, stronger YOU!

Note: I am an affiliate for the above offer and may get a commission on each sale.

Sources:

Identify and Harvest Wild Medicinal Plants. Located at Home Herb School (online), https://homeherbschool.com

Burdock – The Purifying Root (03-31-2011). Located at American Botanical Council (online), http://herbalgram.org/resources/herbclip/herbclip-news/2011/burdock-the-purifying-root/ [Accessed May 1, 2023]

Flor-Essence® Herbal Tonic Use in North America: A Profile of General Consumers and Cancer Patients. Located at American Botanical Council (online), https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/50/table-of-contents/article2567/ [Accessed May 1, 2023]

Chan YS, Cheng LN, Wu JH, Chan E, Kwan YW, Lee SM, Leung GP, Yu PH, Chan SW. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology. 2011 Oct;19(5):245-54. doi: 10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4. Epub 2010 Oct 28. PMID: 20981575.

Burdock. Located at Mount Sinai (online), https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/burdock [Accessed May 1, 2023]