When I was little, I had burdock plants growing wild in my backyard. I never thought much of them until I was having to pick their sticky burs off of my clothes or my pets’ fur. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I discovered how wonderful this plant is and how much of an ally it can be to us. This burdock monograph is going to get into exactly why this herb is so special!
In this burdock monograph, we are going to get into how we work with this plant in Western herbal practice. We are going to discuss burdock’s energetics, tastes, medicinal plant parts, herbal actions, body affinities, herbal constituents, and cautions. Then, we are going to discuss which conditions we reach out to burdock for help with, how to prepare the herb, and what other herbs to pair it with. Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to download a free copy of this burdock monograph for you to refer back to at any time.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and shouldn’t be used as a replacement for medical attention or diagnosis. It’s recommended to talk to a doctor before beginning any herbal regimen, especially if you are taking pharmaceutical medication. Because every body is different, the following information may or may not apply directly to you.
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Burdock grows wild throughout the United States but especially in the more temperate regions of the country (although it’s native to Asia and Europe). This plant is in the Asteraceae (daisy) family and is related to a wide range of familiar plants, such as sunflowers, asters, dandelions, and even lettuce! Burdock remains to be a common food and medicine source in parts of Asia.
Burdock Monograph
In this section of the burdock monograph, we are going to go over burdock’s energetics, tastes, medicinal plant parts, herbal actions, body systems affinities, constituents, and cautions.
Energetics & Tastes
Burdock is cooling, drying, and relaxing and tastes bitter and slightly sweet.
Medicinal Plant Parts
The root is the most common plant part to work with. However, the leaves and the seeds are also medicinal in their own respects.
Herbal Actions
Burdock has a variety of herbal actions that promote inner and outer healing of the body.
Alterative
Burdock’s gentle alterative effects help reduce the effect of all blood disorders including gout and arthritis. It helps to clean up the blood and improve its quality.
Hepatic
This herb works largely on the liver to stimulate digestive secretions as well as the filtering of blood.
Diuretic
Burdock is an excellent detoxifier. Although it primarily acts on the liver, it helps to detox via the urinary system as well. This herb gently stimulates the production of urine which helps pull access water from the body as well as detoxifies.
Diffusive
Because of its actions on the blood and circulatory system, burdock helps move blood (and therefore heat) from the core of the body to the periphery.
Diaphoretic
Because burdock stimulates the liver to filter the blood, it, in turn, stimulates blood flow. This stimulation increases the core body temperature slightly.
Prebiotic
Burdock root is a major source of the prebiotic fiber, inulin. Inulin is a favored food source for all of the healthy flora living in your gut. Therefore, consuming burdock root is a great way to nourish and heal your gut flora.
Nutritive
Besides herbs like dandelion, nettles, and red clover, burdock is a main nutritive plant in Western herbalism. Consuming burdock is a great way to replenish nutrient stores, especially in malnourished people.
Body Systems Affinities
With an understanding of burdock’s herbal actions, let’s talk about the areas in the body burdock has an affinity for.
The Integumentary System
Whether taken internally or applied externally, burdock has many amazing effects on the hair, skin, and nails. Internally, burdock helps clean the blood and move fresh nutrients to the surface of the skin allowing for the integumentary system. After working with burdock like this for a month or two, you begin to experience healthier skin.
When applied topically, burdock helps to stimulate the immune system in the basal layer of the skin. In turn, this helps clear up rashes and blemishes as well as create an overall healthier-looking glow.
The Liver
When taken internally, burdock gently stimulates the liver and performs its integumentary actions through this mode of action. It helps to stimulate the liver to produce bile secretions to help with the digestion of fats as well as to filter and clean the blood, improving its overall quality.
The Gut and Gut Flora
When working with the whole burdock root, you will receive a big helping hand in your gut. Not only does burdock gently stimulate the liver to produce bile which in turn helps break down the fats your body needs to protect itself, but the inulin feeds healthy gut bacteria and other flora to restore a balanced gut microbiome.
Notable Constituents
- caffeic acid
- chlorogenic acid
- polyphenols
- arctiin
- arctigenin
- phytosterols
- mucilage
- inulin (up to 50% in the root)
Cautions When Working with Burdock
Some people can experience rashes or skin irritation when working with this plant, but usually only when taking too much or being exposed to irritants in the diet or environment.
Burdock in Practice
Now that we’ve gone over the burdock monograph, let’s talk about how to actually work with this herb in practice.
Malnutrition
Especially when dealing with chronic malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, burdock can be a big help. First, burdock is packed full of nutrients that help replenish reserves. Second, burdock’s gentle stimulation of the liver helps it to sustainably produce and secrete bile which allows the body to more efficiently break down and assimilate food. And lastly, the inulin content in burdock root feeds the gut flora and encourages a healthy population to create the vitamins we need in the gut. To receive the nutritive effects, it’s best to work with the entire root daily for at least 30 days if not more like 90.
Chronic Illnesses
When dealing with chronic illnesses of all kinds, the body often has a difficult time cleaning out the waste and debris created by the illness. Because of burdock’s gentle alterative effects, burdock helps clear the junk out. It cleans the blood and disposes of waste into the GI tract. It also helps bring fresh blood and nutrients to all areas of the body, particularly the skin. Not to mention burdock’s nutritive effects help replenish nutrient and energy reserves taken up by the illness. Similar to the above, I recommend working with the whole root daily so long as the chronic illness symptoms persist.
Chronic & Eruptive Skin Conditions
There are two ways to work with burdock for skin issues. First, you can apply it topically to breakout areas. When you do this, the burdock stimulates the immune system in the skin as well as blood flow. This in turn nourishes the breakout area and helps reduce the breakout’s severity. Second, you can work with it internally over an extended period of time. This is best to create long-lasting healing, preventing breakouts from occurring as often.
Poor Fat Digestion & Distribution
Burdock’s alterative and hepatic actions are gentle but sustainable. When you work with burdock root daily for a substantial amount of time, it aids the liver in breaking down fats and then helps the body properly distribute those fats where they need to go. Even after you discontinue the burdock regimen, this increased liver functioning continues.
Depleted Gut Flora
As mentioned throughout this monograph, burdock root contains a substantial amount of inulin which feeds healthy gut flora. When burdock root is worked with daily, it can help build a healthy and sustainable gut flora including bacteria and fungi. Especially when paired with red fruits like raspberries, goji berries, and rose hips, burdock can replenish strains of gut bacteria that can be difficult to feed otherwise.
Preparing Burdock
Now comes the fun part! Burdock is one of my favorite herbs to prepare. Let’s get into it!
Cooking with Burdock
Cooking with burdock root is my favorite way of working with this plant. The root is full of so much goodness that isn’t always extracted in teas and tinctures. By consuming the whole plant, you’re getting the most out of it! Plus, it tastes great! I like to throw some into a roasted roots recipe with carrots, parsnips, leeks, and celeriac with thyme and rosemary. It’s very yummy!
Burdock Decoction
If you’re looking to make tea with burdock, a decoction is the way to go. A hot long infusion will extract plenty of the herb’s constituents, but a decoction with make the most of it. This is the best way to extract all of those awesome prebiotic fibers. Just simmer some burdock root for 30 minutes to two hours and drink up!
Burdock Tincture
Especially if you’re wishing to work with burdock for its effects on the liver, a tincture is the best delivery method. That’s because the alcohol from the tincture will deliver the burdock’s constituents straight to the organ. If you want burdock’s benefits on your gut flora, be sure to buy or craft a tincture that contains its inulin (you can see it as a cloudiness that settles at the bottom of the bottle).
Burdock Herbal Pairings
There are plenty of herbs that pair well with burdock. Not only do these herbal pairings go well together, but their medicinal properties complement each other well.
- Nettle
- Dandelion
- Oregon grape
- Barberry
- Red clover
- Licorice
- Other roots
Sourcing Burdock
Burdock with flourish in your compost pile, fence line, or any other seemingly useless space. Therefore, I recommend growing it yourself! Easy to grow, this herb will grow well in a garden or hay bale as well. You can buy burdock seeds here. Because this herb is also very prolific in the wild, you can also try your hand at wild harvesting (keeping in mind the Honorable Harvest).
If that’s not an option for you, I recommend finding a local herb farm to buy your burdock from. When you purchase your herbs from a local herb farm, not only are you supporting your local economy and the farmers who work so hard to provide us with medicine, but it’s also the best way to ensure high-quality herb material. You can also find fresh burdock root at most Asian markets and health food stores.
If you’re looking to buy herbs online, then I recommend checking out Mountain Rose Herbs. This company has the most consistently high-quality product I’ve seen. They also have lots of checks and balances to ensure socially and environmentally responsible business practices. On the Mountain Rose Herbs website, you can find burdock root, burdock root capsules, burdock tincture, and more.
More Herbal Monographs
Want to learn about more herbs? In my online Materia Medica, you will find all of the herbs I have written about. Here, you can click on any herb you want to learn about and you’ll get a thorough herbal monograph that’s always being updated, just like this one. Plus, you can download the free monograph for every herb! Learn more here.
Free Burdock Monograph Download
The Best Herbalism Books
In this article about herbalism books, we delve into the realm of herbalism and explore a curated list of the best herbalism books available. Discover a rich collection of profound knowledge on medicinal plants, herbal remedies, and the art of harnessing nature’s healing power. From classic references to contemporary guides, these meticulously selected books offer invaluable insights, practical tips, and in-depth instructions, making them essential companions for both novice enthusiasts and seasoned herbalists.
Summary: Burdock Monograph
Burdock isn’t just a pesky plant that gets stuck on your clothes. It is an herbal friend and medicinal ally in our journey of health. In this burdock monograph, you learn about its energetics, medicinal plant parts, herbal actions, body affinities, herbal constituents, and cautions. You also learned when to work with this herb, how to prepare it, and what other plants can help amplify its actions. Plus, you got the opportunity to download the free PDF version of this burdock monograph to take with you.
What are some ways you are looking forward to working with burdock? Do you have any favorite recipes? I’ll be adding some fresh burdock root to my dinner tonight! Put your thoughts in the comments, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!
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