Burdock is one of the many medicinal plants that, unless you know what you’re looking for, is usually just mistaken for a weed growing in the wild.

But burdock root happens to be one of the few medicinal wild plants that are perfect to harvest at this time of year. Before leaves and flowers begin to grow again.

With large floppy leave and thick stems Burdock is hard to miss, especially in Autumn when its fuzzy burrs turn purple. These burrs can stick to your clothes, and and it was fair if you get too close — This is how the plant spreads its seeds.

It’s latin name Arctium comes from the Latin 'Arctos', meaning 'Bear'. This is apparently due to the hairy appearance of the well known burrs. Two of the common names of the plant 'Personata' and 'Prosopium' come from the Greek and Latin names for 'masked', because historically the large leaves were used as masks by Greek actors.

Burdock does a great job at spreading itself out, growing a nourishing plant community that not only acts as food and medicine for humans and non-human kinfolk, but also deeply restores the health of the soil all around them, healing the Earth as well.

Burdock History & Folklore

Burdock root, known for its numerous health benefits, has been used in various cultures for centuries. Specifically in Eastern and Western traditional medicine where it’s used to support the health of the throat, lungs, and skin.

In Japan, burdock root is a common ingredient in culinary dishes for its purifying properties. In Western herbalism, burdock root has been traditionally used as a blood purifier and for its detoxifying properties, but it has many more benefits than that.

The young leaves eaten as spring salads in Italy, Scandinavia and parts of France. Burdock root is cooked and eaten as a root vegetable in Japan, Hawaii and New Zealand.

There is very little folklore surrounding burdock. In folklore their are stories of Cornish ‘piskies’ or ‘pixies’ (fairies or ‘small people’) said to amuse themselves at night by riding colts furiously around the fields and plaiting their manes, or tangling them with ‘Billy buttons’ [the burrs] of burdock.

Culpepper Complete Herbal, written in 1653, says the following about Burdock:

It is so well known, even by the little boys, who pull off the burs to throw and stick upon each other, that I shall spare to write any description of it……The Burdock leaves are cooling and moderately drying. The leaves applied to the places troubled with the shrinking of the sinews or arteries, gives much ease. The juice of the leaves, or rather the roots themselves, given to drink with old wine, doth wonderfully help the biting of any serpents.

Further, Culpepper, an avid astrologer in addition to being an herbalist, considered burdock to be a feminine plant, ruled by the planet Venus and took this into consideration when preparing his burdock elixirs. Traditionally the root was thought to carry magical power, particularly powers of protection and healing. It was believed that wearing a necklace that is made from the root, gathered during the waning moon, would protect the wearer from evil and negativity. In the Native American healing tradition, the plant was used by the Malecite, Micmac, Ojibwa, and Menominee for skin health. Further, the roots were dried by the Iroquois over a fire and stored for food for the following year.

Because the plant is associated with Venus, the plant also has associations with love. Charms used to be cast with the burrs, to determine whether or not a lover was true. The burr would be thrown at the skirt, and if it stuck then the lover was true, but if it fell off then they weren't. Its possible that the burrs could be used in love charms.

Burdock Energetics

Burdock is associated with the element of Earth. In traditional herbal medicine, burdock root energetics are considered to be grounding and stabilising, making it useful for balancing excesses of energy in the body.

This grounding quality is also reflected in burdock's deep taproot, which anchors the plant firmly into the earth. Because of it’s connection with the earth, and it’s deep roots it has often been associated with the underworld, and dealing with our own inner underworld and shadows. It can be used to encourage a deeper understanding of the Underworld side of our personality, and a greater ability to accept that duality and be at peace with it.

As a blood cleanser Burdocks energy is cleansing, and the general ‘prickliness’ of Burdock burrs and their ability to uncomfortably attach to passersby give this plant an inherent sense of protection. Making burdock a plant to remove negative energy & to promote spiritual health, provide clarity, courage, protection and purification.

The Many Health Benefits of Burdock root

Burdock is an all-purpose herbal that has been used continually for myriad purposes, its root is rich in beneficial compounds, including inulin, mucilage, and various antioxidants. These constituents contribute to its potential health benefits.

The roots can be eaten fresh or cooked and the young leaves can be cooked like any other vegetable. The stalks have a taste somewhat like asparagus and can be eaten raw in a salad, boiled, or candied with sugar. Although in modern herbalism and natural health practices, burdock root is more often consumed as a tea, tincture.

Some of the health benefits of burdock root include:

Detoxification:

Burdock root is often used to support the body's natural detoxification processes. Burdock is primarily known as a blood cleanser and alterative. It can be used to treat acne and related skin conditions as well as problems such as psoriasis and eczema. Being ruled by Venus, it has a strong affinity with the blood and lymph, and stimulates the movement of lymph around the body, causing a cleansing effect that can sometimes worsen the problem before it improves.

Opinion on dosage seems to be divided, with some being of the opinion that it is best taken in small doses over a long period, and others considering that using it over a smaller space of time is a better method of prescription. I think it probably depends pretty heavily on what you are trying to achieve.

The herb works by encouraging the cells to release any stored waste materials. Apparently burdock combines well with red clover or dock as well as with the traditional dandelion, part of the original well known drink. Burdock has a well known and longstanding reputation as an extremely reliable blood tonic. It is said to help eliminate toxins through the skin, kidneys, and lymphatic system.

Skin Health:

Along with it’s detoxification properties burdock root is also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. These properties combined make it a wonderful herb for treating & helping manage conditions such as acne and eczema from the inside out. One of burdocks traditional uses has been used to promote clear, healthy skin.

And more recently it has also been an ingredient in hair tonics and cosmetics for mature skin.

Burdock root is also full of antioxidants which not only help to protect the body from oxidative stress and free radical damage internally, but protect the skin too.

Digestive Support:

Burdock contains inulin, a natural dietary fiber, and is also used to improve digestion. As a root vegetable, it possesses considerably stronger antioxidant activity than common vegetables and fruits. In fact, recent studies confirm that burdock has prebiotic properties that could improve health.

The high inulin content of burdock root supports digestive health by acting as a prebiotic, nourishing beneficial gut bacteria. The high fibre content also means it can be used to help prevent instances of constipation, bloating and cramping of the stomach, upon ingestion of a heavy meal. Moreover, its laxative nature will help to regulate bowel movements.

Immune Support:

The antioxidants along with Burdocks other active compounds may support the immune system, helping the body defend against infections and illnesses.

For centuries, traditional healers have recommended the use of burdock root to fight the common cold, sore throats, and other ailments.

Deeply Nutritive

Burdock is a nutritive tonic and deep healer as well as being antibiotic and with some adaptogenic effects. Apparently the Wisewoman tradition uses it in an anti cancer treatment, and to treat the side effects of chemotherapy. Burdock makes a wonderful long term immune strengthener, useful in the treatment of CFS and immune diseases, and can be used over long periods of time.

In addition to the above, Burdock can be used to treat arthritis and rheumatism (probably through improving clearance of toxins from the system) as well as to treat syphilis. The bitter taste of the root acts as a CNS (central nervous system) stimulant (possibly through action on the vagus nerve). It is also a hepatic stimulant and choleretic, so probably best used with a little care if you are on any medication as it will improve the body's ability to process the drugs.

While the arial plant parts are best used for dry conditions where lack of oil and moisture is causing reduced functionality of the body. The root is for chronic, long lasting conditions, and the seed acute conditions.

Constitutionally, the plant is well suited to stoic people, as well as those who are debilitated, worried or tired. This isn't greatly surprising given its use in the treatment of CFS and autoimmune diseases. Burdock is a useful prostate and uterine herb as it regulates the menstrual cycle by acting as a uterine stimulant. It has also been used to treat uterine prolapse and as a tonic to strengthen the uterus before and after labour.

xo Emily