Burdock

Native to Europe and Northern Asia, burdock is cultivated as a vegetable. In the United States however, the plant is considered a weed. The plant is stout with burrs that adhere to clothing or fur of animals.

Plant Characteristics

Its maximum height is 4 feet and it has purple flowers that are showcased between June and October. Its leaves, green on top and white underneath, are heart-shaped & wavy.

The roots are prized for medicine. They are brownish-green to nearly black on the exterior.

Also known as cocklebur because of prickly seeds, the herb on its first year have leaves, large and resembling an elephant ears. On its second year, it shows a stem and round flowers in summer. Then, it ripens into prickly balls.

It is not a wonder that many people consider the plant a weed. It is prolific and may thrive in the wild. As mentioned earlier, the ripe seeds stick to clothing and are not easy to remove. It may take knowledge about herbal medicine to appreciate its medicinal purpose.

Culinary and Medicinal Uses

The roots of the plant are edible. They are known as blood purifier, clearing the bloodstream of toxins. In homeopathy and herbology books, root extracts are included as ingredients in herbal preparations.

The roots are crisp, sweet, mild & pungent in flavor. Its leaves are used to heal skin disorders such as acne, eczema, psoriasis; and feet gout. The herb is also used as diuretic.

In Chinese medicine, it is combined with other herbs to cure sore throat and colds. Bur oil, an oil extract of the herb is very famous in Europe to cure scalp ailments like dandruff and improve hair growth. The oil is said to contain fatty acids and phytosterols.

It also contains inulin, a type of natural fiber that can help treat indigestion. It can enhance health due to its probiotic properties.

In Japan and certain parts in Europe, it is a vegetable delicacy. The leaves are eaten during spring when they are soft and young. Before the flowers emerge, the flower stalks are also harvested for culinary uses.

Its leaves taste like do artichokes. Burdock contains carbohydrates, plant sterols, volatile oils, fatty oils, and tannins. As a whole, the herb has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial effects according to researchers.

Due to its healing properties, many have commercialized burdock. Today, the herb can be bought in dried or fresh roots, burdock supplements in the form of dried root powder, decoctions, fluid extracts, and tinctures.

Top of Burdock

Listed under Growing Herbs