Burdock

Burdock in leaf in large pot
Burdock in leaf in large pot

Common names

Burdock (Great), Bardane, Great or Thorny Burr, Beggar’s buttons, Clotbur, Cocklebur, Cockle Buttons

Latin name

Arctium lappa

Family

Compositae/Asteraceae

Parts used

Dried aerial parts or roots. Also fruits and leaves.

Botanical description, cultivation and harvesting

Large biennial with broad cordate leaves up to 40 cm long.  Purple globular flower heads.  The bracts are hooked burrs. It's location is Europe, parts of Asia and North America. 

 

History, folklore, taste and energetics

Burdock is a wonderfully nourishing and cleansing herb. It helps to comb out old patterns and debris from us, its emotional and spiritual healing mirroring what it does on a physical level as is the case for all our allies.

The burrs of this plant inspired a French scientist to develop Velcro; after finding the burrs in his dog’s fur and combing them out he realized that the tiny hooks and fur would make an ideal closure system for astronaut’s suits and now it has fond many other applications.

The root is sweet and mucilaginous with some bitterness. The herb is very bitter.

Constituents

Roots Bitter principle, Inulin (up to 50%), Lignans, including arctigenin (a weak tumour growth inhibitor), Polyacetylenes (antibiotic0, Arctic acid, Sesquiterpenes, Amino acids, Acids (isovaleric, lauric, mystiric, caffeic, chlorogenic), Dietary fibre

Seeds

15-30% fixed oils, Bitter glycoside (arctiin), Chlorogenic acid

Leaves

Arctiol, Fukinone, Taraxasterol

Actions

  • Diuretic
  • Orexigenic (stimulates appetite)
  • Alterative
  • Diaphoretic
  • Anti-rheumatic,
  • Antiseptic,
  • Depurative (blood purifier)
Close up of the strong Burdock leaf
Close up of the strong Burdock leaf

Traditional and current uses

Root;

  • Skin eruptions –acne, boils and abscesses, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis
  • Rheumatism, arthritis, gout
  • Cystitis
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Reduces the effects of mutagens, being investigated as a possible treatment of certain tumours
  • Digestive tonic
  • Lowers blood sugar – may be helpful in diabetes

 

Seeds;

  • Flu, measles, tonsillitis, colds, fever
  • Kidney stones

 

Leaves;

  • As a treatment for falling hair, use as a rinse
  • Poultices for bruises and skin eruptions

Recipes

Used as a vegetable in Asia – steamed or stir fried.

The seed burs contain seeds with small hooks which attach to animal fur and so on as a way of dispersing the seed.  These gave the original inspiration for Velcro.

 

Dandelion and burdock flapjacks

150 g porridge oats

100 g butter or olive oil

3 tablespoons agave syrup or honey

50 g raisins optional

50 g hazelnuts chopped optional

3 tablespoons mixed seeds optional

Dessert spoon ground dandelion root

Dessert spoon ground burdock root

 

Heat oven to 180 oC.  Melt butter and agave together. Mix in dry ingredients and press into a baking tray.  Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool and cut into squares.

Files for download

 

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