Herbs of the Field - Burdock

A common weed, one easily recognized by its sticky burrs. Many find Burdock to be just a troublesome weed but it provided many health benefits.

The Burdock’s long taproot, which like the Dandelion, is the bounty of the plant. Burdock is known for its blood-cleansing benefits, it also helps with detoxification, as well as helping to balance fluids within the body. Many cultures have used Burdock just as a food but we today can see it has many other uses. Burdock has been recognized for its ability to help the body with breaking down toxins and metabolic waste, thus making the body’s job easier to eliminate items no longer needed. Burdock has helped with conditions such as hypertension, gout, digestive ulcers, reproductive problems and some cancers. Burdock added to the diet helps the digestive system which in turn, helps the body with conditions such as dry and irritated skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, and gout. It is easy to add to your diet, just substitute Burdock roots for carrots in your favorite recipes.

Overall, Burdock is known for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fungal, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antipyretic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and hypoglycemic.

Identification:  Burdock stands between 3 to 5 feet tall and prefers steam edges, roadsides and fields to grow. The purple flowers grow on top of a prickly ball or burr, and blooms between June to October. The leaves are heart shaped, green on top and whitish on the bottom, with a wavy margin. The leaves can grow up to 19 inches long! The edible parts of Burdock are the roots, stems, leaves and immature flower stalks.

Harvesting: first year harvest the roots in the fall, the plant is dug up and is deep. You will not retrieve all of it, so the second year of harvest in the harvest cut up root. Leaves should be eaten in the spring when they are young. Young first year roots and leaves are great to eat raw.

Usage: teas, decoctions, food/drink, tinctures, syrups

Cautions: for the most part, Burdock is considered a safe, non-toxic herb, however, if pregnant it is recommended to limit use except under direction of  Midwife, herbalist, or birthing team. Also, Burdock is sometimes mistaken for Rhubarb. Rhubarb’s leaves are triangular too, but curlier, the leaf stem is glossy, and completely hairless/smooth. These are not edible!!