Burdock

Burdock
Occuring widely in temperate Eurasia, this genus consists of about ten species of upright biennials. Arctium lappa (burdock) is an imposing plant for the wild garden. Arctium is from the Greek arktos, "a bear", after the rough-coated fruits. The common name "burdock" refers to the fruits (burs), and the large, dock-like leaves. The specific epithet lappa, from the Latin lappare, "to seize", describes how the burs cling to the passing animals. Arctium lappa has a number of variants, some of which are classed as different species. The various kinds are used similarly in traditional European medicine. Burdock is cultivated as a vegetable in Japan, where it is known as gobo.

Burdock has antimicrobial action, earning it a reputation as an effective treatment for skin eruptions, cystitis, sore throats, colds, and flu. A lotion made from the leaves or root of burdock is purported to be good for thining hair.

Burdock is enjoying a resurgeance in popularity, both as a vegetable and as a traditional medicinal plant. It is regarded as a weed in the Northern Hemisphere, where it grows well on rough ground in a sunny position.

By its leaf or see you may draw the womb which way you please, either upward by applying it to the crown of the head in case it falls out; or downwards in the fits of the mother, by applying it to the soles of the feet: or if you would stay it in its place, apply it to the navel, and that is one good way to say the child in it. (Culpeper)

A biennial, it grows to more than three feet (91cm). It is well known to little boys who pull off the clinging seed vessels to throw at one another. It is also called Personata, Happy Major, and Clot Bur.

Burdock is a strong-growing biennial. The fairly bitter but tender young foliage of spring regrowth is used as a green vegetable. The leaves are large and oval, and the numerous purple thistlelike flowers are quite remarkable in their perfect symmetry. Burdock can grow as high as 8ft (2.4m).

Robust biennial with stout tap roots, and long-stalked, ovate leaves, to 50cm (20in) long. Purple, thistle-like flowers, to 4cm (1½in) across, are followed by fruits covered in hooked spines, containing beige seeds.

Common Name:	Burdock
Other Names:	Great Burdock, Bardana, Beggar's Buttons, Burr Seed, Cockle Buttons, Cocklebur, Hardock, Lappa, Personata, Happy Major, Clot Bur.
Botanical Name:	Arctium lappa
Genus:	Arctium
Family:	Asteraceae
Native Location:	Europe, W Asia. It grows by ditches and watersides and by the highways almost everywhere.
Cultivation:	Moist, neutral to alkaline soil in sun or light shade.
Position:	Burdock requires a moist humus-rich soil and full sun, although it will tolerate some light shade. It is also fully cold-hardy, and dies down in winter.
Propagation:	By seed sown in spring. Burdock self-seeds freely. Propagate from seed in spring or late autumn. Although the seed usually germinates easily, soak the seed overnight in warm water before sowing, then lightly cover it with soil and firm down. Thin seedlings to about 6in (15cm) apart. To produce high-quality, long straight roots, dig the soil to a depth of 2ft (60cm) and incorporate well-rotted compost before sowing.
Flowering Time:	Early to midsummer.
Maintenance:	Keep the soil moist and weed the crop regularly, particularly when the plants are young. Remove the flowers and burrs to promote root growth.
Pests and Diseases:	Burdock is rarely seriously affected by pests and diseases.
Harvest:	Young leaf stalks are cut in spring for use as a vegetable. Roots are lifted in autumn and used fresh as a vegetable or dried for use in decoctions, liquid extracts, tablets, and tinctures. Ripe seeds are collected for use in decoctio For cooking, collect young shoots and leaves in spring. Lift the roots in autumn, about 100 days after planting, when they are at least 1ft (30cm) long. For medicinal purposes, dry the grayish brown roots, which are white on the inside.ns.l
Height:	1.5m (5ft)
Width:	1m (3ft)
Variations:	Takinogawa Long Is the most popular cultivar in Japan, with non-fibrous roots. 75-90cm (30-36in) long.
Hardiness:	Z2-10
Astrology:	Venus challengeth this herb for her own.
Parts Used:	Stems, leaf, roots, seeds (niu bang zi).
Properties:	An alterative herb, with bitter foliage and sweet, mucilaginous roots, that reduces inflammation and controls bacterial infection. Seed extracts have been shown to lower blood sugar levels.
Vitamin Content:	Vitamin A, Thiamin
Medicinal Virtues:	The leaves are cooling and moderately drying and can be applied to old ulcers and sores, and also to places troubled with the shrinking of the sinews or arteries. The root beaten with a little salt and laid on the place bitten by a snake will suddenly easeth the pain. The juice of the leaves drunk with honey promotes the flow of urine and eases pain of the bladder. The seed macerated in wine for 40 days provides a wonderfully helpful medicine for sciatica.
Modern Uses:	Burdock is one of the finest blood purifiers in the herbal system of medicine. It is classified as an alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic. These properties make it of value in the treatment of boils, acne and eczema. It helps the kidneys to filter out impurites from the blood very quickly. The root is mainly used and administered as a decoction in doses of 2 fl oz (56ml) three or four times a day. The seeds, used alone as a decoction, have similar properties, but are particularly tonic to the kidneys.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for skin diseases and inflammatory conditions due to chronic toxicity (notably eczema, psoriasis, rheumatism, gout, boils, and sores). Often combined with Rumex crispus (see sorrel) or Trifolium pratense (see clover). In traditional Chinese medicine the seeds are used for similar purposes and to treat colds, pneumonia, and athroat infections. To treat various gastrointestinal problems, psoriasis, seborrhea of the scalp, and ichthyosis (dry, scaly skin); as a diuretic; and to help purify the b In Western herbal medicine, burdock root is used as an alterative or blood purifier. These terms describe its gentle detoxifying effect on the body and the stimulation of the body's eliminatory channels, namely the lymphatic, digestive, and urinary systems. It is commonly prescribed for chronic inflammatory skin and joint conditions, which traditional herbalists regard as the result of a buildup of unwanted toxins in the body. When used over a long period of time, burdock root can be particularly effective in clearing dry, scaly skin complaints, such as eczema and psoriasis, and improving rheumatic joint conditions.lood.hnoi
Typical Dose:	A typical dose of burdock is approximately 2.5 gm (1tsp) of the drug steeped in 150ml of boiling water, then strained and taken as a tea.
Possible Side Effects:	No side effects are known when burdock is taken in designated therapeutic dosages.
Drug Interactions:	Taking burdock with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose) Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide) Chlorpropamide, (Diabines, Novo-Propamide) Gliclazide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide) Glimepiride, (Amaryl) Glipizide, (Glucotrol) Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip) Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm) Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase) Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance) Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R) Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet) Miglitol, (Glyset) Nateglinide, (Starlix) Pioglitazone, (Actos) Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin) Rosiglitazone, (Avandia) Rosiglitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet) Tolazamide, (Tolinase) Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab)
Disease Effects:	May trigger hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people with diabetes.
Warning:	For the safe and appropriate use of burdock, consult your healthcare professional. Do not use burdock if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Culinary Uses:	Stalks of young leaves are scraped and cooked like celery. Roots are eaten raw in salads, cooked like carrots, or added to stir-fries. An ingredient of kinpira (burdock root and carrot), pickles, and tekka (miso-based condiment) in Japan, and of namul, a Korean veg Burdock is not an important edible plant, although the cultivated Japanese form, gobo, is used as a vegetable and also in various pickles and a miso-based condiment. It is also eaten as a vegetable in Korea. Scrape the young leaf stalks and cook them as you would celery. Use the roots raw as a salad vegetable, or cooked in stir-fries like carrots.etable dish.fc
Bibliography:	Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pg 127 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD Pp.103-104 The Reader's Digest Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs by Readers Digest Copyright©2009 Reader's Digest Association. Inc. pg. 27 Culpeper's Color Herbal Copyright©1983 W. Foulsham & Co. Ltd. Pg 34