Burdock, Arctium lappa- liver and blood purifier

Autumn is here!  Let the foraging and harvesting begin.

The subtleties of light

Arctium lappa, or Burdock, is one of the most supportive herbs for liver and blood health.  Seen along the road or popping up in gardens and forest edges, the broad leaves and prickly burrs make it easily identifiable.  That being said, it has been confused by some with Deadly Nightshade, which seems pretty difficult to do.  Make sure you compare the two carefully for identification.

Burdock's heart shaped leaves with some ruffling on the edges

Young burdock leaves

November is a great month for harvesting the root which can grow upward of two feet long and prefers a loamy soil.  You can also purchase it at Whole Foods or Asian supermarkets under the name "Gobo".  If foraging it from your garden or in the wild, look for first year plants which will be easier to uproot and concentrate their energy into growing their taproot (aka most potent).  The roots from the wild versions tend to be more wily and less straight than its cultivated counterparts so be prepared if you uproot a homunculus looking thing!

Wild roots

cultivated

cultivated Burdock, Gobo

The roots are the most common part used but the leaves and seeds are used as well.  Medicinal uses for burdock include:

-Alterative
-Diuretic
-Diaphoretic
-Poultice

For any type of skin complaints- eczema, psoriasis, acne- drinking one cup daily of a strong infusion of the root will show results in as little as two weeks.  Tinctures and topical solutions can be used as well.  Burdock's taste lends well to combining it with coffee or chicory as it brews up a darker color and earthy taste.  I prefer cutting or shaving the root into small pieces, drying/toasting in the oven and storing in an airtight jar for using combined with my coffee, for soups or as a tea.  A delicious recipe for cooking it with carrots, rice and tamari sauce can be found here as well.  The dried leaves can also be used as a tea/infusion for stomach and indigestion complaints.  A poultice from the leaves can be used for burns, skin eruptions, psoriasis or eczema.  It can be added to a warm bath as well to sooth and nourish the skin.

Many Lyme support formulas contain this root for it's ability to support and purify the liver and blood.  Constituents of the herb are inulin, mucilage, sugar,  Lappin- a bitter, crystalline glucoside, resin, fixed and volatile oils and tannic acid.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long used burdock for these complaints as well as for some anti-inflammatory diseases, cancer, AIDS and diabetes.

Supposedly, Burdock was the inspiration for the inventor of Velcro.  After observing the sticky burrs under a microscope, he noticed the curved hooks that would so easily stick to his dogs fur.  He was able to develop a synthetic version that became Velcro.

Still green deep into the month of November.  

Scenes from autumn's burdock foraging

Enjoy the last of the warm weather and gathering of herbs for the season.  Before you know it, all will be covered in snow and we will be deep into the winter.  The waning light of November beckons to be basked in..