Burdock

	alternative medicine	Norman Allan www.normanallan.com	consultations 416 928 9272	email
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Burdock root tea, infusion, using the fresh root, for detox

Burdock	named for the burrs, and the similarity to dock, as in yellow dock,which is so common in England, Rumex, another powerful hepatic (liver tonic) Arctium minor (Common Burdock) and A. lappa (Greater Burdock) (a.k.a. A.majus)
	Burdock makes an amazing tea! The fresh root tea tastes like an elixir of life! (The dried root can taste like old carpet!) It is a an hepatic (a liver tonic and cholagogue - stimulates the release of bile), a lymphatic, an anti-cancer agent (the primary ingrediant in Essiac, for example)
	a wonderful method for brewing Burdock an even better, simpler way: slice thinly Cut off about a 2 inch segment of the root. Slice it in half (or possibly quarters). Cover with water (2 to 6 cups, half a pint, half a liter - approximately). Bring to a boil, then let it steep. As it cools off the tea will turn blue. You can add more water and brew a second, a third batch, till it loses that color... but nowadays I just grate it and add hot water (no, I slice)	caveats *warnings* *conditions* if you are drinking burdock particularly if you ail you should see a doctor or herbalist. anyone could be allergic to anything and as Dr. Duckworth says anything can cause anything
The simpler way to make the tea is to grate it into a cup and add boiling water - however, when grated it oxidizes (turns brown) really quickly, and you don't get that amazing blue elixar, but its really simple to brew thus... (slice slice slice)
	you can find Burdock root amongst the produce in some health food stores, in some Korean (and Japanese) store where it is known as Gobo Or you can harvest the root of this common plant, which takes much digging. Burdock is a biennial. The first year it grows a large, but low to the ground, set or rosette of leaves. In the second year it grows tail, goes to flower and seed. You need to, either, harvest the first year plant in the autumn or the second year plant in the spring, when the root is "ripest". (Through the second year, while flowering and going to seed, it becomes depleted.)	Judith writes that there are other dangers... click here! To detox we stimulate the organs of excretion, the liver, the kidneys, the lymphatics. Burdock is a hepatic and a lymphatic, so it is also, reputedly, good to the skin. (It also, reputedly, stimulates the appetite.)

This picture is probably late summer towards towards autumn. In the bottom right-hand corner there is a first year plant, and behind to the left several sprouted to flower towards seed. I think Burdock makes wonderful tea, like an elixir of life, a detoxing agent which can quite a profound therapy: so you should be supervised, particularly if you are ailing. (I had a patient whose tongue turned brown with the detox!}



Burdock is to push the liver, not to heal it! Note: Burdock stimulates the liver, pushes its functions (as in detox, as in bile). It does not protect or repair the liver! So it is not for liver disease (indeed probably counterindicated). For that use milk thistle.	How to take herbs .	as usual wikipedia has a wicked article on Burdock

Janice writes that there are dangers... "Caution; burdock root interferes with iron absorption when taken internally. Because of its diuretic actions, burdock should not be taken during pregnancy or lactation. Burdock has been shown to interact with hypoglycaemic drugs, anti-inflammatory medications and lithium therapy, when taken internally."	However, in Korea and Japan Burdock/Gobo is a root vegetable eaten without precaution.	I read that it was when dogs' fur and plants like the burdock were studied more closely that Velcro was invented. my sources purple sage's page is wonderful. a great herbal resource. my other two sources have gone belly up

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