"Natural Healing with Herbs for a Healthier You"
BURDOCK
by Marilyn Light
by Marilyn Light
[History] [Location] [Chemical Constituent] [Medicinal Qualities] [Contra-Indications] [Known Herbal Formulas] [Dosages & Applications] [Personal Experiences] [Bibliography]
THE BENEFITS OF THE USE OF BURDOCK
IN HERBAL PREPARATIONS
KNOWN HERBAL FORMULAS OF BURDOCK
IN HERBAL PREPARATIONS
KNOWN HERBAL FORMULAS OF BURDOCK
6 of several formulas listed in Dr. Christopher’s book “The School of Natural Healing” are:
Decoction of Burdock Root
4 ounces Burdock Root, cut or powdered
3 pints Distilled or d-cell water
8 ounces glycerine (for longer preservation)
Preparation: simmer the herb in the water for 30 minutes; strain, sweeten w/ honey, allow to cool, bottle and keep in a cool place. For longer preservation simmer the herb in the water for 30 minutes, strain, return the liquid to the cleansed vessel, and reduce by simmering to 1 pint; strain, allow to cool, add the glycerine and shake well together; keep in a cool place; do not sweeten until using.
Dosage 2 fluid ounces 3-4 times daily. 1-2 Tbsp for the stronger decoction with glycerine, (diluted in some water); stronger doses may be used in severe and difficult cases, when the stomach is not nauseated thereby.
Blood Purifier
4 Tbsp Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
4 Tbsp Yellow dock (Rumex crispus)
1 Tbsp Blood root (Sanguinaria canadensis)
1 pint Glycerine
Preparation: Place the herbs in 1 ˝ qts of boiling water and reduce by slow simmer down to 1 qt; strain, sweeten with honey and the glycerine, mix well; when cool, bottle and keep in a cool place.
Itch Ointment
1 pound Burdock root, freshly grated (Arctium lappa)
8 ounces Olive Oil
1 ounce Beeswax
Preparation: Simmer ingredients slowly for 2 hours; strain through a coarse cloth or fine wire sieve; stir until solidified; place into jars.
Administration: Apply to affected parts night and morning; at same time drink the decoction of the root internally.
Skin affections, eczema, etc. (decoction)
1 ounce Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
1 ounce Centaury herb (Erythraea centaurium)
˝ ounce Fumitory leaves (Fumaria officinalis)
˝ ounce Yellow dock root (Rumex crispus)
1 tsp Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens; C. Minimum)
Preparation: Simmer the first 4 herbs for 15 minutes. In 3 pints of water; strain hot over the cayenne; cover until cool; sweeten with honey, bottle and keep in a cool place.
Dosage: 2 fluid ounces 4 times daily.
Boils (poultice)
1 part Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
1 part Sarsparilla (smilax officianalis; S. Ornata)
1 part Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
1 part Black Alder (Prinos Verticillatus)
Preparation: Mix with hot water to poultice consistency. Administration: Apply over area hot until relieved.
Spring tonic
1 part Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
1 part Yellow dock (achillea millefolium)
1 part Sarsparilla (Smilax officinalis; S. Ornata)
1 part Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
1 part Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
1 part Senna (Cassia angustifolia)
1 part Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
1 part Juniper berries (Juniperus monosperma)
1 part Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
Preparation: Infuse the herbs in 1 qt of oiling-hot, distilled water and steep well-covered for ˝ hour; strain, sweeten to taste with honey, bottle and keep in a cool place.
Dosage: 6-8 fluid ounces 3- 4 times daily.
The anti-scorbutic properties of the root make the decoction very useful for boils, scurvy and rheumatic affections, and by many it is considered superior to Sarsaparilla, on account of its mucilaginous, demulcent nature; it has in addition been recommended for external use as a wash for ulcers and scaly skin disorders.
The root is principally employed, but the leaves and seeds are equally valuable. Both root and seeds may be taken as a decoction of 1 oz. to 1˝ pint of water, boiled down to a pint, in doses of a wine glassful, three or four times a day
An infusion of the leaves is useful to impart strength and tone to the stomach, for some forms of long-standing indigestion.
From the seeds, both a medicinal tincture and a fluid extract are prepared, of benefit in chronic skin diseases. Americans use the seeds only, considering them more efficacious and prompt in their action than the other parts of the plant. They are relaxant and demulcent, with a limited amount of tonic property. Their influence upon the skin is due largely to their being of such an oily nature: they affect both the sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and probably owing to their oily nature restore that smoothness to the skin which is a sign of normal healthy action.
When applied externally as a poultice, the leaves are highly resolvent for tumors and gouty swellings, and relieve bruises and inflamed surfaces generally. The bruised leaves have been applied by the peasantry in many countries as cataplasms to the feet and as a remedy for hysterical disorders.
The infusion or decoction of the seeds is employed in dropsical complaints, more especially in cases where there is co-existing derangement of the nervous system, and is considered by many to be a specific for all affections of the kidneys, for which it may with advantage be taken several times a day, before meals.
Decoction of Burdock Root
4 ounces Burdock Root, cut or powdered
3 pints Distilled or d-cell water
8 ounces glycerine (for longer preservation)
Preparation: simmer the herb in the water for 30 minutes; strain, sweeten w/ honey, allow to cool, bottle and keep in a cool place. For longer preservation simmer the herb in the water for 30 minutes, strain, return the liquid to the cleansed vessel, and reduce by simmering to 1 pint; strain, allow to cool, add the glycerine and shake well together; keep in a cool place; do not sweeten until using.
Dosage 2 fluid ounces 3-4 times daily. 1-2 Tbsp for the stronger decoction with glycerine, (diluted in some water); stronger doses may be used in severe and difficult cases, when the stomach is not nauseated thereby.
Blood Purifier
4 Tbsp Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
4 Tbsp Yellow dock (Rumex crispus)
1 Tbsp Blood root (Sanguinaria canadensis)
1 pint Glycerine
Preparation: Place the herbs in 1 ˝ qts of boiling water and reduce by slow simmer down to 1 qt; strain, sweeten with honey and the glycerine, mix well; when cool, bottle and keep in a cool place.
Itch Ointment
1 pound Burdock root, freshly grated (Arctium lappa)
8 ounces Olive Oil
1 ounce Beeswax
Preparation: Simmer ingredients slowly for 2 hours; strain through a coarse cloth or fine wire sieve; stir until solidified; place into jars.
Administration: Apply to affected parts night and morning; at same time drink the decoction of the root internally.
Skin affections, eczema, etc. (decoction)
1 ounce Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
1 ounce Centaury herb (Erythraea centaurium)
˝ ounce Fumitory leaves (Fumaria officinalis)
˝ ounce Yellow dock root (Rumex crispus)
1 tsp Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens; C. Minimum)
Preparation: Simmer the first 4 herbs for 15 minutes. In 3 pints of water; strain hot over the cayenne; cover until cool; sweeten with honey, bottle and keep in a cool place.
Dosage: 2 fluid ounces 4 times daily.
Boils (poultice)
1 part Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
1 part Sarsparilla (smilax officianalis; S. Ornata)
1 part Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
1 part Black Alder (Prinos Verticillatus)
Preparation: Mix with hot water to poultice consistency. Administration: Apply over area hot until relieved.
Spring tonic
1 part Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
1 part Yellow dock (achillea millefolium)
1 part Sarsparilla (Smilax officinalis; S. Ornata)
1 part Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
1 part Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
1 part Senna (Cassia angustifolia)
1 part Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
1 part Juniper berries (Juniperus monosperma)
1 part Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
Preparation: Infuse the herbs in 1 qt of oiling-hot, distilled water and steep well-covered for ˝ hour; strain, sweeten to taste with honey, bottle and keep in a cool place.
Dosage: 6-8 fluid ounces 3- 4 times daily.
The anti-scorbutic properties of the root make the decoction very useful for boils, scurvy and rheumatic affections, and by many it is considered superior to Sarsaparilla, on account of its mucilaginous, demulcent nature; it has in addition been recommended for external use as a wash for ulcers and scaly skin disorders.
The root is principally employed, but the leaves and seeds are equally valuable. Both root and seeds may be taken as a decoction of 1 oz. to 1˝ pint of water, boiled down to a pint, in doses of a wine glassful, three or four times a day
An infusion of the leaves is useful to impart strength and tone to the stomach, for some forms of long-standing indigestion.
From the seeds, both a medicinal tincture and a fluid extract are prepared, of benefit in chronic skin diseases. Americans use the seeds only, considering them more efficacious and prompt in their action than the other parts of the plant. They are relaxant and demulcent, with a limited amount of tonic property. Their influence upon the skin is due largely to their being of such an oily nature: they affect both the sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and probably owing to their oily nature restore that smoothness to the skin which is a sign of normal healthy action.
When applied externally as a poultice, the leaves are highly resolvent for tumors and gouty swellings, and relieve bruises and inflamed surfaces generally. The bruised leaves have been applied by the peasantry in many countries as cataplasms to the feet and as a remedy for hysterical disorders.
The infusion or decoction of the seeds is employed in dropsical complaints, more especially in cases where there is co-existing derangement of the nervous system, and is considered by many to be a specific for all affections of the kidneys, for which it may with advantage be taken several times a day, before meals.