It’s been feeling like spring in Moab for a while now (somewhat alarmingly), so this month’s #bulkherbofthemonth only seems appropriate for taking some self care and doing a little spring cleaning of your body. Enter burdock (Arctium lappa), a member of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family native to Europe and Asia but now naturalized throughout North America.
Botanical Description
This tall biennial grows large leaves, a long taproot, and clusters of globular thistle-like flowers, covered with stiff hooked bracts and purple florets. The invention of Velcro was actually inspired by burdock burs, when Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral noticed them stuck to his socks and dog’s fur after a walk in the mountains and then replicated their barbed shape in the laboratory, patenting Velcro in 1955.
This herb’s generic name arctium is derived from the Greek word for bear, “arktos,” referring to the rough, hairy fruits, and the specific name lappa comes from the Latin word “lappare,” which means “to seize.” The rough, hairy bear-like burs will grab on to anything that brushes up against them, spreading their seed. Though burdock is generally regarded as a weed in the United States, it’s cultivated for its edible roots in Asia, which have been traditionally used for their detoxifying properties.
Historical & Traditional Use
Burdock’s potent purifying and eliminative properties help remove metabolic waste through the urinary and digestive systems. It is a mild diuretic, lymphatic, and diaphoretic, increasing urine and sweat production and lymphatic flow. This makes it useful as a blood purifier, drawing out toxins into the circulation and reducing inflammation, in turn supporting the immune system as well.
Burdock is traditionally known as one of the most effective liver-supporting powerhouses. Its action on the body’s waste processing organ can have ripple effects, supporting skin health, energy levels, and hormonal balance, as the liver plays a central role in regulating hormones. It helps reduce the skin’s need to act as a secondary detoxifier, and its antioxidants like quercetin and phenolic acids combat oxidative stress, damage to skin cells, and inflammation. These properties make it popular for treating chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, and even easing joint discomfort.
Burdock is a great herb for overall digestive health as well. A gentle bitter digestive, it stimulates appetite, supports digestion function, and promotes bile flow, which can improve the breakdown of dietary fats. The root is rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial bacteria in the colon and alleviates constipation.
How to Use Burdock
Due to its slightly acrid, bitter taste, burdock is often combined with other herbs in herbal tea blends, such as dandelion, red clover, and nettle. It can be used to make a cold infusion, decoction, tea, or tincture. To make a tea, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of dried burdock root. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, strain, stir in raw honey for a touch of sweetness or add a splash of lemon for a bright, refreshing twist.
For a stronger brew, let the burdock root steep an additional 5 minutes. You can also prepare a large batch and refrigerate it for up to 3 days—enjoy it cold or reheat as needed.
Find dried burdock root in our bulk herbs department.