Arctium lappa L.Great Burdock Achene Extract.Burdock Seed.Burdock Root.

  seminal trace...Great Burdock Achene Extract.10:1Burdock Seed, Burdock Root.Burdock Root Extract.Chlorogenic Acid 0.35%HPLC.CAS No.327-97-9....

   

 Brief Description and Basic Data:
 Plant Description and Habitat of Burdock:
 Archeology and Narritive History of the Names:
 Burdock Overview in History:
 Uses of Burdock in Traditional Record:
 Phytochemicals and Constituents of Burdock root:
 Common Action and Narrative Application of Burdock:
 Part Uses of Burdock:
 Medicinal Action and Uses:
 Suggested Dosage,Preparations and Administrations of Burdock:
 Interactions of Burdock:
 Precautions:
 Burdock and Treatment of Chronic skin disease:
 Research Update:Burdock and Its Constituents:


   Brief Description and Basic Data:

 Botanical Name: Fructus Arctii(Arctium lappa)
 Origin:Arctium lappa L.
 Scientific Names:Arctium lappa L.
 Plant Family:Compositae
 Order: Compositae
 English Name: Great Burdock Achene
 Other Names: Bardana,Gobo,Beggar's Buttons, Burr, Burr Seed, Burrseed, Cockle Burr,Clod-bur, Clot Bur, Clot-bur, Clotbur, Clotburr, Clothburr, Cocklebur, Cockleburr, Cockle Buttons, Cockle-Button, Fox's Clote, Grass Burdock, Great Burdock, Greater Burdock, Happy Major, Happy-major, Hardock, Harebur, Hareburr, Hare-Lock, Hurrburr, Lappa, Lappa Minor, Loppy-major, Lopuh, Love Leaves, Niu Bang Zi, Personata, Philanthropium, Repeinik, Thorny Burr, Touch-me-not, Turkey Burrseed, Turkey-Bur
 Synonyms:Lappa. Fox's Clote. Thorny Burr. Beggar's Buttons. Cockle Buttons. Love Leaves. Philanthropium. Personata. Happy Major. Clot-Bur.Arctium majus (Bernh.), Bardanae radix, Bardanae folium, bardana, great burdock, hardock, hareburr, hurrburr, turkey burrseed, great bur, cocklebur, beggars buttons, cockle buttons, lappa, bardane, thorny burr, fox's clote, love leaves, personata, clotbur, happy major.
 Medicinal Parts Used: Burrs(unripe),Juice and Tea(of leaves),Leaves,Roots,Seeds(Arctium lappa; Niu Bang Zi,Arctium minus),Stems
 Names of Burdock Seed:Arctium lappa; Niu Bang Zi,Arctium minus

 Burdock(Greater),Arctium Lappa:By its leaf or seed 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 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 stay the child in it.


   Plant Description and Habitat of Burdock:

 A biennial, it grows to more than three feet (90 cm). 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.
 The dried root from plants of the first year's growth forms the official drug, but the leaves and fruits (commonly, though erroneously, called seeds) are also used.

 The roots are dug in July, and should be lifted with a beet-lifter or a deep-running plough. As a rule they are 12 inches or more in length and about 1 inch thick, sometimes, however, they extend 2 to 3 feet, making it necessary to dig by hand. They are fleshy, wrinkled, crowned with a tuft of whitish, soft, hairy leaf-stalks, grey-brown externally, whitish internally, with a somewhat thick bark, about a quarter of the diameter of the root, and soft wood tissues, with a radiate structure. Burdock root has a sweetish and mucilaginous taste.
 Burdock leaves, which are less used than the root, are collected in July. For drying, follow the drying of Coltsfoot leaves. They have a somewhat bitter taste.
 The seeds (or fruits) are collected when ripe. They are brownish-grey, wrinkled, about 1/4 inch long and 1/16 inch in diameter. They are shaken out of the head and dried by spreading them out on paper in the sun.

 A stout handsome plant, with large, wavy leaves and round heads of purple flowers. It is enclosed in a globular involucre of long stiff scales with hooked tips, the scales being also often interwoven with a white, cottony substance.

 The whole plant is a dull, pale green, the stem about 3 to 4 feet and branched, rising from a biennial root. The lower leaves are very large, on long, solid foot-stalks, furrowed above, frequently more than a foot long heart-shaped and of a grey colour on their under surfaces from the mass of fine down with which they are covered. The upper leaves are much smaller, more egg-shaped in form and not so densely clothed beneath with the grey down.

 Burdock (Arctium lappa L.), also known as Gobo, is a tall biennial herb native to Asia and Europe, but is a widespread weed in New Zealand. A traditional herbal medicine, burdock was formerly listed in the British Pharmaceutical Codex and is widely recorded in most writings on medicinal herbs.

 This tall, branching biennial has large, rounded to arrow-shaped leaves and purple flower heads encased in bracts with hooked tips. Burdock can be an invasive weed. Harvest roots after the 1st years growing season, before it goes to seed in its second year.

 The plant varies considerably in appearance, and by some botanists various subspecies, or even separate species, have been described, the variations being according to the size of the flower-heads and of the whole plant, the abundance of the whitish cottonlike substance that is sometimes found on the involucres, or the absence of it, the length of the flower-stalks, etc.

 The flower-heads are found expanded during the latter part of the summer and well into the autumn: all the florets are tubular, the stamens dark purple and the styles whitish. The plant owes its dissemination greatly to the little hooked prickles of its involucre, which adhere to everything with which they come in contact, and by attaching themselves to coats of animals are often carried to a distance.

  Habitat of Burdock:  It grows freely throughout England (though rarely in Scotland),China, West Asia on waste ground and about old buildings, by roadsides and in fairly damp places.

  Parts Used Medicinally:Dry mature fruit of Arctium lappa L.fruit,roots and rhizome, leaves, seeds

 The dried root from plants of the first year's growth forms the official drug, but the leaves and fruits (commonly, though erroneously, called seeds) are also used.
 Collection: The roots and rhizome should be unearthed in September or October of the first year, or in the following spring when the flowers appear. The leaves should be harvested before or during early flowering, and the seeds when ripe in late summer.
 

 The roots are dug in July, and should be lifted with a beet-lifter or a deep-running plough. As a rule they are 12 inches or more in length and about 1 inch thick, sometimes, however, they extend 2 to 3 feet, making it necessary to dig by hand. They are fleshy, wrinkled, crowned with a tuft of whitish, soft, hairy leaf-stalks, grey-brown externally, whitish internally, with a somewhat thick bark, about a quarter of the diameter of the root, and soft wood tissues, with a radiate structure.
 Burdock root has a sweetish and mucilaginous taste.
 Burdock leaves, which are less used than the root, are collected in July. For drying, follow the drying of Coltsfoot leaves. They have a somewhat bitter taste.
 The seeds (or fruits) are collected when ripe. They are brownish-grey, wrinkled, about 1/4 inch long and 1/16 inch in diameter. They are shaken out of the head and dried by spreading them out on paper in the sun.
 


   Archeology and Narritive History of the Names:

 History from Greek:The word arctium comes from the Greek arktos, 'to bear' and lappa, 'to seize' or the Celtic llap, 'a hand'. The word Burdock comes from French bourre which is from the Latin burra, 'a lock of wool' and 'dock' from its large leaves.
 'They are Burs, I can tell you, they'll stick where they are thrown,'

 Shakespeare makes Pandarus say in Troilus and Cressida, and in King Lear we have another direct reference to this plant:
 'Crown'd with rank Fumiter and Furrow-weeds,
 With Burdocks, Hemlocks, Nettles, Cuckoo-flowers.'

 Also in As You Like It:
 ROSALIND. How full of briers is this working-day world!
 CELIA. They are but burs, cousin, thrown upon thee in holiday foolery. If we walk not in the trodden paths, our very petticoats will catch them.

 The name of the genus, Arctium, is derived from the Greek arktos, a bear, in allusion to the roughness of the burs, lappa, the specific name,being derived from a word meaning 'to seize.'

 Another source derives the word lappa from the Celtic llap, a hand, on account of its prehensile properties.
 The plant gets its name of 'Dock' from its large leaves; the 'Bur' is supposed to be a contraction of the French bourre,from the Latin burra,a lock of wool,such is often found entangled with it when sheep have passed by the growing plants.
 An old English name for the Burdock was 'Herrif,' 'Aireve,' or 'Airup,' from the Anglo-Saxon hoeg, a hedge, and reafe, a robber - or from the Anglo-Saxon verb reafian, to seize. Culpepper gives as popular names in his time: Personata, Happy Major and Clot-Bur.

 Though growing in its wild state hardly any animal except the ass will browse on this plant, the stalks, cut before the flower is open and stripped of their rind, form a delicate vegetable when boiled, similar in flavour to Asparagus, and also make a pleasant salad, eaten raw with oil and vinegar. Formerly they were sometimes candied with sugar, as Angelica is now. They are slightly laxative, but perfectly wholesome.
 Culpepper says that this herb is under Venus and you may draw the womb which way you plerase, either upwards by applying it to the crown of the head ... or downwards...by applying it to the soles of the feet;....stay in its place, apply it to the navel...'

 Pin yin description: this herb has had many names, and this name comes from a combination of two earlier ones: Niu Cai (meaning cow weed, perhaps because it was found growing in cow fields) and Bang Weng Cai (meaning old man's weed, perhaps relating to one of its uses); the combined name has no special meaning.
 


   Burdock Overview in History:

 Burdock is also known by the names Bardane, Clotburr, Beggars Buttons, Gypsy Rhubarb, Gobo, and Burr. In traditional herbal texts, Burdock Root is described as a blood purifieror alterative, and was believed to clear the bloodstream of toxins. The genus name "Arctium" is from the Greek, arktos, meaning "bear"' in reference to the shaggy burrs. "Beurre" is French for "butter" as French women would wrap their cakes of butter in leaves of Burdock to transport it to the marketplace. During the Industrial Revolution, Burdock was used as a medicine to help people cope with the increasing environmental pollution. The Swiss inventor, George de Mestral, who invented Velcro? was inspired by the Burdock burrs that covered his dog; when he observed the burrs under a magnifying glass, he saw the tiny curved hooks. And in Hawaii, the roots of this herb are sometimes given as a "gag" wedding gift because of their aphrodisiac powers.
 Burdock is familiar for its hooked burrs; its botanical name is derived from the Greek arktos, or bear, suggesting rough-coated fruits, and lappa, to seize. The word lappa may also be derived from the Celtic llap, a hand, on account of its prehensile properties. The plant gets its name 'dock' from its large leaves, while the 'bur' is thought to be a contraction of the French bourre, from the Latin burra, a lock of wool. The Old English name for burdock was 'Herrif' from the Anglo-Saxon hoeg, a hedge, and reafe, a robber - or from the Anglo-Saxon verb reafian, to seize.
 Culpeper wrote ' The burdock leaves are cooling and moderately drying, whereby good for old ulcers and sores.... The leaves applied to the places troubled with the shrinking in the sinews or arteries give much ease: a juice of the leaves or rather the roots themselves given to drink with old wine, doth wonderfully help the biting of any serpents; the root beaten with a little salt and laid on the place suddenly easeth the pain thereof, and helpeth those that are bit by a wild dog...

 North American Eclectics valued the seeds for treating skin problems and as a diuretic. In China the seeds, niu bang zi, are used to dispel 'wind and heat evils', and to treat the eruptions of measles, sore throats, unproductive coughs, tonsillitis, colds and influenza. Research has shown that the seeds can lower blood sugar in rats. In France, the fresh root is used for lowering blood sugar, its inulin content making it particularly suitable for diabetics. In Asia, the root fibre has been shown to protect rats from the toxicity of various food colours.

 During the Middle Ages, burdock was valued for treating a host of ailments. English herbalists used burdock root for boils, scurvy (a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, leading to bleeding, gum disease, and weakness), diabetes, and rheumatism (disorders characterized by joint discomfort and loss of mobility). Burdock also played an important role in Native American herbal medicine, and American herbalists have used the roots and seeds of this plant for two centuries.

 Burdock root has been traditionally used as a "blood purifier" to clear the bloodstream of toxins, as a diuretic to promote the excretion of urine, and as a topical remedy to relieve skin problems. In folk medicine, burdock has also been used as a laxative and to relieve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Plus, there is belief that burdock may be helpful for kidney stones.

 Despite the fact that burdock has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions, few (if any) scientific studies have proven that this herb is a safe and useful remedy. Still, many professional herbalists find burdock helpful for skin and scalp conditions (including acne, psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis, and wounds) and inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Preparations of burdock root are also used to promote perspiration and the excretion of urine and to treat ailments and complaints of the digestive system. Extracts of burdock root are found in a variety of herbal preparations as well as homeopathic remedies.
 Burdock root has been described as "alternative" and a "blood purifier." The burdock root was believed to clear toxins from the bloodstream. It may be applied externally as well as internally to relieve eczema and psoriasis. Additionally, it may ease painful joints or act as a diuretic. Ancient Chinese medicine combined burdock root with other herbs to treat colds, measles, sore throats, and tonsillitis.
 The primary active constituents in burdock include arctigen, calcium, chlorogenic acid, essential oil, flavonoids, iron, inulin, lactone, mucilage, polyacetylenes, potassium, resin, tannin, and taraxosterol. Fatty acids are contained in the seeds. Burdock seed oil may work as a diaphoretic, creating sweat, neutralizing and eliminating the body's toxins. The high amounts of inulin and mucilage in this herb likely explain why burdock exhibits soothing effects on the gastrointestinal tract.
 Burdock may provide a good source for minerals such as iron, the carbohydrate inulin, and essential oils. Additionally, burdock may serve as a mild laxative and assist in the elimination of uric acid. The herb contains polyacetylenes that have antibacterial and antifungal properties. By improving the function of many organs of elimination (i.e. liver, kidneys, bowels), many health conditions may be moderately corrected.
 Burdock is usually available in combination with other herbs as a tea, in tinctures, and in capsule form. Burdock is an effective diuretic, and is considered a very safe herb and food product as long as the root is pure. Reported cases involving toxic effects were first thought to be caused by the consumption of burdock tea, but were later determined to be caused by contamination of the burdock root with belladonna root, which contains atropine. Therefore, consider the source and quality prior to purchasing burdock root.
 


   Uses of Burdock in Traditional Record:

 Burdock is widely recorded in most writings on medicinal herbs. The roots are recognised by herbalists as one of the best blood purifiers and are reported to be diuretic, to stimulate bile secretion and sweating. It is also used for gout, liver and kidney ailments and as a treatment for rheumatism and venereal disease. Decoctions and teas of the roots and leaves are used both internally and externally for skin problems such as dandruff and psoriasis.

 The shoots and roots are simmered, then stir-fried to absorb flavors, or infused for a strengthening and aphrodisiac tonic. The root is a blood purifying preventative for colds and flu, clears toxins that cause skin disorders ( Acne, Skin Rashes ) and rheumatism, and treats cystitis and kidney stones. In tests it is a mild cancer inhibitor. One of the four herbs used in Essiac's anti-cancer formula. As a child, I was forever getting into stinging nettle patches. I was told to grab the "doc" leaf and rub the juice on the stings. Relief was almost immediate. It was many years later that I learned this plant was actually called Burdock.

 Burdock is regarded as being rich in dietary fibre and is also recognised as a good source of carbohydrates for diabetics. The most important ingredient in burdock is the polysaccharide, inulin, which constitutes up to 50% of the dry root weight. The stalks, cut before flowering and stripped of their rinds, have a similar flavour to asparagus when boiled.

 Although the young leaves and stems are edible, the most important part is the slender root. Burdock root is eaten as a food in parts of Asia. As a vegetable, very young roots can be peeled and eaten raw. Mature roots can be peeled, scalded, then cooked further by adding them to stews, and by baking, or stir-frying them. In China, roots and young shoots are scrubbed or scraped and soaked in cold, salted water to prevent darkening and to remove bitterness. The water may be changed one to three times during this process. The root can then be boiled or simmered, followed by stir-frying. Stems and roots are also pickled in China.

  Traditional Usage list of Burdock:

 Acne- Allergies - Anti-inflammatory- Antioxidant
 Bone and Joint Health- Breathing Disorders
 Canker Sores- Celiac's Disease- Cellular Regeneration- Cleansing- Crohn's Disease- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- Colitis
 Detoxifying- Digestive Disorders- Diuretic- Diverticulitis
 Eczema- Endometriosis
 Fibroids- Fibromyalgia
 Gastrointestinal Disorders
 Headaches- Hepatitis- Hormone Imbalances
 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 Joint Pain
 Migraines
 Poultice- PMS- Psoriasis
 Senility/Aging Conditions- Skin Disorders

 Systems Indication: Blood, Circulatory, Digestive, Immune, Kidneys, Liver, Lungs, Stomach, Exterior
 General Actions: Alternative, Antibiotic, Antifungal, Antiseptic, Anti-tumor, Aperient, Cholagogue, Demulcent, Diaphoretic (relaxing), Discutient, Diuretic, Fungicide, Laxative, Nutritive, Tonic (general, kidney, liver)
 Energy and Taste: cold; pungent, bitter
 Remark and Cautions: Burdock should be avoided when pregnant.
 


   Phytochemicals and Constituents of Burdock:

  Main Effective Content:

 Arctiin,C₂₇H₃₄O₁₁,4.39%~6.35%. Arctigenin; Glucose; Matairesinol; Trachelogenin; Sesquilignan AL-D, AL-F; Lappaol A-F, H; Arachic acid; Stearic acid; Palmitic acid; Linoleic acid.

 Burdock root contains: Approximately 27-45% up to 50% inulin, mucilage (up to 75% of the root is carbohydrate in the form of fructo-oligo-saccharides (FOS) including inulin); 0.06-0.18% essential oil with so far 66 identified components; antibacterial polyacetylenes; bitter substances (i.e. lactones); 1.9-3.65% polyphenols including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and other powerful flavonoid-type antioxidants; sitosterol and stigmasterol,volatile acids (acetic acid,propionic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid), non-hydroxyl acids (lauric acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid), tannin, polyphenolic acids.
 Seeds:15-30% fixed oils, a bitter glycoside (arctiin), chlorogenic acid and vitamins A and vitamin B2.
 Leaves: contain flavonoids and antibacterial substances, arctiol, fukinone and taraxasterol.
 The roots contain starch, and the ashes of the plant, burnt when green, yield carbonate of potash abundantly, and also some nitre.
 fixed oils,inulin,Lappin(bitter,crystalline glucoside),mucilage,resin,starch(root),sugar,tannic acid,volatile oils

  Other Major Phytochemicals:

 inulin, mucilage, sugar, a bitter, crystalline glucoside - Lappin-a little resin, fixed and volatile oils, and some tannic acid,Octadecatetrienoic acid;epoxyl eicosantrienoic acid;lappanol A;lappanol B;lappanol C,Lappanol D,Lappanol E; arctigenin; isoarctigenin; matairesinol; lappaol F; neoarctin B; arctinone a, arctinone b; arctinol a,arctinol b, arctinol c; arctic acid a;arctic acid b, arctic acid c;methylarctate-b; antinone b acetate; lappaphe a, lappaphe b; eremophilene; fukinone; petasitolone; fukinanolide;dehydrofukinone; Beta-amyrin; lupeol; beta-eudesmol; 8alpha-hydroxyeudesmol;alpha-amyrin;(11E)-1,11-tridecadien-3,5,7,9-tetrayne; (3E,11E)-1,3,11-tridecatrian-5,7,9-triyne; (3E)-3-tridecen-5,7,9,11-tetrayn-1,2-epoxide; (4E,6E,12E)-4,6,12-tetradecatrien-8,10-diyn-1,3-diyldiacetate; (4E,6E)-4,6-Tetrade cadien-8,10,12-triyn-1,3-diyl diacetate; (S)-12,13-epoxy-2,4,6,8,10-tridecapentayne; 1-tridecen-3,5,7,9,11-pentayne; gobosterin; palmitic acid; arachidic acid; alpha-linoleic acid; beta-sitosterol; leran; xylan; galactase; gamma-guanidinobutyric acid;5-nucleoside; many kinds of amino acids and Vitamin C.Niacin (seeds),Iron, 27-45% Inulin, 12% Protein, 70% Carbohydrate, some vit. A, Vit.P, & Vit.B complex, Vit. E, PABA, small amount Sulphur, Silicon, Copper, Iodine, Zinc, Plant steroids (small amounts).

  Isolation and Identification of Trace Lignans, Arctiin and Arctigenin, in Arctium lappa L. Leaves:

 Burdock's fibrous primary root and rhizome expand to about 1 ft (0.3 m) underground. Most of the herb's medicinal constituents are stored in these underground parts. The entire plant has both nutritive and medicinal uses. The roots contain as much as 45% inulin, as well as alkaloids, essential oil, flavonoids, glycosides, mucilage, polyacetylenes, resin, tannins, and volatile oil. The seeds are rich in vitamins A and vitamins B and essential fatty acids. Both the seeds and the root have a demulcent quality that is soothing to the mucous membranes of the body. The leaves are generally less potent than the root and seed when used in medicinal preparations.

 Abstract: The methods of polyamide column chromatography, reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the isolation and identification of trace lignans, arctiin and arctigenin. in, in Arctium lappa L. leaves were established. When the crude extracts of Arctium lappa L. leaves were chromatographed by polyamide column, and the fraction eluted by 100% methanol were concentrated and refrigerated, a white precipitate was obtained. Two main constituents were purified from the precipitate by RP-HPLC. Compared with the UV-, LC-ESI-MS, HPLC and FTIR spectra of standard samples of arctiin and arctigenin, the two main purified constituents were identified as arctiin and arctigenin.
 


   Common Action and Narrative Application of Burdock:

  Alterative:  an agent capable of favorably altering or changing unhealthy conditions of the body and tending to restore normal bodily function, usually by improving nutrition.
  Antiscorbutic:  a source of Vitamin C for curing or preventing scurvy.
  Aperient :  a mild stimulant producing a natural movement of the bowels; a gentle purgative.
  Blood purifier:  agent to purify blood.
  Cholagogue:  an agent for increasing the flow of bile into the intestines.
  Cleansing herb:   Burdock is used in both Western and Chinese herbal medicine as a detoxifying herb. The seeds are used to remove toxins in fevers and infections such as mumps and measles, and the root helps the body to eliminate waste products in chronic skin and arthritic conditions.
  Combination remedies:   Burdock is rarely used on its own in remedies. Burdock is usually mixed with other herbs, such as dandelion, to balance its strong cleansing action.
  Demulcent:   a substance that soothes inflamed mucous membranes and protects them from irritation.
  Diuretic:   an agent that increases the volume and flow of urine which cleanses the urinary system.
  Diaphoretic:   an agent that promotes perspiration.
  Mucilaginous:   characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency.
  Skin problems:   Burdock's diuretic, antibiotic, and mildly bitter actions make it helpful for skin disorders, especially where toxicity is a key factor - for example, in acne, boils, abscesses, local skin infections, eczema, and psoriasis.
  Other medical uses:   Hantavirus, Toxic shock syndrome.

  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 in 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 in the bladder. The seed macerated in wine for 4o 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 impurities from the blood very quickly. The root is mainly used and administered as a decoction in doses of 2 fl OZ (56 ml) three or four times a day. The seeds, used alone as a decoction, have similar properties, but are particularly tonic to the kidneys. A homeopathic medicine made from Arctium lappa is also available.

 Burdock Root is used to treat skin diseases, boils, fevers, inflammations, hepatitis, swollen glands, some cancers, and fluid retention. It is an excellent blood purifier. A tea made of the leaves of Burdock is also used for indigestion. This herb is very useful for building the systems of young women. It helps clear persistent teenage acne if taken for three to four weeks, at the same time using it as an external cleanser on the affected areas. Burdock is combined with dandelion root for a very effective liver cleanser and stimulator. Combine it with Damiana and Sarsaparilla to strengthen and build the male organs. The leaves and stalks are eaten lightly steamed for their taste and nutritional content.
 


   Part Uses of Burdock:

 Burrs (unripe): Kidneys (infections or to tone) (leaves can also be used, but not as good).
 Leaves: Eaten as green vegetables; Acne, Boils, Bruises, Burns, Diuretic, Eruptions, Fevers (low), Fungus, Pimples, Ringworm, Sores, Stomachic, Swelling, Tumors
 Fresh, bruised: Poultice for: Burns, Fever, Poison ivy, Poison oak, Sores, Ulcers
 Wash for: Acne, Sores
 Fresh leaves are recommended for liver problems

 Roots: Acne, Alterative, Eczema, Hair loss, Jaundice, Skin (problems, scaly), Ulcers. Contain inulin and protein

 Seeds: Abscesses, Alterative, Antiseptic, Bites (insect, snake), Boils, Bronchitis, Chicken pox, Constipation, Coughing, Diuretic, Fever, Flu, Kidneys (tonic), Lungs (congestion), Measles (early stages), Pneumonia, Scarlet fever, Scrofula, Skin (lesions), Small pox, Sties, Throats (red, sore, swollen)
 Crushed: Poultice for: Bruises, Burns, Sores, Ulcers

 External: Roots and leaves: Eczema, Psoriasis
 Leaves: (Bruised and shredded then folded into eggwhites that have been stffly beaten): Burns
 Wash for: Eczema, Hives, Skin Eruptions

 Internal: Acne, Arthritis, Asthma, Blood Purifier, Boils, Bursitis, Canker sores, Chicken pox, Eczema, Gall stones, Gout, Itching, Kidney problems, Liver problems, Psoriasis, Tonic, Ulcers, Veneral dieases

 Homeopathic: Acne, Bunions, Dupuytren's contracture, Eczema serpeginosa, Eruptions, Glands, Gonnorrhea, Gout, Impotence, Itching, Leukorrhea, Phosphaturia, Psoriasis, Rheumatism, Ringworm, Scrofula, Sterility, Ulcers, Uterus (prolapsed)

 Burdock oil: Hair tonic (supposedly works only if hair follicles are dormant, not destroyed.)
 


  Uses of Burdock Fruit(Burdock Seeds,Arctium lappa;Niu Bang Zi,Arctium minus):

  1.Affects the sebaceous and sudorific glands.
  2.Demulcent:[a substance that soothes inflamed mucous membranes and protects them from irritation.
  3.Relaxant
  4.Tonic:an agent that tones, strengthens and invigorates organs or the entire organism giving a feeling of well-being.

  Uses of Burdock Root:

 Burdock Root is one of the foremost cleansing herbs, providing nourishing support for the blood, the liver, and the natural defense system. It's rich in Vitamins B-1, B-6, B-12, and E, plus manganese, copper, iron, zinc, sulfur, and more. You'll find Burdock Root in many tonic formulas and special blends designed for internal cleansing:

  1.Gastrointestinal Conditions:
  2.Stimulates the digestive organs
  3.Stomach ailments
  4.A tea made of the leaves of Burdock is used for:
  5.To cure indigestion
  6.Strengthening and toning the stomach

 Recommended primarily as a blood purifier, burdock has also been used to treat various chronic skin conditions, including psoriasis and acne. Burdock is also said to have diuretic and diaphoretic properties. None of these purported effects has been verified by clinical trials, nor have chemical studies of the root revealed the presence of active principles that might account for any such effects.
 Burdock does contain large amounts of carbohydrate in the form of inulin, together with small amounts of volatile oil, fatty oil, sucrose, resin, tannin, and the like. One interesting study did reveal the presence of some fourteen different polyacetylene compounds in the fresh root, two of which possessed bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties.
 However, only traces of them were found in the dried, commercial medication. Mild antibiotic and cholagogic activity have been shown in root extracts. A study on the roots and leaves shows hypoglycemic activity and an increased carbohydrate tolerance in animal models. Antimutagenic activity has been demonstrated in animal models.
 


  Uses of Burdock leaves tea:

  1.Building the systems of young women
  2.Genitourinary Conditions
  3.Bladder pain
  4.Fluid retention
  5.Gout,neutralizes and eliminates poisons from the system
  6.Stimulates the eliminatory organs
  7.Glandular Conditions
  8.Swollen glands
  9.Inflammatory Conditions
  10.Rheumatic conditions
  11.Liver Conditions,liver problems,to cure hepatitis,A tea made of the leaves of Burdock is used as a very effective liver cleanser and stimulator [combined with Dandelion root ]
  12.Stimulates secretion of bile
  13.Respiratory Tract Conditions
  14.Skin diseases,scaly skin conditions,Clearing persistent teenage acne if taken for three to four weeks,It works well alone or combined with Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla for skin conditions
  15.Other,asthma,boils,certain cancers,catarrh,eczema,fevers,sciatica,scurvy,abscesses,all manner of swellings,
  16.Hair growth, especially with Blind Nettle

  Externally Burdock leaves tea are applied as a poultice:

  1.for gouty swellings
  2.for old sores and ulcers
  3.for shrinking arteries and sinews
  4.for tumors
  5.to relieve bruises
  6.to relieve inflamed surfaces in general
  7.Fruit (seeds) are used in:
  8.Chronic skin conditions
  9.Kidney conditions caused by a derangement of the nervous system
  10.Restoring smoothness to the skin


   Medicinal Action and Uses:

  Application Scope:

 Abscesses, Acidity (eliminates from blood), Acne, Allergies, ALTERATIVE, Anorexia nervosa, Antibiotic, Antifungal, Antiseptic, Anti-tumor, Aperient, ARTHRITIS, Asthma, Bites (insect, snake), BLOOD PURIFIER, Boils, Bronchitis, Bruises, Bunions, Burns, Bursitis, Calcification deposits, Canker sores, Cancer, Carbuncles (Carbunkles), Chicken pox, Childbirth (problems), Cholagogue, Colds, Constipation, Coughing, Cradle cap, Dandruff, DIAPHORETIC, Discutient, DIURETIC, Dropsy, Dupuytren's contracture, ECZEMA, Eruptions, Felons, Fevers, Flu, Food, Fungus, Gall stones, Glands (problems, swellings), Gonorrhea, GOUT, Hair loss, Hair tonic, Hay fever, Hemorrhoids, Herpes, Hives, Hormones (balances), Hypothalamus (soothes when used as tea with Sassafras), Impotence, Infections, Itching, Jaundice, Joints (swelling), KIDNEY PROBLEMS (diseases, infections, tone), Leprosy, LIVER (problems, tonic), Lumbago, LUNGS (congestion), Malaria, Measles (early stages), Muscles (pain, spasms),

   Nervousness, Nutritive, Pain (from: snakebites (poulticed with salt), bladder (juice with honey)), Phosphaturia, Pimples, Pleurisy, Poison ivy, Poison oak, Poisons (eliminate and neutralize (rumored)), Pneumonia, Psoriasis, RHEUMATISM, Ringworm, Scarlet fever, Sciatica, Scrofula, SKIN DISEASES, Skin (dry, infections, lesions, problems, scaly), Small pox, Sore throats, Sores, Sprains, Sterility, Sties, Stimulant (uterine), Stomach (problems, upset), Stomachic, Stones (kidney, gall (use w/ catnip)), Styes, Swellings, Syphilis, Syphilitic sores, Throats (infected, red, sore, swollen), TONIC (general, kidney, liver), Tumors, Ulcers, Uric acid (helps eliminate through kidneys), Urinary tract infections, Urination (painful), Uterus (displaced, prolapsed, stimulant of), Venereal diseases, Vertigo, Weight loss, Wounds

  Mechanism of How burdock works in the body?:

 The plant's diuretic effect has made it a traditional remedy for gout and kidney stones. It has also been used in rheumatic conditions. Its main use is as an alterative or blood cleanser to remove waste products from the body, and it is employed to treat conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, boils, and other skin complaints. Burdock lowers blood sugar levels, and the arctigenin has been shown to be effective against tumors. The fresh root is thought to have an antibiotic quality, probably due to the polyacetylenes. In China it is used for catarrhal conditions and when there is a fever, cough and sore throat, and in infective diseases such as mumps and the early stages of measles. Burdock also stimulates the digestion and aids the liver, and in China is a remedy for constipation. The Chinese properties are acrid, bitter, and cold.
 Part of the action Arctium is through bitter stimulation of the digestive juices and bile secretion and it will thus aid digestion and stimulate the appetite. It has been used in anorexia nervosa and similar conditions. It can also aid kidney function. Its antimicrobial property, together with its diuretic action makes it useful for treating cystitis. Both the roots and leaves can be used to treat rheumatism and gout because they encourage the elimination of uric acid via the kidneys.
 Externally it may be used as a compress or poultice to speed up the healing of wounds and ulcers. Eczema and psoriasis may also be treated in this way, although it is important to address the underlying imbalance at the same time.
 

  Medicinal uses and health benefits of burdock root:

 Burdock root contains high amounts of inulin and mucilage. The carbohydrate inulin can comprise up to 50% of the plant's total mass. Inulin is made up of many fructose chains which are responsible for burdock's hypoglycemic activities. It also contains polyacetylenes that have demonstrated anti-microbial activity. Other active constituents of Burdock roots include alkaloids, essential oil, flavonoids, glycosides, polyacetylenes, resin, tannins, and volatile oil. The burdock seeds are rich in vitamins A and B and essential fatty acids.

 Burdock has traditionally been used for a wide variety of conditions, including chronic skin ailments, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and cancer prevention. Extracts of burdock root are found in a variety of herbal preparations as well as homeopathic remedies. Burdock root is used to treat skin diseases, boils, fevers, inflammations, hepatitis, swollen glands, some cancers, and fluid retention. Burdock is used in the treatment of skin conditions that result in dry and scaly skin such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

 Burdock root has been traditionally used as a blood purifier to clear the bloodstream of toxins. It promotes perspiration and the release of toxins from the body. Preparations of burdock root are also used to promote perspiration and the excretion of urine and to treat ailments and complaints of the digestive system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, burdock root in combination with other herbs is used to treat sore throats, tonsillitis, colds, and even measles.

 In folk medicine, burdock has also been used as a laxative and to relieve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. It will help restore friendly bacteria in the system after antibiotic use, and may bring relief in cases of chronic arthritis and gout. Burdock root has an antimicrobial action which has been attributed to the polyacetylenes in the plant.


 General Uses:

  1.Anti-bacterial effect:
 In-vitro experiments show that 100% solution of Niu Bang Zi has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, beta streptococcus, and typhoid bacillus, and that the infusion of Niu Bang Zi inhibits various fungi.

  2.Anti-neoplastic effect:
 In-vitro experiments show that Niu Bang Zi extract has a 90% inhibition rate on JTC-26 (uterine cervical cancer cells).

  3.Inhibitory effect on nephritis:
 Experiments show that arctiin, an active component of Niu Bang Zi, has a diuretic effect.Arctiin also has an inhibitory effect on PA-induced nephrosis and anti-nephroserum-induced immunonephritis in rats.

  4.Effects on the cardiovascular system:
 Arctiin has an anesthetic effect on isolated frog hearts. It also dilates the blood vessels of frogs' legs and rabbits' ears, and lowers blood pressure in rats with spontaneous hypertension.

  5.Effects on smooth and skeletal muscles:
 Niu Bang Zi has an inhibitory effect on the isolated rabbit uterus and intestines, and has an paralytic effect on motor nerves and skeletal muscles.

  6.Lowering blood sugar:
 Niu Bang Zi extract can significantly and lastingly lower blood sugar in rats, raising their tolerance for carbonhydrates.

  7.Burdock is primarily a tonic and alterative herb:
 The cumulative effect of its use is said to bring a subtle strengthening and cleansing to the entire system. Though most of the therapeutic benefits attributed to this stately herb have not been clinically proven, burdock has been long tested in folk use, and is a safe, if mild, herbal remedy. Burdock has been traditionally used as a blood purifier. It promotes perspiration and the release of toxins from the body. It is helpful in clearing up such skin conditions as psoriasis and dry, scaly eczema. It works best when used over a period of time. The bitter properties of burdock, particularly noticeable in the dried leaf and seed, stimulate bile secretions. It is a good digestive herb and liver remedy. Burdock's anti-microbial and fungistatic properties have been traced to as many as 14 different polyacetylene compounds in the root. Burdock has been used to treat boils, canker sores, carbuncles, measles, and sties. It will help restore friendly bacteria in the system after antibiotic use, and may bring relief in cases of chronic arthritis and gout. Burdock may also help reduce blood sugar levels.

  8.In medieval times burdock was used for more serious problems:
 Such as the treatment of syphilis and leprosy. Hildegard of Bingen, a twelfth-century German abbess, considered burdock a valuable remedy for cancerous tumors. Herbalists in other cultures and times, including the Americas, China, India, and Russia have turned to the root of this familiar herb for a folk treatment of cancer. The oil of burdock, known as repeinoe maslo, used over a period of six to eight months, was said to help stimulate the growth of new hair. A drink prepared with aged wine and fine-shredded, fresh burdock leaves was taken after the bite of a mad dog. A poultice of the fresh leaf, applied to the forehead was used to relieve headache. Shredded leaves were also combined with an egg white, beaten until stiff, and the mixture was applied to burns to speed healing.

  9.Stimulate the digestive:
 Burdock seeds have also been used in medicinal preparations, particularly to treat psoriasis and to stimulate the digestive process. In Chinese medicine seeds were used as a treatment for feverish colds and sore throat.
 An infusion of the leaves is useful to impart strength and tone to the stomach, for some forms of long-standing indigestion.

  10.Significant antibacterial and anticandidal activity:
 Burdock has been recently shown to have significant antibacterial and anticandidal activity, which helps to explain its place in folk medicine as a treatment for various infectious diseases. In addition, a team of Asian researchers reported in 2002 that burdock appears to counteract the damaging effects of alcohol on the liver.

 Both orally and topically, burdock root preparations have mild antibacterial and antifungal effects, which may help to relieve skin conditions such as acne, athlete foot, dandruff, diaper rash, dry skin, and eczema. It may have uses in dentistry to control bacteria in the mouth. Although burdock roots are most common for medical use, juice or tea made from burdock leaves may also contain chemicals with slightly anti-infective effects. Burdock leaf preparations may be taken by mouth or applied to the skin to treat skin conditions. Interestingly, the antibacterial chemicals in burdock leaves appear to be effective against different types of bacteria than the chemicals in the roots. Frequently, therefore, burdock leaf juice and burdock root tea are mixed together in order to eliminate as many bacteria as possible.
 

  11.Wonderful blood cleanser and detoxifying:
 Burdock is a wonderful blood cleanser and detoxifying remedy, hastening the elimination of toxins from the body. The roots, leaves and seeds are all bitter, stimulating digestion and liver action and activating the pancreas. They can be used to strengthen a weak digestion, relieve wind, distension and indigestion and as a mild laxative. Burdock is an effective remedy for bacterial and fungal infections and to help re-establish normal bacteria in the gut. Burdock has mild diuretic properties, aiding elimination of toxins via the urine. Burdock can be used for cystitis, water retention, stones and gravel. Taken as a hot decoction, burdock also helps to clear toxins from the tissues via the skin as it causes sweating. Burdock can be used to bring down a fever and can be taken at the onset of any infection with feverishness. The seeds are effective for treating sore throats, tonsilitis, colds and coughs. Burdock helps to bring out eruptions and thus speed recovery from infections such as measles and chickenpox. By pushing toxins into the bloodstream, burdock makes an effective remedy for chronic inflammatory conditions such as gout, arthritis and rheumatism. Burdock is excellent for treating skin disease as it improves the action of the sebaceous glands.
 It cleanses the blood, and should be used gently over a period of time. It may be used as part of a wider treatment for rheumatic complaints, especially where there is associated with psoriasis. An infusion of the leaf may be applied to cracks, grazes, chapped skin and insect bites.

  12.Promote the loss of water from the body:
 Burdock root has been found to contain chemicals that promote the loss of water from the body. When taken by mouth, it may increase the production of both urine and sweat, potentially making it useful in treating swelling and fever. However, drugs that are more effective are available for both uses.

  13.Prevent liver damage:
 In a few animal studies, burdock root appeared to prevent liver damage caused by alcohol, chemicals, or medications. The exact reason for this protective effect is not known, but it is thought to involve opposition of a chemical process called oxidation, which occurs in the body. One result of oxidation is the release of oxygen free radicals, natural chemicals that may suppress immune function. Antioxidants such as burdock may protect body cells from damage caused by oxidation,

  14.Cancer treatment:
 In North America, burdock is mixed with three other herbs (slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel, and Turkish rhubarb root) to make an herbal product known as Essiac. Said to have been based on a Native American remedy, this trademarked preparation was used in the 1920s to treat cancer. Some laboratory studies suggest that Essiac may have antioxidant effects and that it may damage cancer cells. No documented scientific evidence from human studies support its effectiveness in any medical condition, although many individuals still use it to treat cancer and other conditions.

  15.Alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic:
 One of the best blood purifiers. In all skin diseases, it is a certain remedy and has effected a cure in many cases of eczema, either taken alone or combined with other remedies, such as Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla.

  16.Dropsical complaints:
 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.


  17.Tumours and gouty swellings:
 When applied externally as a poultice, the leaves are highly resolvent for tumours 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.

  18.Chronic skin diseases:
 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.
 Arctium is a valuable remedy for the treatment of dry and scaly skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

  19.Treatment for skin eruptions boils and acne.:
 Arctium has an antimicrobial action which has been attributed to the polyacetylenes in the plant. This explains its reputation for treating toxic conditions resulting in skin eruptions such as boils; it is also useful in treating acne.

  20.Stimulate Hair growth:  An extract of burdock root called burdock root oil is used to stimulate hair growth in alopoecia.

  21.Anti-scorbutic properties:
 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.

  22.Other Uses:
 Burdock also helps to lower blood sugar in diabetics. The root stimulates the uterus, helping to regulate periods and has been used traditionally for prolapse and to give strength before and after childbirth.
 Medicinally, Burdock Root has been used both internally and externally for eczema and psoriasis, as well as to treat painful joints and as a diuretic. In traditional Chinese medicine, Burdock Root, in combination with other herbs, is used to treat sore throats, tonsillitis, colds, and even measles. It is eaten as a vegetable. Burdock is a mild laxative. It also aids in the elimination of uric acid. The herb contains polyacetylenes that have both anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties. By improving the function of many organs of elimination (liver, kidneys, bowels), many health conditions can be improved. Burdock Root contains high amounts of inulin and mucilage. This may explain its soothing effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Bitter constituents in the root may also explain the traditional use of Burdock to improve digestion. The polyacetylene constituents have also been shown to have anti-microbial activity. Burdock Root (and the fruit) also have the ability to mildly lower blood sugar (hypoglycemic effect).
 


   Suggested Dosage,Preparations and Administrations of Burdock:

 Burdock root is generally taken as an herbal tea three to five times per day. German authorities recommend using 2.5g of finely chopped or coarsely powdered drug per cup of tea (1 teaspoon of powdered burdock root weighs approximately 2 grams). It is recommended that the tea be infused in cold water first (for up to several hours) and then boiled for up to an hour and finally passed through a strainer. This long process serves to increase the bioavailability of some of the active ingredients. As a food, this root can also be added to soups.
 Dosage:1/2 tsp. ground dried root per cup. Steep 15 minutes.Traditional herbalists recommend 2-4 ml of burdock root tincture per day. For the dried root preparation in capsule form, the common amount to take is 1-2 grams three times per day. Many herbal preparations will combine burdock root with other alterative herbs, such as yellow dock, red clover, or cleavers.
 Dried root: 2-6g or by infusion
 Liquid Extract: 1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-8ml
 Tincture:1:10 in 45% alcohol, 8-12ml
 Decoction:1:20, 500ml per day

  Preparations:

 Burdock root is harvested from the first-year plant in the early fall. Roots are deep and may be difficult to extract. The leaves are best used when fresh, as the dried leaf is bitter. Harvesting is done before the plant flowers.
 Decoction: Burdock's medicinal properties, concentrated in the root, are best extracted by decoction. Add about 1 tsp of thinly-sliced, fresh or dried burdock root per 8 oz of cold water in a glass or ceramic pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. Drink up to three cups daily.
 Poultice: Simmer fresh, chopped burdock leaves for up to five minutes. Drain, squeezing out the liquid. Cool until warm. Apply to the affected area and secure with a clean strip of cotton gauze. A little oil applied to the skin first may keep the poultice from sticking when dry. Prepare a fresh poultice every few hours until the desired relief is obtained.
 Tincture: Combine one part fresh herb to three parts alcohol (50% alcohol/water solution) in glass container. Set aside in dark place. Shake daily for two weeks. Strain through muslin or cheesecloth, and store in dark bottle. The tincture should maintain potency for two years. Standard dosage, unless otherwise prescribed, is 1/2 tsp, three times daily.
 Culinary: Fresh burdock roots are mild tasting and somewhat sweet. They may be peeled and thinly sliced to add to soups, salads, and in a mixture of stir-fried vegetables. The young leaves of the first year plant may be eaten fresh or steamed as a nutritious potherb, and the fresh stalks, peeled and steamed until tender, are also a culinary treat. Burdock root, roasted and ground to a powder, has been used as coffee additive or substitute.
 Properties: mucilaginous, alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, urinary tonic, demulcent
 Folk Use: Demulcent effects, alterative effects on blood and urinary system. Chinese say it heals hot conditions. Elimate nervous energy. Sweat out toxins, infections.
 Traditional formulas: Alfalfa and Yucca combination, Pau D'arco and Yellow Dock combination, Red Beet and Yellow Dock combination, Ephedra and Senega combination, Cedar Berry combination


  Administrations:

 As a food, burdock may be eaten in large quantities and for long periods with no apparent side effects. For supplemental dosing of burdock, available oral dosage forms include not only juice made from the leaves, but also capsules, tablets, extracts, and tinctures made from the roots. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid such as alcohol, and then straining out the solid parts. Tinctures are less concentrated than extracts, but they are prepared in similar ways. Recommended doses vary, so the directions on the package that is purchased should be followed by individuals who decide to take burdock as an herbal supplement.
 A tea may be made by soaking about one teaspoonful of chopped, dried burdock root in 8 ounces of cold water for 5 hours to 6 hours, then boiling the water and straining out the solid particles before drinking the liquid. This tea may be cooled and used on the skin as a wash, as well. Be aware, however, that burdock root closely resembles the roots of belladonna and deadly nightshade, two poisonous plants that may grow in the same areas as burdock. Reports of serious illnesses and deaths have been reported from burdock root products that were contaminated with belladonna or deadly nightshade. To avoid the possibility of contamination, burdock root products should be purchased from reliable companies and not collected from wild plants.

  Practitioners Advice:

 Though we have talked a lot about acne , many cases of dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis are improved with daily burdock usage. But, much like the acne "miracle drug" Accutane, which generated 125 million dollars in sales in the United States last year, it does not work overnight. Burdock tea must be taken three times a day for several months before you will notice a significant improvement. This means you have to be willing to invest time, energy, and money in a treatment which will not show its effects for weeks and months. This is not an instant gratification herbal remedy. Few are. But, in many cases chronic skin disease is cleared up with continued burdock usage. Fortunately, though, burdock tea is also generally boosting to the constitution so that you can expect to enjoy better overall health in the process of clearing up your skin.
 


   Interactions of Burdock:

 Burdock root tea may reduce the requirements for insulin, based on its effectiveness for helping to normalize blood sugar levels. Therefore it is recommended that diabetics consult with a health care practitioner.
 As with other sources of soluble fibre, burdock root itself may reduce the absorption of oral medications and therefore should be taken separately from these.
 No interactions between burdock and prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, other herbal products, or foods have been reported. However, because few reliable studies of burdock have been conducted in humans, its possible interactions are not understood completely.
 Burdock root is commonly eaten as a food by people east asia living all over the world, including in Canada and the U.S. It is listed as a GRAS food (generally recognized as safe) in the U.S. and Canada.
 
 Burdock has been reported to interact with medications given to control diabetes. Persons with diabetes should consult a physician before taking any herbal preparation containing burdock. In addition, burdock has been reported to intensify the activity of diuretics (drugs given to increase urine output) and lithium.
 Burdock may also interfere with the absorption of iron and other minerals in the diet. Persons who must take supplemental iron or other dietary minerals should consult their health practitioner before taking burdock.


   Precautions:

 The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and that can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
 Some individuals who handle burdock may experience an irritation of the skin.
 Pregnant or nursing women should avoid burdock as it may cause damage to the fetus.
 It is best to avoid taking excessive amounts of burdock (especially burdock root) as the toxic effects of this herb are not well understood.
 Although in folk medical practices it is believed that burdock lowers blood sugar and may help with diabetes, there is one animal study that suggested that this herb aggravated experimentally-induced diabetes in rats. It is not clear whether this same concern would apply to people.

 Because the roots of burdock closely resemble those of belladonna or deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), there is a risk that burdock preparations may be contaminated with these potentially dangerous herbs. Be sure to buy products made by established companies with good reputations, and who distribute their products through trustworthy and knowledgeable establishments. Whenever possible, select products with guaranteed potency or standardized extracts.

 Some commercially available burdock leaves and roots have been suspected of being adulterated, on occasion, with the root of the deadly belladonna (Atropa belladonna) with toxic consequences to unwary users. Consumers of herbal remedies should find a reliable source for medicinal herbs to avoid hazardous mistakes. Pregnant women should not use burdock, as it has a reported action as a uterine stimulant.
 Based on a small animal study, burdock products may promote tightening of the uterus, possibly resulting in a miscarriage. Although no miscarriages have been reported in humans, pregnant women may want to avoid eating or taking burdock.
 Burdock belongs to the same family of plants that also includes chrysanthemums, daisies, and ragweed. Individuals who are sensitive to any of these types of plants may also be sensitive to burdock. Additionally, the rough, prickly burrs from burdock may irritate the skin.
 Burdock root appears to be safe, even when consumed in large amounts as a vegetable. However, it looks very similar to the roots of belladonna and deadly nightshade, two poisonous plants that may grow in the same areas as burdock. Accidental inclusion of these poisons in burdock root products has resulted in deaths. If you decide to use burdock root, purchase it from a reputable commercial source. Do not try to harvest it from wild burdock plants.

  Possible side effects:

 No side effects have been associated with using burdock. Since few reliable studies of its use have been conducted in humans, however, it may have side effects that are not yet known. If you experience unexplained side effects while taking burdock, you should stop taking it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects.

  Risks and Notes:

 Note: Cases of poisoning have been reported from burdock root products that were mixed unintentionally with the roots of belladonna or deadly nightshade. All three plants look similar and they may grow in the same general environments. Their roots may be impossible to tell apart once they have been collected. If you choose to use burdock root, be sure that it is from a reputable source.
 Rarely, burdock root has been found to be contaminated with poisonous material from other plants. Such adulterated products have caused severe illness and death.
 Pregnant women should avoid burdock due to a slight potential for causing uterine tightening that could lead to miscarriage. Individuals with allergies to plants in the daisy family should avoid touching burdock.
 

  Safety and Toxicity:

 Niu Bang Zi can cause tonic convulsion in frogs, mice, and rabbits: the breathing slows down first, then spontaneous activities decrease, and finally, paralysis sets in without stopping the heartbeat.
 Reference:Editorial Committee of Chinese Materia Medica. State Drug Administration of China. Chinese Materia Medica. Shanghai: Science and Techonology Press; 1998.

  Arctiin:
 Chemical Name:2(3H)-Furanone, 4-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) methyl]-3-[[4-(Beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3-methoxyphenyl] methyl] dihydro-, (3R-trans)-
 Molecular Formula:C27H34O11; Molecular Weight:534.54; Melting Point:110-112 Deg C.

 Burdock root extract.Lignans 50%(Arctiin 50% of Total Lignans).Animal test proved that Burdock lignans functions good for lower blood sugar and cholesterol control.
 Acute Toxicity.LD50.Oral.Mice.577.6~902.4 times of clinical dose.
 LD50.Oral.Rat.495.7 times of clinical dose.
 LD50.Intraperitoneal.Mice.119.4 times of clinical dose.
 LD50.Intraperitoneal.Rat.22.1 times of clinical dose.
 180 days chronic test of Rat at dose 160,80,10.8 times of clinical dose of human prove no toxic effects,and no chronic toxicity.
 180 days chronic test of Dog oral dose at 2.13,20,40 times of clinical dose of human shows: at 40 times dose Lignans of burdock do certain harm to liver,kidney tissue and functions,no other kinds of toxic effects,no continuous toxic effects. No any toxic effects appear at lower dose such as 2.13 and 20 times groups.


   Burdock and Treatment of Chronic skin disease:

 It's bad enough waking up in the morning to find that a pimple is changing your profile. But what's even worse is turning on the television and being confronted with advertisements created with the simple intent of making you feel so bad about your imperfect skin that you run out and do something about it. As in buy a product that will not only clear up your skin, but will also bring you true love, riches, and perpetual happiness. Let's get some things straight right now. First, having pimples isn't the worst thing in the world. Second, there is no miracle cure for the problem, and anyone who tells you that there is has something to sell and should therefore be subject to suspicion.

 People's desire for flawless skin is easy to understand. The fact that they waste so much money in their attempts to achieve it is not. You are probably familiar with the over-the-counter options. In fact, you may have already spent a small fortune on them. Now it's time to look into a herbal possibility. Our next plant is excellent for any skin problem, be it eczema, dandruff, a wound that won't heal, or an infection such as chicken pox that results in skin eruptions. It will also help out with that pimple.

  Burdock has the ability to gently stimulate health and, as a consequence, to improve the appearance of the skin:

  Acne isn't anything new:

 Lyman Watkins, a physician writing in 1895, noted that: Acne is a papular eruption caused by a sub-acute or chronic inflammation of the sebaceous glands. It usually manifests itself in small elevations on the skin of the face, and less frequently upon other parts of the body. It is a very common and exceeding chronic affection, appearing for the most part about the age of puberty. Masturbation has very little, if anything to do with the production of acne.

 As you may know, at one time it was thought that acne was caused by masturbation, and the enlightened Eclectic physician clears that one up right away. I have an allopathic (that's the school of medicine we have today) medical text from the same period that takes a different view of the acne problem. The allopathic physician suggests that acne is caused by masturbation, and he goes on to recommend that obstinate masturbators be castrated. Sounds pretty severe to me.

 In the final analysis, acne is caused by infection in the skin's sebaceous glands. Fortunately, the medical tradition that once suggested castration as a cure has moved on from that to prescribing drugs that in theory kill the infection causing the pimples. Herbalists take a different tack, and our next plant, burdock, plays into this approach. It goes like this: why not boost the immune system so that it can fight the infection on its own?

  Burdock root and Its mechanism on Skin:

 The root of the burdock plant has been used in its native haunts, which include much of Africa and Europe, to improve immunity and overall health for at least 3,000 years. Like the honeybee, it has followed civilization. The plant produces a burr that gets stuck on people's clothing, and in this manner it has been carried to every continent. In recent years, the burdock has come to be considered a weed, despised by lawn owners for its tenacious growth habits.

 The plant is a biennial, which means that in its second year it blooms and then dies. Burdock spends its first year of life working industriously to store all the necessary elements to bloom the following year. The part of the plant we use in clearing the skin is the root. All the richness of the plant is safely packed away in the long, tapered root just as the leaves start to fall, and that's the time to pluck it from the ground, in the autumn of the plant's first year. The root contains lignans including arctigenin, glycoside arctiin, and matairesinol; polyacetylenes including tridecadienetetraynes, tridecatrienetriynes; and a sulfur containing arctic acid. It also contains amino acids including alpha guanidino-n-butyric acid, inulin, organic acids, fatty acids, and phenolic acids.

 Burdock works on the skin on two levels. First, poor skin may be a symptom of poor overall health. It is a mirror into the soul and the innards, and if your skin doesn't look great, it gives you some indication of how your insides might look. Burdock has the ability to gently stimulate health and, as a consequence, to improve the appearance of the skin. Elements contained in the plant improve the digestion and absorption of food, which makes the body stronger and better able to fight infection. Furthermore, one of the powers attributed to burdock is its ability to cleanse the body. In days gone by, it was considered a blood cleanser; today we say that it offers a stimulating effect on the excretory systems, helping them rid the body of toxins.

 Second, beyond its general health-stimulating abilities and like many of the members of the daisy family, chamomile, elecampane, and calendula included, burdock has the specific ability to speed the healing of the skin. Psoriasis, dandruff, wounds, ulcers, eczema, eruptions on the skin, boils, carbuncles, sties, sores, aphthous ulcerations, and chronic acne are all treated effectively with burdock. Whereas calendula is used externally to improve the skin's appearance, burdock is taken internally.
 


  Legacy from a Tradition:

 In the European capitals, burdock was always the plant of choice when it came to improving the skin, and when colonials moved on to the New World, the burr-covered plant went with them. In the Appalachian woods of North America, burdock was, and still is, made into root tea to clear poor complexions. In the European medical tradition, it has also been a classic blood purifier for several hundred years.

 Like the Europeans, the Chinese were mad about the plant. They recommended its use for just about any kind of skin problem you might have, including cancers, induration and tumors of the breast, glands, intestines, knees, lips, tongue, liver, sinuses, stomach, or uterus; ulcerated, glandular, and white tumors, canker and other sores, leprosy, prurigo, psoriasis, abscesses, acne, corns, warts, and scaly skin. The Chinese felt that in addition to clearing up the skin, burdock would clear up problems with all the glands that lie under the skin. This is noteworthy because we now know acne is caused by infected sebaceous glands.

 Chinese researchers have proven burdock to be anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic, antitumor, antifungal, estrogenic, hypoglycemic, and antibacterial. Right here you can see how burdock would help skin improve itself. Its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties are just what the doctor ordered (or should have) for acne.

 A traditional Chinese physician would tell you that burdock cleanses the body of toxins so that the skin can clear on its own accord. Acne or eczema is seen as a symptom of toxins in the system, and the solution is to get the skin cleaned out. Interestingly enough, the Pennsylvania Dutch say the same thing on the other side of the world. The Pennsylvania Dutch are an ethnic group famous for preserving their traditions, and one of these is home doctoring. They prefer to handle most medical problems themselves and only call in a professional when necessary. As acne and poor complexions aren't highly rated health issues, the Pennsylvania Dutch turn to a weed from the backyard to cure them instead of an M.D. They brew burdock root into a strong tea. Applied externally, this is used to cure dandruff; taken internally, it is said to clear up skin afflictions of all sorts.

 If in fact poor complexion is caused by toxins in the system, burdock and its clinically proven ability to act as a diuretic would indeed help the body cleanse itself through the traditional means, urination. It is also mildly laxative and will get things moving out from that exit point as well. Doctors in the medical establishment tend to dismiss the notion that poor skin is caused by toxins in the system, but it makes a lot of sense. Alcoholics, smokers, drug addicts, and people who eat chemical-laced food always have horrible skin. Those who work with chemicals all the time, such as painters and farmers, similarly suffer from poor skin. Burdock's ability to rid the body of excess fluids may be the reason for its skin-clearing powers. At any rate, it's worth a try.

 The 1917 booklet entitled Health from Field and Forest reiterates this idea of burdock as a cleansing plant: The root is one of the best blood purifiers, used in scorbutic, syphilitic, scrofulous and leprous diseases, eliminating very rapidly any impurity or poison from the blood. It is also very useful in gout. The leaves form a cooling and healing poultice for boils, carbuncles, etc., and the seeds are excellent for dropsy and kidney trouble, and are also an effective remedy for neuralgia. At the time the booklet was written, all forms of skin conditions were treated with burdock, even leprosy!


  Scientific References:

  1.Arctium lappa L.Great Burdock Achene Extract.Burdock Seed.Burdock Root.