Latin Name
Arctium lappa

General Description
For several centuries, herbalists have prescribed burdock root to cure a wide range of illnesses. Today, some practitioners use burdock to treat urinary tract infections, arthritic conditions, external wounds and skin ulcers. This herb works best in conjunction with professional medical treatment. The root has brown bark and a white, spongy interior that hardens when dried. Burdock got its name from its tenacious burrs and from dock, the Old English word for "plant."

Target Ailments
Taken internally for:

• Fungal and bacterial infections; skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, which cause dry, scaly skin; urinary tract infections; rheumatism; arthritis.

Applied externally for:

• Wounds and skin conditions.

Preparations
Over the counter:
Burdock is available as dried powder, slices of root and tinctures. You can find the fresh root in the vegetable sections of health food stores.

At home:
Decoction: 1 tsp. burdock root added to 3 cups water and boiled for 30 minutes. Up to 3 cups a day consumed to treat genital and urinary tract irritations.
Compress: A clean cloth soaked in burdock tea and placed it on the skin to speed healing of wounds and skin ulcers.
Combinations: Burdock can be mixed with yellow dock, red clover, or cleavers and taken orally for skin disorders. Consult an herbalist for more information.

Special Information

• WARNING: Do not use burdock if you are pregnant; it stimulates the uterus.
  
• Laboratory trials on animals indicate that burdock has possible antitumor activity.
  
• Do not give burdock to children younger than 2 years of age. Older children and people over 65 should start with lower-strength doses, increasing them if needed.