Burdock- Arctium lappa

Other Names:

Bardana, Beggar's Buttons, Burr, Burr Seed, Burrseed, 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

Uses:	Chinese:	Leafy branches as tea: Measles (with brown sugar in tea), Rheumatism, Vertigo
	Japanese:	Studies show that it helps to prevent and slow mutations and cancer.

	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.)
	Contains:	Niacin (seeds), Vit. C, Iron, 27-45% Inulin, 12% Protein, 70% Carbohydrate, some vit. A, P, & B complex, Vit. E, PABA, small amount Sulphur, Silicon, Copper, Iodine, Zinc, Plant steroids (small amounts)

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

Contraindications:

Don't use if open sores are present or in the later stages of measles, or if you have excess stomach acid, irritable bowels, or ulcers or are experiencing diarrhea or heartburn. Leaves could irritate the skin. Root decoction or infusion can cause constipation in some people. Can cause heartburn and upset stomach in rare cases. Large amounts can cause diarrhea and upset stomach. It should also be avoided by pregnant women as it is a uterine stimulant. DON'T CONFUSE LEAVES with the TOXIC leaves of Rhubarb!

Notes:	Harvesting:	Leaves:	Can be harvested all summer, just be cautious not to confuse them with Rhubarb leaves (toxic). The leaf hairs may irritate the skin in some people.
		Roots:	Are usually harvested in early spring or late fall. Burdock enjoys growing in rocky areas or places where it's hard to get to the roots. The roots manage to twist themselves into every nook and cranny making it -very- dificult to harvest. One of my teachers has Burdock growing from under her solid cement back steps which she's tried to remove for years and talked her apprentices into the challenge. It has yet to be removed! CUT the root up before drying, otherwise it dries out and is like cement!
		Seeds:	Easier (but not by too much) than collecting the roots is the collection of the seeds. Recommended method: Tie any long hair back and under a cap or hat. I prefer to go bare-handed; a little torn skin is less hassle than trying to remove burrs that have become enmeshed in your gloves. Cut off mature (brown and dead-looking) burrs with scissors and place immediately into a paper bag (about lunch bag size). Step away from the burdock and shake the bag vigorously for a couple minutes. Carefully remove the burrs and you'll have some seeds left in the bag. When collecting the seeds from the burrs, the burrs themselves may cause skin irritation, plus the added irritation of sticking to -everything-, including skin. IN ADDITION (as if Burdock wasn't nasty enough) the inside of the burrs contain tiny little splinters, so if you're adventurous enough to cut open the burrs and remove seeds manually (VERY not recommended!), be warned. The splinters are nastier than the burrs; they get everywhere, need tweezers to remove, and need good lighting and a magnifying glass to see. In spite of all this, I still love this plant and have to admire it for its stubbornness and wonderful healing properties.

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