Burdock is a widely available and powerful medicinal plant used both as food and natural medicine. It’s effective for treating a wide range of conditions including rickets, allergies, diathesis, kidney stones, goiter, diabetes, cholecystitis, hepatitis, constipation, hemorrhoids, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, baldness, boils, rashes, fever, mastopathy, and delayed menstruation.
It acts as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, vitamin-rich, hypoglycemic, metabolic stimulant, laxative, cholagogue, and anti-itch agent.
The flowers, leaves, roots, seeds, and juice of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.
Leaves
- Young leaves – great in salads, soups, spices, and pickles; an excellent source of vitamin C.
- Mature leaves are collected during the flowering season, dried without stalks, and crushed for use.
Roots
- Dig up, remove soil and any rotten parts, wash, cut lengthwise, and dry at up to 50°C.
- Crushed roots dry faster and preserve quality better. Once dried, they can be easily ground into powder.
- Harvest first-year roots after the first frost, or in early spring before the appearance of 3–4 leaves.
Seeds
- Collected during full ripeness after the first frost, often during root harvesting.
- Dry the seed heads and extract seeds.
- Strong diuretic effect: decoction 1:10, drink 1 cup in 3–4 doses daily.
Flowers
- Collected and dried in May–June.
- Used as a powerful anti-allergic agent, especially for skin conditions and bronchial asthma.
Dosage Forms
Leaf Powder:
1 tsp 3–5 times daily before meals, with water or tea — used for digestive issues, skin conditions, and gout.
Root Powder:
- 1 tsp 3–5 times daily before meals — effective against and for prevention of diabetes.
- Use for 3 weeks with 3-week breaks.
Leaf Decoction:
- 1 tbsp crushed leaves in 1 cup water. Simmer 5 minutes or steep in hot water bath for 20 minutes, strain, and let stand 1 hour.
- Take 1 tbsp 3–4 times a day before meals.
- Regulates digestion, helps with baldness, and eliminates salt deposits.
- For joint pain or osteochondrosis, drink 3–5 cups with honey and apply burdock ointment to affected areas.
Root Decoction:
- 2 tbsp crushed roots boiled in 400 ml water for 20–30 minutes, steep 30 minutes, strain.
- Use as a lotion for boils, wounds, itching, dermatitis, baldness.
Seed Infusion:
- 1 tbsp seeds in 200 ml water, simmer for 1 hour.
- Take 50 ml 2–3 times a day before meals to reduce swelling.
Leaf Juice:
- Cut fresh leaves (do not wash), grind in a meat grinder, extract juice by hand or press.
- Mix 1:1 with granulated sugar. Add alcohol or vodka to make an 8–10% alcohol mixture.
- Store in the refrigerator or cellar for up to 1 year.
- Daily dose: 2–3 tbsp in herbal tea or 1 tbsp in half a cup of water, 2–3 times daily before meals.
- Course: 3 months.
Fresh Root Recipes
Method 1:
- Wash and grate root, mix 1:1 with honey, store in fridge.
- Take 1 tbsp 2x daily before meals.
Method 2:
- Grated root mixed with cognac and lemon in equal parts (1:1:1).
- Take 1 tbsp 2x daily, 30 minutes before meals — improves metabolism, digestion, and slows aging. Used for diabetes.
Hair Oil:
- 200 g powdered root in 500 g vegetable oil.
- Cook for 3 days, stir occasionally, then keep in a water bath for 2–3 hours, cool, and strain.
- Rub into the scalp 2x a week for 2 months to treat hair loss; also effective against itchy dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Root Tincture (Raw):
- Mix crushed fresh root with 40% alcohol or vodka in 1:3 or 1:5 ratio for 2 weeks.
- Strain and take 1 tsp 3–4 times daily with water or herbal infusion.
Root Tincture (Dried):
- Mix dried root with vodka or 40% alcohol in a 1:10 ratio for 2 weeks.
- Fresh root tincture is more effective.
Ointment:
- Mix 150 g crushed dry root with 500 g vegetable or petroleum jelly-based oil.
- Let stand 5 days, then heat in water bath for 1 hour. Cool and strain.
- Great for treating eczema, burns, and wound healing.
Burdock is a powerful, multi-purpose natural remedy — easy to grow, harvest, and use for a wide range of health benefits!
