Burdock has been an important botanical in western folk herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. The entire plant is edible and is a popular vegetable in Asia, particularly in Japan. Primarily valued for its affinity for the skin and liver, burdock can be found in herbal decoctions, extracts, and cosmetics.
A biennial member of the Asteraceace family, Arctium lappa is marked by its bright red to purple thistle-like flowers on long stalks, and oblong to cordate, large hairy leaves. Native to Europe and Asia, burdock is now naturalized throughout North America and Australia where it is sometimes considered a weed. Burdock grows to a robust height, occasionally reaching up to 9 feet. Its formidable, aromatic, "carrot-like" taproot grows as much as 3 feet deep into the ground. Harvesting the roots is no easy task and is often done in the fall of the first year or spring of the second year. According to the late herbalist Michael Moore "harvesting full flowered plants in the fall can be as much work as digging up a small tree".
Burdock is a versatile root that has a myriad of internal uses and is also employed in external applications. In TCM, burdock is considered energetically cooling and having a consistency that can help to soothe. In Native American healing traditions, the plant was used by several tribes for skin health. Further, the roots were dried by the Iroquois over a fire and stored for food for the following year. In European folk medicine, an infusion or decoction was employed as a diuretic, to aid in digestion, and as topical poultice. In European folklore, the root was thought to carry magical powers of protection and healing.
Burdock root is considered a highly effective, gentle, and multipurpose herb in the herbalism community and is widely employed as an alterative. Typically, the dried root is prepared as a cold infusion, decoction, or tincture.
Our burdock extract is made from fresh, organic roots and is macerated in small batches by our expert extract team. A high-quality burdock tincture, this liquid extract tastes mildly acrid and bitter yet retains some of its natural sweetness. Some of our favorite classic herbal combinations include blending burdock extract with yellow dock extract, milk thistle seed extract, or Oregon grape extract. It can be simply applied on the tongue or consumed in juice or water. We also recommend adding this tincture to seasonal herbal teas such as spring care tea.
Ingredients
Organic alcohol, water, and fresh organic burdock root.
Packaging & Shipping
• 1 oz., 2 oz., and 4 oz. extracts come in amber glass bottles with a dropper.
• 8 oz. and 16 oz. sizes come in amber glass bottles with a plastic screw cap and do not include a dropper.
• 32 oz. extracts come in plastic bottles with a plastic screw cap.
Precautions
No known precautions. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.
