Burdock - Herb for this Lunar Cycle

Burdock

Arctium lappa

Common Name

Burdock, greater burdock, gobo, beggar’s buttons, thorny burr

Parts Used

Root, leaf, seed/fruit

Native To

Temperate regions of Europe and Asia (Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew [RBGK], n.d.b).

Geographic Distribution

Arctium lappa can be found throughout temperate Eurasia and much of the United States and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand (RBGK, n.d.b).

Botanical Description

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a biennial (a plant with a life cycle of 2 years); in its first year, the plant forms a basal rosette and stays relatively close to the ground (Brill & Dean, 1994). The lower leaves are large, up to 2 feet long and 1 foot wide, and wedge-shaped with wavy edges; the undersides of the leaves are whitish with a dense wooly texture, while the purplish leaf stems are solid and round with a single groove along the upper surface (Brill & Dean, 1994). During the spring of its second year, burdock sends up a flower stalk that reaches 2-9 feet tall; the leaves become progressively smaller and less wavy toward the top of the stalk (Brill & Dean, 1994). Burdock blooms in the late spring or early summer, developing pink to purple florets that form a composite flower head ranging from 1-1.5 inches in diameter and emerging from a prickly, globular green base (Brill & Dean, 1994). These thistle-like flowers give way to seed heads that form as a brown burr with small hooked tips capable of latching onto clothing and fur as a means of seed dispersal (Brill & Dean, 1994). Burdock produces a large taproot that grows up to 4 feet long and 3 inches wide, with a surface resembling tree bark and a core bearing concentric beige-white rings (Brill & Dean, 1994).

Uses

Burdock has a long history as a culinary and bioactive plant. The root of this common herb has been known throughout history for its blood-purifying qualities, and the leaves have been used for a variety of topical applications; historically, the leaves were even applied to rabid dog bites (Fuchs, 1543/2017).

A true wayside weed, burdock is known for its distinctive burrs that cling to the clothing and fur of passersby, helping to disperse its seeds. The main species of burdock used in herbalism is Arctium lappa; the name Arctium is derived from the Greek word for “bear,” which is thought to be an allusion to the rough texture of the plant’s burrs (Grieve, 1931/1971). The species name, lappa, is believed to come either from a word meaning “to seize” or “hand”; either one refers to the burr’s ability to hold onto items of texture such as fur and sweaters (Grieve, 1931/1971). The common name comes from “burr,” referring to a lock of wool often entangled in the sticky burrs, and “dock” meaning “large-leaved” (Tobyn et al., 2016). Few people know that the way burdock seeds attach to almost any hair and cloth has been the inspiration for George de Mestral to develop a widely used clothing fastener (VELCRO, 2018).

In Germany and Lithuania, burdock was once believed to protect cattle from curses by hanging the entire plant above the stable door (Teirlinck, 1926), but interestingly, it was not special enough to be part of an offering during Anglo-Saxon disenchantment rituals for their crop fields, and it was specifically instructed not to use the common plant because it was a weed (Teirlinck, 1926).

The European Medicines Agency (2010) describes burdock as “a traditional herbal medicinal product used to increase the amount of urine to achieve flushing of the urinary tract as an adjuvant in minor urinary tract complaints” (p. 3). The root is also indicated in temporary loss of appetite, and is used to soothe chronic skin conditions such as seborrhea (EMA, 2010), eczema, furuncles, acne, and psoriasis (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy [ESCOP], 2016). Modern herbalists value burdock root, seeds, and leaves for their alterative, diuretic, and antilithic properties (Tobyn et al., 2016).

Currently, the genus Arctium comprises 44 accepted species and several hybrids (RBGK, n.d.a). Burdock is highly polymorphic and its appearance varies in the hairiness of leaves and capitula, length of floral peduncles, and color of florets (Wang et al., 2019). It is often difficult to make a clear distinction between species because A. lappa (greater burdock), A. minus (lesser burdock), and A. tomentosum (woolly burdock) are all common species growing in a similar habitat, and interspecific hybridization can readily occur. For this reason, the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (2016) suggests that burdock roots (Arctii radix) can consist of all three mentioned species and their hybrids, or mixtures thereof. The genus names Bardana, Lappa, and Arcion are botanical synonyms of Arctium (RBGK, n.d.a). However, some older herbal literature calls burdock by the older names, and the dried roots are still often referred to as Bardanae radix rather than the modern Arctii radix.

In Japan, burdock has been cultivated as a vegetable for about 1000 years (Lim, 2014). Now, it is widely cultivated in Taiwan, China, and Japan, where the crisp, sweet, mild, and slightly pungent root is eaten raw and cooked. It is particularly popular in Japanese and Korean cuisine where it is called gobo and ueong, and features in several dishes such as kinpira gobo, a combination of shredded burdock root and carrot braised with soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sesame oil. Gobo is also processed into a fried snack similar to potato chips. While the burdock root does not seem to have a tradition as a culinary herb in the Western part of the world, English herbalist John Gerard (1597/1633) documented the edibility of the young peeled stalks, which, he states, makes for great nourishment either eaten raw with salt and pepper or boiled in a rich broth. The peeled young stems can be cooked in salt water, and the taste is reminiscent of artichokes (Fleischhauer et al., 2016).

Burdock root is used for aiding digestion, in part because the root contains inulin, a prebiotic that feeds the gut microbiome (Li et al., 2008). As a mild bitter and cholagogue, burdock root also tonifies the digestive system by stimulating the secretion of bile; this helps improve appetite and digestion, thereby supporting the health of the whole body (Hoffmann, 2003).

It is not entirely clear when the beneficial uses of burdock were first recorded, but the ancient Greeks called it arkeion, described in De Materia Medica of Dioscorides (70/2000). Dioscorides suggested burdock root taken together with pine (Pinus spp.) kernels to “help spitters of blood and corrupt matter” (p. 658). The root pulp was externally applied to soothe painful joints, while the leaves were used to resolve old ulcers (Dioscorides, 70/2000).

Interestingly, 12th-century abbess and herbalist Saint Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) describes the root of burdock as useless; she suggests a warm wine decoction of the leaves taken to expel urinary stones (as cited in Hertza & Strehlow, 2003).

German physician Leonhart Fuchs (1543/2017) cites Dioscorides but also suggests the external application of crushed leaves mixed with egg white to soothe burns. He states that the mashed roots combined with pork fat could ease goiter, and a salty paste made with the leaves was used for snake and rabid dog bites (Fuchs, 1543/2017). The latter use was widely mentioned by the Renaissance herbalists.

Culpeper (1643/1995) adds that burdock is attributed to Venus, possibly because he indicated the leaves and seeds for the womb, which he stated could be drawn “either upwards by applying it [the herb] 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 place, apply it to the navel, and that is a good way to stay the child in it” ( p. 51).

Tobyn et al. (2016) state that 18th-century herbal physicians including John Quincy and Joseph Miller used the seeds and root to ease symptoms of rheumatism and gout, scaly conditions of the skin, mercury poisoning, and kidney obstructions, which the authors believe may refer to oliguria. The leaves were also used for burns, scalds, and swellings, and wrapped around the feet to reduce fever (Tobyn et al., 2016).

Alterative herbs, a concept first coined by John Quincy, are indicated when a gentle and gradual approach is needed through a cleansing action (Tobyn et al., 2016). Burdock’s alterative properties help eliminate metabolic waste products including uric acid (Tobyn et al., 2016), and are used to help detoxify and normalize metabolic function. Along with other alterative herbs such as yellow dock (Rumex crispus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), or cleavers (Galium aparine), burdock is used to calm skin eruptions such as eczema, dandruff, psoriasis, and other external signs of internal disharmonies (Hoffmann, 1998). These herbs are often referred to as blood cleansers (Tobyn et al., 2016). Authors Mills & Bone (2000) suggest alteratives during spring fasts and also to ease joint and connective tissue problems. Alteratives are also often applied by herbalists during the care for patients with cancer, alongside conventional cancer treatments (Tobyn et al., 2016).

Interestingly, in the herbal alchemy tradition, plants with thorns, spines, and sticky seed heads are seen as characteristic of herbs that help expel toxins from the body. According to Rippe et al. (2008) burdock belongs to the salt principle; these are plants high in minerals such as potassium and magnesium, and are often employed in cases of chronic illness. Burdock is used as part of a four-ingredient tea that includes goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and birch (Betula pendula) to support the removal of accumulated waste products in the body, particularly after completing chemotherapy (Rippe et al., 2008).

Herbalist Matthew Wood (2008) indicates burdock root specifically for dry conditions where the tissue needs cleansing and nourishment. As he explains, the bitter action of burdock aids the digestion and absorption of fats, which are then better distributed throughout dry body tissues. Wood (2008) also employs burdock in cases of acne and boils, which can sometimes be associated with a lack of oil flow through the sebaceous glands.

While burdock root is commonly used for chronic conditions, herbalists often prefer to use burdock seed for more acute issues (mcdonald, n.d.; Wood, 2008). The Eclectic physician William Cook (1869) indicated the root when a gentle action was sought to reduce an irritable condition of the system by stimulating the secreting organs like the kidneys, skin, and bowels. The seeds, on the other hand, are diuretic with a more immediate and temporary action than the root (Cook, 1869). Herbalist jim mcdonald (n.d.) explains that the seeds are more diffusive; that is, their action is conveyed through the nervous system and therefore has a speedier and more transient response in the body. By contrast, burdock root is considered to be a restorative tonic to be used over a longer period of time, but with the potential to yield more permanent results (mcdonald, n.d.).

As mcdonald (n.d.) explains, the diffusive property of burdock seeds is evidenced by the tingling sensation they produce on the tongue, similar to that of echinacea (Echinacea spp.); in fact, he uses burdock seed in conjunction with echinacea to increase the effectiveness of echincea’s action against colds and flu, especially in cases involving swollen glands. Burdock seed is also thought to have a stronger diuretic action than the root and is therefore used for kidney-related issues such as edema, gout, and kidney stones (Wood, 2008).

Uses of burdock seeds in Chinese medicine were first documented in the Ming-Yi Bie-Lu, “Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians” (Chen et al., 2016), an ancient Chinese medical book written around 510 CE (Mazumdar, 1998). Interestingly, there are some similarities between early Western herbalism and burdock uses in Chinese medicine. According to herbalist Jing-Nan Wu (2005), the seeds disperse Wind Heat, typically characterized by a painful throat with expectoration, and also to promote rashes in the onset of measles and rubella. The seeds are also used to improve Liver qi circulation (Li & Wei, 2002). Burdock is rarely used on its own in Chinese medicine and is usually combined with other herbs. The roots are applied for similar indications and utilized to ease symptoms associated with the common cold (Zhou et al., 2011), to detoxify the blood, and for skin conditions such as rashes, boils, and eczema (Chan et al., 2011).

Burdock leaves are sometimes used, either bruised or blanched, as a poultice for skin eruptions such as boils (mcdonald, n.d.), abscesses, and rashes (Wood, 2008). Burdock leaf has a strong antibacterial action, which may help address the bacteria associated with boils and other skin eruptions (Winston & Kuhn, 2008). Herbalist Lisa Ganora (2009) suggests that the photoactivated sulphur compounds lappaphene-A and arctinal exhibit strong antimicrobial and antifungal actions and may be contributors to burdock’s use for various skin conditions and blood-cleansing properties.

British herbalist Maud Grieve (1931/1971) also mentions bruises, tumors, swellings, and general inflammation as traditional indications for burdock leaf poultices. A clinical study by Kolacz et al. (2014) researched the use of burdock leaf dressings as a replacement for gauze in the treatment of first and second degree burns in Amish patients. Burdock leaves are traditionally used within some Amish communities for burn care due to their non-stick texture as well as their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers concluded that the burdock leaf dressings were an acceptable alternative to conventional burn care and caused no infections and minimal pain while the dressings were changed (Kolacz et al., 2014).

Burdock fruit has also been studied for its benefits to the skin when applied externally. A study by Knott et al. (2008) determined that a topical application of burdock fruit extract significantly improved dermal extracellular matrix metabolism, leading to visible wrinkle reduction. The authors of this study concluded that “A. lappa fruit extract represents a targeted means to regenerate dermal structures and, thus, offers an effective treatment option for mature skin” (Knott et al., 2008, Abstract).

Burdock has historically been used as a hair tonic, and an oil made from its roots is still commonly sold in several European countries for use against hair loss. It is not entirely clear where this use comes from, but some authors suggest that it is based on the Doctrine of Signatures (Van Wyk & Wink, 2017). While there is no clinical evidence to support these claims, an in vitro study suggests that arctiin, a lignan present in burdock root, seed, and leaf, exhibits antioxidative effects on human hair dermal papilla cells and reduces cell senescence responsible for hair loss (alopecia) (Bae et al., 2014).

Burdock is not often specifically mentioned for hormonal balance; however, herbalist Aviva Romm (2017) suggests a mixed tincture of equal parts burdock root, calendula (Calendula officinalis), chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) berry, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root, and sarsaparilla (Smilax ornata) to promote the elimination of excess estrogen and regulation of hormones. While the authors do not explain the mechanisms of action, one small clinical pilot study found burdock root extract to alter the serum levels of sex hormones in 24 older women with metabolic syndrome by decreasing abdominal fat and waist circumference (Ha et al., 2021).

Arctigenin, a lignan found in burdock root, seed, and leaf, is a constituent studied by scientists primarily for its potential anticancer action (He et al., 2018). Arctigenin is also being investigated for its neuroprotective effects and for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Li et al., 2014), which are associated with anticancer activity (Leonard et al., 2006). While some of burdock’s constituents have been shown to inhibit different kinds of cancer at various stages in vitro (Matsumoto et al., 2006; Susanti et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2014), there is no indication of efficacy in the human body, and clinical trials are required before making meaningful conclusions.

Burdock root is the main constituent of Essiac tea, a popular herbal blend taken to influence the progression of cancer and to ease negative side effects that may occur during conventional cancer treatment, as well as to improve the quality of life of patients (Tamayo et al., 2000). It is made with 32 parts of burdock root pieces, 16 parts sorrel (Rumex acetosa) powder, 4 parts slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) inner bark powder, and 1 part rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) powder (Tobyn et al., 2016). However, it is important to point out that there are no clinical studies into the effectiveness of Essiac tea, and whether it is safe. There is one study measuring the effect of Essiac tea on the quality of life of women with breast cancer, but they found no significant improvement (Zick et al., 2006).

Interestingly, the historical application for burdock to ease joint pain has some scientific backing. It is known that oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in joint problems, and the strong antioxidant properties of burdock have been the subject of interest in a small randomized, clinical study by Maghsoumi-Norouzabad et al. (2016). The trial looked into the effect of burdock root tea on serum inflammatory markers and oxidative stress indicators in 36 patients with knee osteoarthritis. During 42 days, one group received 3 cups of tea containing 2 g burdock root powder daily, taken after meals, while the control group received 3 cups containing only water. The results suggest that burdock root tea improves inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and could be a good dietary addition (Maghsoumi-Norouzabad et al., 2016).

Furthermore, arctigenin has shown antiviral effects. Both in vitro and in vivo research revealed high efficacy against porcine circovirus type 2, similar to ribavirin, a conventional antiviral medication, and inhibits proliferation of porcine circovirus type 2 in the lungs, spleens, and inguinal lymph nodes (Chen et al., 2016). Burdock may have the potential to protect pigs against this virus and may find applications in herbal veterinary care.