I of late wrote about clotbur ( Arctium lappa ) and how good it is for the territory . As I was doing so , I look back over my posts as The Prescription Gardener . It seems like I mention burdock quite a lot but never really talked about why I wish it so much . It seems I ’ve been teasing my readers , so today that ends !
Burdock is well known for its burr . Some have likened them to lifelike Velcro for the way they zipper themselves to clothes , pilus and pelt . ( They were actually the inspiration ! ) It ’s a rather good means for the seeds to move themselves about — so successful , in fact , that burdock has naturalized itself all over the domain . mention to the use of goods and services of burdock can be found in Europe , India , China , Japan and across North America . It is a moderately fresh import to our continent , showing up here in the early 17th century .
I grew up have it away clotbur as a nuisance weed in vegetable and flower garden around the house . It was n’t too much of a stretchiness to learn that the root contain good phytochemicals , but to hear that all region of the industrial plant are useful was a surprise . Dawn Combs
I think we be given to practice the clotbur antecedent more because it ’s easier to collect . It must be hoard in belated - summertime or former - fall of the first class . Burdock is a biennial and if it is allowed to winter , the root begins to rot from the inside out .
Burdock can be find on disturbed land , in fields or on the edges of the wood . It is easy to spot this time of year so I challenge you to get out and get to eff this awe-inspiring weed . Here are some of the many ways you may put it to utilize ,
Seeds
The clotbur source must be harvested by violate start the Velcro - similar burs . A colleague of mine learned the arduous way that you must be very careful collecting these seeded player . The zipper mechanism on the seed head can be very dangerous to the eyes . If you wish to use clotbur source , it is best to put the burs in a gunny bag and pound them while they are safely contained , so the splintering flora matter ca n’t jump near your face .
1. Soothe Toothaches
The source causes the same kind of tingling in the mouth when you chew them that you may get with Echinacea ( Echinaceaspp . ) or spilanthes ( Spilanthes acmella ) . All of these herb have abilities to console a toothache and promote unwritten wellness health .
2. Promote Kidney Health
Due to the doctrine of signatures ( which enjoin that a plant that resembles a body part can be used to plow that body part ) , burdock seeds have long been think to benefit the kidney . The semen heads and seeds themselves were order to resemble rock in the kidney and bladder , and we now know that burdock seeds actually do aid in treating them .
3. Relieve Arthritis Pain
Burdock seeds have also been used in land medicine for arthritis . This is ordered in that we often apply diuretics , which promote water flow through the kidney , to relieve the botheration and inflammation of rheumatic juncture . ensure to grind or process the seeds to remove the small sharp points , as they ’ll skip your spit and stick as you chew them .
4. Improve Memory
Even clotbur ’s burs can be used medicinally . tincture them in a tea leaf to profit the memory .
Leaves
5. Relieve Muscle and Tendon Pain
An quondam Amish friend told me that their community of interests uses clotbur folio , bruise , on the back to ease annoyance . Nicolas Culpeper , a seventeenth century herbalist and physician , also suggested that , though there has been no real corroboration . Culpeper wrote that the leaves could be hurt and placed on sinew that are pull too tightly and are do pain .
6. Treat Skin Problems
In 17th 100 Europe , clotbur leafage were go for topically in country music to do by burn and tumors . They are today fuck to be very good for itchy skin rashes , particularly eczema , poison English ivy and grownup acne .
Roots
Where the seeds can be used to quickly stamp out an acute ill , etymon medical specialty moves slowly with thick imbalances .
7. Digestion Aid
Burdock root aids in the digestion of fats and oils . It ’s served in French and Japanese cuisine as part of rich , obtuse recipes .
8. Blood Cleanser
In western herbalism , we know the antecedent best for its abilities as an alterative . Alteratives are herb that favorably improve the condition of the blood . Throughout most of clotbur ’s written history , there is a functional theme that the entire flora is of import for its power to support the health of the liver , the kidneys and the lymphatics and to cure shape associated with the peel . The antecedent is nearly specific for psoriasis and eczema .
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Dawn Combs
