Latin name: Arctium lappa .
Other Names: Bardana, burr seed, clotbur, cocklebur, grass burdock, hardock, hareburr, hurrburr, turkey burrseed, Burdock, Niu bang zi
Parts Used: root, seed, leaves

Description :
A stout handsome plant, with large, wavy leaves and round heads of purple flowers. It is enclosed in a globular involucre of long stiff scales with hooked tips, the scales being also often interwoven with a white, cottony substance. In traditional herbal texts, burdock root is described as a blood purifier or alterative. Burdock root was believed to clear the bloodstream of toxins. It was used both internally and externally for eczema and psoriasis as well as to treat painful joints and as a diuretic. In traditional Chinese medicine, burdock root in combination with other herbs is used to treat sore throats, tonsillitis, colds, and even measles. It is eaten as a vegetable in Japan and elsewhere. Burdock root has recently become popular as part of a tea to treat cancer. To date, only minimal research has substantiated this application. Burdock is native to Asia and Europe. The root is the primary source of most herbal preparations. The root becomes very soft with chewing and tastes sweet, with a mucilaginous texture.

Burdock is a biennial plant found along fences, walls, and roadsides, in waste places, and around populated areas. The root is long, fleshy, gray-brown outside, and whitish inside. In its second year, the plant grows a furrowed, reddish, pithy stem with woolly branches. During the first year burdock has only basal leaves. Both basal and stem leaves are oblong-cordate to cordate, green and hairy on top and downy gray beneath. The purple flowers appear in loose corymbose clusters from July to September. Antibiotic, antifungal, diaphoretic, diuretic, mild laxative, antipyretic Beneficial in treating: acne psoriasis rheumatoid arthritis

A root decoction of burdock has been reported useful in the treatment of gout, rheumatism, and dropsy. In Japan, the tender leaf stalks and roots are boiled twice to remove the tough fibers and then eaten. It is a diuretic without the side effects such as irritation and nausea. Externally, the leaves have been applied for benign skin tumors and in the treatment of knee joint swellings unresponsive to other medicines. Burdock poultices have been used in the treatment of gout, severe bloody bruises and burns.

Recent scientific experiments have shown that burdock root extracts is a diuretic and inhibited tumors in animals. Extracts also lowered blood sugar and have estrogenic activity. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The active antibacterial compound is identified as lactone.

The experiments show that burdock has potential in treatment of female complaints, in diabetes, and for bacterial or fungal infection.

Use of burdock root in the dosages listed here is generally safe. However, burdock root in large quantities may stimulate the uterus and therefore should be used with caution during pregnancy. Do not use burdock if you are suffering from diarrhea....

Actions:, alterative, antihypercholesterolemic, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antitumor, antitussive, appetite stimulant, astringent, bacteriostatic, bitter, blood purifier, demulcent, depurative, diaphoretic, digestive system alterative, diuretic expectorant, fungistatic, immunostimulant, liver alterative, lymphagogue, mild diuretic, mild laxative, muscular alterative, skeletal alterative, absorbs toxins from the bowels

Traditional uses:abscess, acidosis, acne, allergies, anorexia nervosa, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, boil, bronchitis, cancer, canker sores, catarrh, chicken pox, chronic fatigue syndrome, cirrhosis, cystitis, eczema, gout, headache, hepatitis, herpes, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipemia, ichthyosis, immunodeficiency, lithiasis, lumbago, measles, pneumonia, psoriasis, rheumatism, sciatica, skin disorders, skin ulcer, smallpox, stomatitis, syphilis, urethritis, urinary tract infection, wounds

Combination of five herbs used for the treatment of skin disorders.
Arctium lappa 375 mg
Berberis aquifolium 500 mg
Galium aparine succus 1,500 mg
Rumex crispus 375 mg
Smilax ornata 500 mg