Burdock
If you’ve ever picked a sticky round burr from your clothes after walking in the countryside, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered burdock. This plant’s ingenious mechanism for seed dispersal was the inspiration for Velcro! Burdock is in the Asteraceae family, which makes it a relative of daisies and coneflowers (see Echinacea, page 105). It is native to Europe and Northern Asia, but it now grows as a weed throughout North America. In Japan, burdock is cultivated for its root and eaten as a vegetable called gobo. The root is crispy, with a sweet, earthy flavour that resembles celery and is jam-packed with micronutrients.
Health Benefits
Historically burdock was used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory ailments such as arthritis. In 14th-century Europe, burdock and wine were supposedly used to treat leprosy. Later European herbalists tested it on a variety of skin-related conditions (baldness, scrapes, and burns), syphilis, and even gonorrhea. However, no evidence currently supports using it for any of these cases.
Beginning in the 1920s, burdock gained popularity as part of an herbal remedy intended to treat cancer. The formula—which also contains rhubarb, sorrel, and slippery elm—was created by a Canadian nurse named Rene Caisse, who claimed she learned about it from an Ojibway healer. She reversed the letters of her surname and called the concoction “Essiac.” It is still available today in various forms, including the brand Flor Essence, though it is not an approved cancer treatment in either Canada or the United States.
Research suggests burdock root may have blood-sugar-lowering effects. The root contains inulin (not to be confused with insulin), a type of fibre that is not digested or absorbed in the stomach. It moves through the intestines, where probiotics (friendly bacteria) use it to flourish. Inulin also decreases the body’s ability to make certain kinds of fats. Research has also looked at burdock root as a way to help manage diabetes.
Other studies have explored the use of burdock for bacterial infections, HIV, and kidney stones. Although it is believed to exhibit a range of healing properties when used orally or topically, there is no consensus on the most important active constituents.
Freshly harvested burdock leaves and stems. Notice the white undersides of the leaves.
Growing
Burdock is a weed and can easily be found growing along just about any country road. It’s a stout plant that demands space: it will grow up to 2 metres (6 feet) high, with a similar width. Burdock is best identified by its heart-shaped leaves, which are green on the top and whitish on the bottom. Purple flowers bloom between June and October. The spent flowers produce seed burrs that stick to clothing and pets.
PLANT
You can probably find all the burdock you need by taking a walk in the country, but if you want to grow your own, I recommend sowing seed in pots. That way there’s less danger of them spreading out of control in your garden. You can harvest the seed from burrs you find in the wild and plant them the following season. The seeds only need to be lightly covered in soil and will germinate in 4 to 7 days.
GROW
Burdock is a maintenance-free plant—in other words, it’s a weed! However, if you water and fertilize it you’ll get bigger leaves and healthier roots. Remove flowers and burrs during the growing season to improve growth of roots and foliage.
HARVEST
You can eat burdock foliage, but its main appeal is the root. Harvest only mature burdock, typically in late summer. Roots can penetrate up to 2 metres (6 feet) in depth, so they should be removed only after loosening the soil with a garden fork.
DIFFICULTY
Easy (it’s a weed!)
HARDINESS
Biennial in zones 3a and above
TIME TO PLANT
Sow seeds in spring
TIME TO HARVEST
Roots can he harvested from mature plants any time
LOCATION
Full to part sun
SOIL TYPE
Will grow in most soils but prefers good drainage
Chopped and dried burdock root.
STORE
Burdock foliage should be treated like spinach and harvested only as needed. The roots can be eaten raw or cooked in stir-fries, but it is best to dry them. After excavating the roots, cut them from the plant and wash well with a vegetable scrubber. Cut the roots into small pieces and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet to dry in the hot sun for 3 or 4 days or bake them at 120°C (250°F) for 4 hours. To air-dry indoors, cut clean roots into small pieces and place on a drying screen in indirect light for up to 2 weeks or until brittle. Dried roots will keep in an airtight container for up to a year.
Put It to Work
Blood sugar blues? Take this tincture!
Less than 20% of dieters can keep the weight off for more than 2 years. It’s time to shift your mindset when it comes to dieting, focusing less on fads and more on maintaining a healthy balance and stabilizing your blood sugar. Imbalanced blood sugar (not to be mistaken for undiagnosed hypoglycemia or diabetes) can cause mood swings and lack of energy as well as weight gain, and burdock root might help.
To make your own tincture, using a clean coffee or spice grinder, grind ½ cup of chopped dried burdock root to a powder. Transfer the powder to a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar). Add enough vodka (at least 80 proof) to cover the powder by 6 mm (¼ inch). Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it. Set it aside in a cool, dark place for 12 hours.
Check the jar after 12 hours. If the powder has absorbed the vodka, top it up until it is once again covered by 6 mm (¼ inch) of vodka. Set aside in a cool, dark place for 14 days, shaking the jar once daily.
After 2 weeks, cover the mouth of the jar with a coffee filter and strain the liquid into a glass bowl (discard solids). Extract as much liquid as you can by carefully squeezing the coffee filter. Store the tincture in a glass container, ideally equipped with a glass dropper.
Take 1 teaspoon in water 3 times daily with meals. The tincture will keep in a cool, dark place for at least a year.
Suffer from eczema? Here’s your salve-ation!
Eczema is usually a signal that a deeper issue is brewing, such as lack of omega-3 fatty acids, food intolerances, or stress. A burdock root salve can be a godsend to manage the itchy, sore, and often raw and aggravated skin symptomatic of eczema. A salve is a semi-solid herbal mixture applied to the skin for its healing, protective, and nourishing effects. The base for most salves is a mix of wax and oil: the wax firms the texture to make it easier to apply, and the oil enhances the absorption of the medicinal plant into the skin.
You can make your own burdock root salve with a base of beeswax and olive oil. Start by grinding ¼ cup of chopped dried burdock root in a clean coffee or spice grinder until it becomes a powder. Stir the powder into 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil and transfer the mixture into an uncovered heatproof container. Heat in the oven at (50°C/120°F) for 3 hours, stirring periodically.
Line a large strainer with cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Pour the oil infusion through the strainer into a saucepan over low heat (discard solids).
Add about 1 ounce of shaved beeswax to the pan and stir until completely melted. Now comes the tricky part: determining how much beeswax to add to get the right consistency after the salve has cooled. To test the firmness, dip a spoon into the warm mixture and place in the freezer. After 10 to 15 minutes, the mixture should be hardened on the spoon. Try it: If it’s too soft, add a little more beeswax. Repeat this process until you reach the desired consistency. Pour the salve into small glass jars with tight-fitting lids and set aside at room temperature to cool and harden.
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the health food store to purchase Clef des Champs burdock root tincture or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.
Cautions
Both oral consumption and topical use of burdock may cause severe allergic reactions. Avoid this plant if you have any allergy or sensitivity to members of the Asteraceae plant family (including ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies). Caution should also be used if you have an allergy or an intolerance to pectin.
Although its primary indication is to help control blood sugar, caution is advised in people with diabetes (or low blood sugar) and especially in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. If you have diagnosed diabetes, always speak to a qualified healthcare practitioner before using anything that may adjust your blood sugar.
Taking burdock with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs (including aspirin) might increase the risk of bleeding.
Burdock may also cause oxytocin-like effects and stimulate the uterus. Because it has not been thoroughly studied, burdock is not considered safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
