BURDOCK
Archum lappa
COMMON NAMES: Lappa, Lappa minor, thorny burr, beggar’s buttons, clothburr.
FEATURES: Naturalized in North America from Asia and Europe, this plant grows 2–5 feet; can be found
along roadsides and in all vacant lots. Hunters will find burdock burrs adhering to their clothes and their
game dogs. The stems are stout with wide spreading branches carrying alternately elongated heart-shaped
leaves. The purple flowers bloom in July and August, after which they dry out and the base becomes the
troublesome burr. The root, which should be dug in the autumn or early spring, is thick, brownish gray
externally, with white pith-like tissue inside. The root and seeds are slimy and have a sweetish taste, the
leaves and stems being bitter. Common burdock is sometimes planted in Japan, where it has been
improved by cultivation, for its enlarged parsniplike roots, which are eaten as a boiled vegetable.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Root, seed, leaves, stems, the whole herb.
SOLVENTS: Diluted alcohol, boiling water (partial solvent).
BODILY INFLUENCE: Diaphoretic, diuretic, alterative.
USES: Herbalists all over the world use burdock. Such an effective blood purifying plant has earned the
unpretentious claims made for it. The root and seed of Arctium lappa make a soothing demulcent, tonic,
alterative; it slowly but steadily cleanses skin, soothes the kidneys, and relieves the lymphatics;
eliminates boils, carbuncles, canker sores, styes, felons, etc. Soothing to the mucous membrane throughout
the entire system, and is also used for gout, rheumatism, scrofula, syphilis, sciatica, gonorrhea, and kidney
diseases. It is best combined with more stimulating agents.
Tincture of burdock root (Arctium lappa), 10–20 drops
Tincture of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), 8–12 drops
Tincture of buchu (Barosma betulina), 10–15 dropsThe above can be made into a herbal tea preparation, reducing the formula by one-fourth and using
ounces instead of drops. The leaves shredded fine in aged wine will help if bitten by a mad dog.
EXTERNALLY: The leaves will be found very useful in fever by bruising and applying to the forehead or to
the soles. For burns shred the bruised leaves fine and fold into a stiffly beaten egg white; it will relieve