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Burdock root tea, infusion, using the fresh root, for detox

Burdock

named for the burrs, and the similarity to dock, as in yellow dock,which is so common in England, Rumex, another powerful hepatic (liver tonic)

Arctium minor (Common Burdock)
and A. lappa (Greater Burdock) (a.k.a. A.majus)

Burdock makes
an amazing tea!

The fresh root tea tastes like an elixir of life!

(The dried root can taste like old carpet!)

It is a an hepatic (a liver tonic and cholagogue - stimulates the release of bile), a lymphatic, an anti-cancer agent (the primary ingrediant in Essiac, for example)

a wonderful method
for brewing Burdock

an even better, simpler way:
slice thinly

Cut off about a 2 inch segment of the root. Slice it in half (or possibly quarters). Cover with water (2 to 6 cups, half a pint, half a liter - approximately). Bring to a boil, then let it steep.

As it cools off the tea will turn blue.
You can add more water and brew a second, a third batch, till it loses that color.
..

but nowadays I just grate it
and add hot water
(no, I slice)

caveats
warnings
conditions

if you are drinking burdock
particularly if you ail
you should see a doctor
or herbalist.

anyone could be
allergic to anything
and as Dr. Duckworth says
anything can cause anything
The simpler way to make the tea is to grate it into a cup and add boiling water
- however, when grated it oxidizes (turns brown) really quickly,
and you don't get that amazing blue elixar,
but its really simple to brew thus..
.
(slice slice slice)


you can find Burdock root amongst the produce in some health food stores, in some Korean (and Japanese) store where it is known as Gobo

Or you can harvest the root of this common plant, which takes much digging.

Burdock is a biennial. The first year it grows a large, but low to the ground, set or rosette of leaves. In the second year it grows tail, goes to flower and seed.

You need to, either, harvest the first year plant in the autumn or the second year plant in the spring, when the root is "ripest". (Through the second year, while flowering and going to seed, it becomes depleted.)

Judith writes that
there are other dangers...
click here!

To detox we stimulate
the organs of excretion,
the liver, the kidneys,
the lymphatics
.

Burdock is a hepatic
and a lymphatic,
so it is also, reputedly,
good to the skin.

(It also, reputedly,
stimulates the appetite.)

 


 

This picture is probably late summer towards towards autumn. In the bottom right-hand corner there is a first year plant, and behind to the left several sprouted to flower towards seed.

I think Burdock makes wonderful tea,
like an elixir of life,
a detoxing agent which can
quite a profound therapy:
so you should be supervised,
particularly if you are ailing
.
(I had a patient whose
tongue turned brown
with the detox!}

  
   

Burdock is to push
the liver,
not to heal it!

Note: Burdock stimulates the liver, pushes its functions (as in detox, as in bile). It does not protect or repair the liver! So it is not for liver disease (indeed probably counterindicated). For that use milk thistle.

How to
take herbs


.


as usual wikipedia has a
wicked article on Burdock
   


Janice writes
that there are dangers...

"Caution; burdock root interferes with iron absorption when taken internally. Because of its diuretic actions, burdock should not be taken during pregnancy or lactation. Burdock has been shown to interact with hypoglycaemic drugs, anti-inflammatory medications and lithium therapy, when taken internally."

 

However,
in Korea and Japan
Burdock/Gobo
is a root vegetable
eaten without precaution.

I read that it was when
dogs' fur and plants
like the burdock
were studied more closely
that Velcro was invented.

my sources

purple sage's page is wonderful. a great herbal resource.

my other two sources have gone belly up

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