Latin name: Arctium lappa
Chinese name: niupang
Other names: edible burdock, lappa burdock
What is Burdock Root?
Burdock root is a plant that is grown and cultivated across many parts of the world, including Scandinavia, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, China, and Japan. The burdock root is known for having been used for culinary creations as a vegetable during the Middle Ages, but is now mostly used for Japanese cooking. Known as gobo in Japanese cuisine, it has also gained popularity in macrobiotic diets.
What are the health benefits of Burdock Root?
Burdock root is primarily used in traditional Chinese medicine for its diuretic qualities and for being a prominent detoxifying agent. The various forms of detoxification it is used for include treating throat infections, rashes, and other skin conditions and diseases, helping in the treatment of herpes, eczema, and acne. Burdock root is often made into a tea that purifies the blood.
In Europe, the oil extract of burdock root is applied to the scalp as a treatment for baldness, for it is known to improve hair strength and reverse scalp conditions.
How do I prepare Burdock Root to get the health benefits?
Burdock can be extracted as oil from the root, and the herb is used as the dried form of a one-year-old plant. Burdock root can also be made into a tea.
Where can I find Burdock Root?
Burdock root can be found online, in herbal specialty stores, at Asian markets, and in the offices of Chinese medical practitioners.
You can find this herb combined with other herbs in the Traditions of Tao formula:
Cold & Flu, which supports the body’s ability to fight infections.
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