During the Middle Ages, English herbalists preferred burdock root to sarsaparilla for the treatment of boils, scurvy, and rheumatism. Native American healers were quite fond of burdock as a medicinal plant. American herbalists have used the roots and seeds as a blood purifier and pain reliever for more than two centuries.

Both the root and leaves are used in herbal remedies, but most recipes call for the root. Burdock is valued mainly as a treatment for arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory conditions. It is thought to help gout and rheumatism by stimulating the liver. Burdock is used as a diuretic, and it promotes perspiration, which make it effective in treating gout. Burdock stimulates the appetite, so modern experts recommend it for anorexia nervosa.

Burdock has been used by herbalists worldwide to treat a variety of illnesses, including pneumonia, abscesses, acne, fever, dandruff, and throat infections, as well as inflammation. However, the evidence that burdock is effective in treating gout, arthritis, and skin diseases is mostly anecdotal.

Scientific research done nearly 50 years ago showed that burdock root has some antibiotic properties. There's also evidence that it is effective in treating boils. Some people even claim that burdock root is helpful for diabetes; however, the research on diabetes is not clear-cut. In one study, burdock lowered blood sugar; in another study, burdock actually made the symptoms of diabetes worse in animals.

A recent study showed that burdock blocked dangerous chemicals from causing damage to cells, suggesting to the possibility that burdock may help decrease the risk of developing cancer from toxic chemicals.

Burdock originally grew in Europe and northern Asia. A member of the thistle family, this biennial is now widespread throughout the United States. It is a stout, common weed with many spreading branches, and grows to a height of three to four feet. Its purple flowers bloom between June and October. Burdock has alternate, wavy, heart-shaped leaves that are green on the top and whitish on the bottom. The deep roots are brownish-green, or nearly black on the outside. The roots are the most important part of the plant used for medicinal purposes.

Burdock grows well in the wild. It thrives in light, well-drained soil. Herbalists usually collect burdock leaves during the first year of growth, and harvest the roots in the fall of the first year after planting (or during the following spring before the flowers bloom).

Burdock contains active compounds called sesquiterpene lactones. It contains a high percentage of a carbohydrate called inulin (or fructosan). It also contains a volatile oil, plant sterols, tannins, and fatty oil. Experts don't know for sure which active ingredients in burdock root are responsible for its healing properties.

Burdock products are made from fresh or dried roots or leaves. You can usually buy it as dried root powder, a decoction (liquid made by boiling down the herb in water), a tincture (a solution of the herb in alcohol, or water and alcohol), or a fluidextract.

You can take burdock in the following forms as a daily supplement:

• Dried root: 2 to 6 g in decoction three times a day
• Tincture (1:5): 8 to 12 ml three times a day
• Fluid extract (1:1): 2 to 6 ml three times a day
• Tea: 2 to 6 g in 500 ml water

There are no known risks associated with using burdock. Be careful if you touch it because there is a slight chance of irritating the skin from handling burdock. If you're pregnant or nursing, don't take burdock because it might stimulate your uterus to abort the fetus. In any case, it is best to avoid taking excessive amounts of burdock (especially burdock root) because experts haven't studied the toxic effects of this plant in-depth yet.

Although reports have shown that burdock has the ability to lower blood sugar, no noteworthy interactions (positive or negative) between this herb and conventional medications (including antidiabetic medications) are known to have been reported in the literature to date.

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