Botanical Index No. 171

Burdock

arctium lappa

Medicinal Actions

Alterative, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifuruncular, Anti-HIV, Antileukemic, Antilymphomic, Antimutagenic, Antiphlegmatic, Antipyretic, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Antitumor, Astringent, Bifidogenic, Carminative, Choleretic, Cytoprotective, Depurative, Desmutagenic, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Fungicide, Gastrostimulant, Hepatotonic, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Immunostimulant, Lipolytic, Lymphotonic, Prebiotic, Stomachic, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abscess Acne Adenopathy Alopecia Anorexia Arthrosis Backache Bacteria Bladder Stone Boil Bruise Bunion Burn Cancer breast colon knee lip liver sinus stomach tongue uterus Canker Sore Chancre Childbirth Cold Constipation Corn Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Dropsy Dyspepsia Eczema Enterosis Eruption Fever Flu Fungus Furuncle Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gout Gravel Hepatosis High Cholesterol HIV Hives Hyperglycemia Hysteria Ichthyosis Immunodepression Impotence Induration Infection Inflammation Itch Kidney Stone Leukemia Leukorrhea Lumbago Lymphoma Measles Mycosis Nephrosis Pain Parturition Pharyngosis Phosphaturia Psoriasis Rheumatism Ringworm Scarlet Fever Sciatica Scirrhus Scrofula Shigella Smallpox Snakebite Sore Staphylococcus Sterility Swelling Syphilis Tumor Ulcer Urethrosis UTI VD Vertigo Wart Water Retention Wound Aperitif Bitter Demulcent Immunomodulator

General Dosage

0.25–0.5 cup fresh root; 1.25 tsp chopped or powdered root/cup water; 2–6 g dry root as tea, 3 ×/day; 6–12 g dry root; 9 g dry root:45 ml alcohol/45 ml water; 2–8 ml liquid root extract 3 ×/day; 8–12 ml root tincture 3 ×/day; 0.5–1 tsp tincture up to 3 ×/day; 3 capsules 3 ×/day; 3 capsules 3 ×/day; 0.5–2 ml liquid seed extract.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. CAN notes that it may conflict with other hypoglycemic medications. Physicians in Burgos, Spain, in 1995, reported three cases of contact dermatosis caused by burdock root poultices. Herbs for Health page 68, reviewing Rodriguez, P. et al., 1995. Allergic contact dermatitis due to burdock. Contact Dermatitis 33:134–5.. Should be avoided during pregnancy due to a slight estrogenic effect. CAN also cautions that because it is a uterine stimulant, in vivo, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided.

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