Botanical Index No. 1145

Yellow Dock

rumex crispus

Medicinal Actions

Elephantiasis, Allergenic, Alterative, Analgesic, Antiangiogenic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antipyretic, Antiscorbutic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Cholagogue, Cytotoxic, Depurative, Dermatitigenic, Emetic, Fungicide, Hepatonic, Hypotensive, Laxative, Parasiticide, Peristaltic, Sedative, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Acne Adenopathy Anemia Anthrax Asthma Athlete’s Foot Bacteria Bleeding Boil Bronchosis Bruise Burn Cancer breast cervix parotid spleen throat Catarrh Chafing Chlorosis Cholecystosis Cold Constipation Cough Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysentery Dyspnea Dyspepsia Earache Eczema Enterosis Escherichia Fever Discutient Rubefacient Flu Fungus Gastrosis Gingivosis Gout Hematochezia Hemoptysis Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Herpes High Blood Pressure Hives Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Jaundice Laryngosis Leprosy Lymph Malaria Mucososis Mycosis Nausea Nephrosis Nervousness Ophthalmia Pain Parasite Parotosis Pharyngosis Prurigo Psoriasis Pulmonosis Rash Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Ringworm Salmonella Scirrhus Scrofula Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Staphylococcus Stomatosis Swelling Syphilis Toothache Tracheosis Tuberculosis Ulcer Urticaria VD Wart Wound Yellow Fever

General Dosage

2–4 tbsp fresh root; 3–6 g dry root; 4.5 g dry root:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 2–4 g dry root, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–2 g powdered root; 2–4 ml liquid root extract 3 ×/day; 1–2 ml root tincture 3 ×/day; 2–3 root capsules 3 ×/day; 500–505 mg capsules; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d oxalates. Patients with kidney stone should beware. Tannins. CAN cautions that anthraquinones can be laxative and irritate the GI tract. Because of the anthraquinones, nonstandardized preparations should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Anthraquinones can be secreted into breast milk. Also contraindicated in endometriosis, hemorrhoids, and nephropathy, intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown causes, any enteritis, menstruation. Do not use more than 8–10 days. Do not use this product if you have abdominal pain or diarrhea. Consult a health care provider prior to use if pregnant or nursing. Discontinue use in the event of diarrhea or watery stools. Do not exceed recommended dose. Not for long-term use. These are the recommendations normally given for anthraquinone-containing plants, but not given for this anthraquinone-containing plant. Overuse may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea, and prolonged use may cause intestinal atrophy and hypokalemia. Methinks you can say that about any laxative, adding electrolyte imbalance to the consequences. Large doses should be avoided due to the oxalate content. One fatality reported from too much yellow dock soup, perhaps due to oxalate poisoning. Herbal extract is mildly antibacterial toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative. Anthraquinones can arrest growth of ringworm and other fungi. Can work either way, the anthraquinones are a laxative, the tannins are an astringent.

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