Burdock for your Body
Herbs can be incredible allies for health. Burdock, often considered a tenacious weed because of its long taproot and sticky burrs, is an amazing herb for health support. Using herbs that support the body in transitioning from Winter to Spring may initially make you think of things like Dandelion and Clover. Those are wonderful as well, but I want to introduce you to Burdock.
A Remarkable Herb
Burdock root is renowned by herbalists as a remarkable herb for supporting the detoxification process in the body. From supporting liver health, kidney function and bowel function to enhancing lymph flow, burdock is a herbal star!
Rich in magnesium, thiamine, iron and other vitamins and minerals, the root can be used fresh or dried. It has a slightly bitter and moderately sweet flavor that helps stimulate the liver.
Culinary Use
Try fresh burdock in stir-fries and soups. Peel the fresh root and slice it thin or dice it finely. Dried burdock root can be used to enhance soup bases and broths or to make tea.
Digestive Aid and Blood Sugar Stabilizer
Bitter flavors stimulate digestive activity that helps to detoxify the gut, soothes indigestion, and helps curb cravings (especially for sweets). Burdock’s bitterness not only stimulates digestion but also helps with blood sugar stabilization. For women, burdock should be avoided during pregnancy, but its properties make it a lovely nutritive tonic for those entering menopause and beyond. Herbalist Susan Weed shares a lot of information about Burdock in her books and blogs.
Finding Burdock
Wild burdock root should be dug up in the spring of the second year of the plant’s growth. This tenacious taproot grows deep and can take a bit of work to get it out of the ground! If burdock is not growing in your yard, look for it in Asian markets, larger grocers, or natural food stores. It is also known as gobo root.
Burdock and Fennel Digestive Tea
3-4 tablespoons fresh or dried burdock root
1-2 tablespoons fennel seeds
In a saucepan, combine burdock and the fennel seeds with 3 cups of water. Let simmer for 15 minutes, covered. Strain and add a touch of raw local honey or enjoy as is. Fennel is naturally sweet, so taste first before adjusting sweetness! If you are pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife to ensure that burdock is a safe choice for you.
Herbs can be incredible allies for health. Burdock, often considered a tenacious weed because of its long taproot and sticky burrs, is an amazing herb for health support. Using herbs that support the body in transitioning from Winter to Spring may initially make you think of things like Dandelion and Clover. Those are wonderful as well, but I want to introduce you to Burdock.
A Remarkable Herb
Burdock root is renowned by herbalists as a remarkable herb for supporting the detoxification process in the body. From supporting liver health, kidney function and bowel function to enhancing lymph flow, burdock is a herbal star!
Rich in magnesium, thiamine, iron and other vitamins and minerals, the root can be used fresh or dried. It has a slightly bitter and moderately sweet flavor that helps stimulate the liver.
Culinary Use
Try fresh burdock in stir-fries and soups. Peel the fresh root and slice it thin or dice it finely. Dried burdock root can be used to enhance soup bases and broths or to make tea.
Digestive Aid and Blood Sugar Stabilizer
Bitter flavors stimulate digestive activity that helps to detoxify the gut, soothes indigestion, and helps curb cravings (especially for sweets). Burdock’s bitterness not only stimulates digestion but also helps with blood sugar stabilization. For women, burdock should be avoided during pregnancy, but its properties make it a lovely nutritive tonic for those entering menopause and beyond. Herbalist Susan Weed shares a lot of information about Burdock in her books and blogs.
Finding Burdock
Wild burdock root should be dug up in the spring of the second year of the plant’s growth. This tenacious taproot grows deep and can take a bit of work to get it out of the ground! If burdock is not growing in your yard, look for it in Asian markets, larger grocers, or natural food stores. It is also known as gobo root.
Burdock and Fennel Digestive Tea
3-4 tablespoons fresh or dried burdock root
1-2 tablespoons fennel seeds
In a saucepan, combine burdock and the fennel seeds with 3 cups of water. Let simmer for 15 minutes, covered. Strain and add a touch of raw local honey or enjoy as is. Fennel is naturally sweet, so taste first before adjusting sweetness! If you are pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife to ensure that burdock is a safe choice for you.
Stefanie is a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach & Holistic Nutritionist whose passion for health and wellness was sparked when her health took a turn for the worse. After seeing 20+ physicians she was diagnosed with Lyme disease and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. She sought to heal her body so that one day she could help those still on the other side with the knowledge to help and the compassion to relate.
Stefanie is available for one on one health coaching sessions to support you in your health journey. Please reach out for a complimentary consult to learn more about how partnering with Stefanie can help you. Together we thrive!
For more information and resources about Lyme Disease check out my "Resources" section.