Burdock
Properties and uses of burdock root
Botanical characteristics of large burdock
One of the most widely used plants in folk medicine is burdock. For medicinal purposes, the root of the plant is often used, and sometimes its leaves and fruits.
Burdock leaves begin to be harvested in June and finish in September. The roots of a plant of the first year of life are harvested mainly in the fall - from September to October. If the plant has been growing for the second year, then the roots can be harvested in the spring - from the end of April to the end of May.
The plant in the first year of its life by the end of the growing season accumulates all the useful and nutrients at the root, therefore the root at this time is very juicy and fleshy.
The accumulated supply of nutrients begins to be spent in the second year of the plant's life. Nutrients are consumed for the formation of the stem, the root becomes flabby, woody and is no longer suitable for medicinal and culinary purposes. After the root is dug up, it is cleaned from the ground, washed thoroughly with cold water and separated from the top. Then the root is cut into pieces 10-15 cm long, if the root is thick, it is cut lengthwise.
After this, the root is dried in a well-ventilated area - for example, in the attic or under a shed. You can also dry the raw material in a cooled Russian oven, spreading it out in a thin layer on paper or fabric. Burdock leaves are dried in the traditional way - under a canopy.
After drying, the roots are stored for no more than 5 years, and the leaves - 1 year, in a wooden container.
Useful properties of burdock
Burdock roots contain up to 45% inulin polysaccharide, mucus, essential and tanning oils, bitter and fatty substances, resins, protein, a large amount of vitamin C, and mineral salts. Burdock leaves contain essential oil, mucus, tannins, ascorbic acid. Burdock fruit contains quite a lot of fat (up to 20%).
Burdock roots have diuretic, choleretic, diaphoretic, and mild analgesic properties. Burdock root promotes the formation of pancreatic enzymes, acts as a mild laxative, improves skin condition. In addition, it has antimicrobial, antiseptic and disinfectant properties, relieves itching and allergic manifestations.
Burdock has anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antidiabetic properties.
Burdock recipes
Infusion of burdock roots. We prepare the infusion in this way: pour 10-25 grams of crushed roots with two glasses of boiling water, leave for 1 hour in a thermos. The product should be consumed warm, half a glass 3-4 times a day after meals. This infusion is recommended for renal and cholelithiasis, rheumatism and gout, diabetes mellitus, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, gastritis, hemorrhoids, eczema, exudative diathesis, furunculosis and rickets. The duration of treatment is from 20 to 50 days.
Infusion of burdock root is good for lubricating wounds, ulcers, warts, gargling with sore throat, washing and wiping the scalp - it will also relieve hair loss.
Infusion of burdock leaves. Pour 60 grams of leaves with three cups of boiling water, leave for 4 hours, filter and consume one glass 3 times a day for gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, kidney and liver stones.
Infusion of burdock seeds. Pour 20 grams of seeds with one glass of boiling water, leave for one hour, filter. It is recommended to use the medicine 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day, this will relieve chronic constipation.
A decoction of burdock roots No. 1. 15–20 grams of chopped roots are poured with a glass of water and boiled over low heat for 20 minutes, infused for 30 minutes, filtered and consumed 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day after meals. This medicine is used for urinary and cholelithiasis, inflammation of the bladder, rheumatism, gout and osteochondrosis, as a diaphoretic for colds.
Decoction of burdock roots No. 2. It is necessary to boil 100 grams of chopped burdock roots in one liter of water until half of the original volume is obtained, strain, add honey to taste. Use the remedy for 3 tablespoons 3-4 times a day. Such a decoction is used for urolithiasis, rheumatism, gout, hemorrhoids and exudative diathesis.
A decoction of the leaves and inflorescences of burdock. Boil 20 grams of burdock leaves and inflorescences in a glass of water for 5 minutes, after which gauze is moistened in the resulting broth and applied to sore joints. This treatment is used for gout and rheumatism, you can add a decoction to the bath.
Burdock leaf juice. Squeeze the juice from young burdock leaves, mix it with chopped leaves. This mixture is applied to wounds, ulcers, burns and bedsores.
Burdock ointment. Grind 25 grams of the leaves and roots of burdock, boil in half a glass of water for 20 minutes, then grind the resulting mixture with 100 grams of butter and use it to prevent and treat baldness, as well as to treat burns and frostbite.
Burdock oil. 75 grams of fresh root is poured with 200 grams of any fatty oil (sunflower, etc.), infused for 24 hours, then boiled over low heat for 15 minutes and filtered. This oil is used to improve hair growth and skin diseases.
For the treatment of burns, such a remedy is prepared: the leaves and roots of burdock are boiled in water, after which they are ground with butter. With itchy skin or headache, apply burdock leaves to the sore spot.
Burdock juice for 1000 diseases!
The use of burdock in traditional medicine
In domestic folk medicine, burdock root is used quite widely and in many ways - for example, for kidney stones, diabetes, gout and rheumatism, dropsy, hemorrhoids, rickets and scrofula, furunculosis, chronic eczema, constipation. In addition, burdock is successfully used for poisoning with mercury preparations and from bites of poisonous animals. A decoction of burdock root is also used for sexually transmitted diseases, joint aches.
In Bulgaria, herbalists use burdock root as a diuretic and metabolism-improving agent, as well as for kidney and bladder stones, gastritis and stomach ulcers. For dermatitis, accompanied by itching, burdock root is used externally in the form of a compress.
Burdock infusion helps to get rid of prostate adenoma. The infusion is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of burdock are poured with one glass of water, left to infuse for 2 hours, half a glass is used 3-5 times a day.
If a person suffers from tumor diseases, then burdock root can be used in the form of an infusion, decoction, powder. To prepare the infusion, take in equal proportions burdock root, honey and rubbing alcohol. This mixture is insisted for two weeks, 1 tablespoon is consumed 3 times a day.
Infusion and decoction of burdock have proven themselves very well in the treatment of gastritis. The infusion is prepared in this way: one teaspoon of burdock roots is poured with two glasses of boiling water, kept for 12 hours, consumed 4 times a day, half a glass. Another decoction is prepared as follows: one teaspoon of roots is poured with a glass of boiling water, heated over low heat for 5-10 minutes, consumed 3 times a day, one tablespoon.
If you are concerned about pain in the pancreas, it is good to use such a decoction of burdock roots: pour a tablespoon of chopped dry roots with two glasses of water, leave for 2 hours, and then boil for 15 minutes. Consumed warm three times a day after meals during the day.
It is possible to significantly alleviate attacks of bronchial asthma if you take a tablespoon once a day (morning or evening) infused for 5 days such a composition: half a glass of burdock and aspen leaves, one teaspoon of fir, half a spoonful of soda and a glass of water.
Burdock is also quite effective for boils; for this, an infusion of burdock leaves is prepared and taken twice a day, half a glass; if you are treated with juice from burdock leaves, then you need to take it in a tablespoon.
Burdock can also help sore joints: for this you need to wrap sore joints with fresh burdock leaves and leave overnight.
In order to achieve a general strengthening effect on the entire body, you can prepare such a decoction: pour one tablespoon of burdock roots with one glass of water and consume one glass twice a day, for 3 weeks.
Probably, many people know how the burdock roots have a beneficial effect on hair. Burdock strengthens hair, gives it strength, beauty and silkiness. Many people know this property of burdock, and the recipe has come to us since ancient times. To prepare such a drug, you need to take one teaspoon of burdock oil and honey, the juice of one small onion and 10 grams of burdock juice and shampoo (it is recommended to use shampoo for dry hair). The resulting mixture should be applied to unwashed hair, put a plastic cap and a warming cap on your head, and leave for half an hour. After this time, the head should be washed with warm water and the hair should be allowed to dry without using a hair dryer. You can also simply rub fresh burdock juice into your scalp 2-3 times a week - and your hair will certainly delight you.
Summer residents and gardeners appreciate burdock for such a valuable property as the ability to exterminate agricultural pests. For this purpose, such an infusion is prepared from the leaves of burdock: half a bucket of crushed leaves is poured to the top with water and infused for three days. After that, the infusion is filtered and the garden plants and shrubs are sprayed with the resulting product, this relieves them of cabbage whites, scoops and moths.
Contraindications to the use of burdock
There are not so many contraindications for this plant. It is important not to use this plant if a person has an individual intolerance to any of the substances that make up this plant.
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
