Autumn is barely holding on to its last whispers of color, and with the rain today many trees are now bare. It is a perfect time to harvest roots - before the frost and when the plant's energy has moved down into the earth.We are excited for the fall harvesting and shipment of fresh Burdock, which we have just finished making into an herbal extract!
Burdock (Articum lappa) is in the Asteraceae family and is a biennial plant that reaches up to 6-7 feet high. In its first year, the plant grows heart shaped leaves that form a basal rosette, the second year it flowers into globular, rose-colored thistle flowers with hooked bracts. With a common name like Beggar's button, it is easy to image how these seed heads were used like actual buttons securing woolen wraps together in the cold countryside. Actually, the burrs are so effective at binding together that they inspired the creation of Velcro!
These medicinal roots grow straight and deep into the ground, sometimes reaching nearly three feet down.
A clearing tonic herb, the roots as well as the seeds are most popularly used therapeutically. Burdock is notably beneficial to the skin, is classified as an alterative and diurectic, and is purifying to the blood. Also high in antioxidants and a stimulating bitter, Burdock gets the gastric juices moving to aid digestion and assists to clear up catabolic buildup. With large amounts of inulin and mucilage in the roots, its soothing effect also helps the gastrointestinal system and mucus membranes. In Asian grocery stories, you can find fresh Burdock root under the name "Gobo" – it makes a wonderful addition to salads or chopped up and sautéed in a stir-fry (as you would carrots). You can also dry the roots and store them for decoctions later (1 tbsp per cup) or extract them with organic alcohol for an excellent home-remedy herbal extraction.
Burdock is available in our online store at Bella Botanica: Burdock.
