Burdock, also known as giant’s ear, greater burdock or magpie, is a medicinal plant that helps in the treatment of problems such as acne, poor digestion, lack of appetite and gout, for example.
The benefits of burdock are possible due to the presence of phenolic acids, arctiopicrin, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols and phytosterols, which are chemical compounds with diuretic, orexigenic, purifying, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic and antimicrobial properties.
Burdock, whose scientific name is The paws of the Arctic, is sold in health food stores, pharmacies and some street markets, and can be used in the form of teas, tinctures, oils and capsules. Furthermore, burdock root has good amounts of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and can also be consumed as food, braised, roasted or boiled.
What is it for
The main indications of burdock for health are:
1. Relieves gastrointestinal problems
As it has good calming, choleretic and anti-inflammatory properties, burdock can be used to alleviate poor digestion and stomach pain without a specific cause, as it relieves irritation of the gastric mucosa and stimulates the liver to increase bile production. See other tips on what to take for poor digestion.
Furthermore, consuming burdock as a food helps regulate the intestine and maintain healthy intestinal flora, because it contains inulin, a soluble fiber that serves as food for the good bacteria in the intestine and stimulates natural intestinal movements, facilitating evacuation and thus combating constipation.
Burdock has diuretic properties that increase urine volume, reducing fluid retention and thus preventing swelling.
Burdock also helps eliminate toxins from the body through urine, making it a good medicinal plant to improve appearance and reduce cellulite. Check out more tips to reduce cellulite.
3. Maintains healthy intestinal flora
As it is a prebiotic soluble fiber, inulin serves as food for the beneficial bacteria in the intestine, keeping the intestinal flora healthy and helping to prevent situations such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.
Furthermore, by controlling the growth of bad bacteria in the intestine, inulin also reduces the amount of toxins in the intestine, helping to prevent intestinal cancer.
4. Helps in the treatment of gout
Due to its anti-rheumatic action, burdock reduces uric acid levels and can help in the treatment of gout, an inflammatory disease that affects the joints, causing swelling, redness and pain when moving a joint. Understand better what gout is and how it is treated.
5. Treats skin and hair problems
Burdock helps treat skin and hair problems, such as acne, boils, eczema, seborrhea and dandruff, because this medicinal plant has anti-inflammatory, healing, antimicrobial and antidyspeptic properties.
6. Controls blood sugar
Arctigenin is a component present in burdock that has hypoglycemic action and, therefore, this plant could help control blood glucose.
However, burdock should only be used as a complement to treatment and should not replace the diet or medications recommended by the doctor.
7. Regulates appetite
Burdock helps regulate appetite, because when its root or leaves are used in the form of teas and tinctures, this medicinal plant has an orexigenic action.
When burdock root is consumed as food, this plant has an anorectic effect, as it has good amounts of inulin, a type of soluble fiber that forms a type of gel in the stomach, prolonging the feeling of satiety and reducing hunger.
Burdock properties
Burdock has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, calming, healing, diuretic, orexigenic, hypoglycemic, purifying, antirheumatic and antimicrobial properties.
How to use
Burdock root can be consumed in food, boiled, roasted, fried or grilled.
In addition, burdock is also used in the form of teas, tinctures, oil and capsules, which are prepared with the leaves and roots of this plant.
1. Burdock tea
Burdock tea is indicated to help treat conditions such as gastric problems, fluid retention,
Ingredients:
- 1 dessert spoon (2 to 6 g) of dried burdock roots;
- 250 ml of water.
Preparation mode:
Place the water and burdock root in a pan and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Wait for it to cool, strain and then drink. It is recommended to drink up to 3 cups of this tea per day.
Burdock tea can also be used in the form of compresses, to complement the treatment of conditions such as boils, dandruff, dermatitis and acne. To do this, simply soak a gauze pad or cotton in the tea and apply it to the area of skin to be treated 3 times a day.
2. Burdock tincture
Burdock tincture can be ingested, helping to treat gastric problems, gout, or regulate appetite. The generally recommended amount is 8 to 12 mL of the tincture, which should be diluted in 50 mL of water and taken three times a day.
3. Burdock oil
Burdock oil can be found pure or used in products such as shampoo, ointments and creams, and helps treat dandruff, hair loss and acne.
4. Burdock capsules
The recommended dosage of burdock capsules varies depending on the objective being treated, generally being 1 to 6 capsules per day, which should be taken with a glass of water, for 2 to 4 weeks.
Possible side effects
Possible side effects of burdock include skin irritation and increased urine volume. Additionally, ingesting large amounts of burdock can cause pupil dilation, dry mouth, seizures, and anaphylaxis.
Who shouldn’t use burdock
Burdock should not be ingested by pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and people using diuretic medications.
Topical use of burdock should not be used by people with open wounds.
Furthermore, people who use oral medications to control blood glucose or insulin should only consume burdock with the guidance and supervision of a doctor.
