It’s SPRING TIME!!! Here in New Orleans we are ACTUALLY having a Spring too! I know that sounds strange, but normally we will go from very cold to sweltering hot within a few days (seems like hours though. LOL). But this time, we are having temperatures that are slightly cool to a little warm. It’s very nice. I love the temperatures this time of year.
I also love this time of year for other reasons. This is a time for renewal, new growth, and rebirth. We can see it all around us in nature. The grass is growing taller. The dandelions and hibiscus, and jasmine are starting to grow. The trees are coming alive. And just like nature, our body is starting to wake up and get ready for the activity of the warmer weather. In doing that, this is the perfect time to do some Spring Cleaning internally while you do a little Spring Cleaning of your home. One GREAT way to do that is with Burdock.
Benefits of Burdock
Burdock is one of the best herbs to help your body get rid of all the excess waste, trash, and excess materials that it doesn’t need. Here are a few reasons why you should consider adding Burdock to your daily Spring Cleaning routine:
- It is well known amongst naturopathic doctors, herbalists, and other practitioners as a liver herb. Burdock is great in helping the liver to function better at detoxification of the materials in your blood stream. By supporting your liver’s ability to detoxify and cleanse the blood, it helps the liver work better and allows you to eliminate more efficiently.
- Burdock is highly antioxidant. Aging, wrinkles, cancer, stress, elevated glucose, etc are all processes that cause or is caused by high levels of free radicals (oxidation) in the body. The more antioxidants that are circulating throughout, the better your body is able to combat some of these oxidation responses.
- It may inhibit certain types of cancer. This may be due to its antioxidant properties, its liver supportive action, or some other combination of actions, but this herb seems to be able to help the body inhibit some cancers.
- It is anti-inflammatory. Burdock is one of the many plants that help the body decrease inflammation located anywhere in the body.
- Helps to resolve skin issues. Those that use burdock regularly can see great benefit in their skin. Whether it’s acne, eczema, psoriasis, or some other skin condition, using burdock as a part of your healing regimen can greatly improve the smoothness and suppleness of your skin. One way that it does this is by increasing circulation to the skin.
- Hair tonic. When herbs promote skin health they oftentimes also promote hair growth. This herb can definitely help the hair grow thicker and stronger.
- It is a mild diuretic and lymphatic. It helps the lymph fluid flow through the lymphatic system and back into circulation and assists the body in removing excess fluid from the body.
- Acts as a cholagogue and mild laxative. Cholagogue means that it helps the liver and gall bladder move bile more efficiently. As a mild laxative, it assists the body in removing waste, but it does this in a very gentle, subtle manner.
How is it used?
All parts of burdock is great to use from leaf, to stalk, to root, to seed though you will probably see the root more commonly in the market.
Burdock can be used in many different forms. If you ever go to an Asian or International market, you will probably see burdock root in the produce section. It is commonly found in soups and other meals. In Japan it is called Gobo. If you can find it, consider making a Spring Healing soup with it and sip on it throughout the season to get both the nourishment and healing properties from it.
You can drink Burdock root as an herbal Tea. Drink it as a cold infusion, warm infusion, or decoction.
It can also be powdered and put into capsule form for easier access. Especially for those that do not cook, don’t have access to fresh burdock, or don’t want to drink it as a tea. Taking it in encapsulated form is another way to use this herb.
Topically, this herb can be used to help treat the skin or hair from the outside in.
Caution
This herb doesn’t really have any precautions. Because it is a food, it is pretty benign but just like with any other food or supplement each individual person can respond differently to the plant. If you are taking this herb as a supplement, follow the directions on the bottle and get it from a reputable source to help ensure quality. Or you can contact your knowledgeable healthcare practitioner to help you choose the product that is right for you.
As always, if you’d like to use this herb as a part of a complete cleansing / detoxing / healing regimen and you would like some support, Let’s Chat! CLICK HERE to contact me and we can talk about your goals and how I might be able to assist you in reaching them.