Burdock has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries throughout many parts of the world. The root is the most commonly used part of the plant, but the leaves and seeds are also used for similar medicinal purposes. You can use burdock root tea both topically and internally to treat a vast array of ailments. You can make burdock root tea by steeping about 1 to 3 tsp., or 2 to 6 g, of the dried root in 2/3 of a cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink the burdock root tea three times daily, or soak a cloth in the tea and place it on the affected skin area.
Treating Skin Conditions
You can use burdock both internally and externally to treat acne, rosacea and acne vulgaris, as well as other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Burdock extracts are used for chronic skin diseases, like acne and psoriasis, as well as corns and warts. Applying the essential oil extracted from burdock may help to smooth your skin. Laboratory tests have found that burdock can kill bacterial and fungal infections as well.
Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis
You can use burdock for its anti-inflammatory effects that may be useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Burdock root has been used to treat arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica. Burdock is used in Asia to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Although burdock root has been used historically to treat joint pain in both internal and external applications, its use in treating rheumatoid arthritis remains unproven, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Treating Stomach Ailments
Burdock contains the natural dietary fiber called inulin, which can improve your digestion, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Burdock has been used to treat a variety of stomach problems, including chronic indigestion and even gallstones. In Asia, burdock extracts are used to treat constipation and flatulence, and traditional Chinese medicine uses burdock for treating constipation.
Detoxifying the Blood
You can drink burdock root tea to detoxify your blood. Burdock has been used traditionally to purify the blood and rid it of toxins. Traditional Asian medicine has used burdock extracts to treat infections and even snakebites. Burdock root was also used to treat colds, tonsillitis, measles and sore throats. In Western use, burdock root is included as the primary herb in "blood purifier" formulas, according to HerbNET.com.
Treating Urinary Problems
You can take burdock root to treat a wide range of urinary tract and kidney ailments, including kidney stones. The high levels of inulin contained in burdock has diuretic and antiseptic effects that are useful in treating urinary problems, reports the Georgetown University Medical Center. Western herbalists have used burdock for urinary system problems for centuries, and during the Middle Ages, burdock was a popular remedy for kidney stones, notes HerbNET.com.
Lowering Blood Sugar Levels
The inulin starch contained in burdock root may help to stimulate your gallbladder and assist in treating diabetes. French herbalists have used fresh burdock root to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Burdock root also contains large amounts of mucilage, a component found in many high-fiber substances. Burdock root contains 45 percent inulin and is believed to have hypoglycemic effects.
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