Burdock, botanically identified as Arctium lappa, is consumed as a root vegetable where it is a native crop. In the United States it is sold as a nutraceutical, or food with health benefits. Burdock root is rich in inulin -- a fiber used as a bulking and sweetening agent in processed foods -- and is sometimes recommended by herbalists to promote weight loss. Although clinical studies are limited, preliminary research supports the appetite-suppressing effect of inulin in burdock and that it produces a feeling of fullness. Consult your doctor before using burdock root.
Features
Burdock is native to Asia and Europe, where it is widely cultivated. Presently naturalized to the United States as well, it grows wild in meadows and roadsides. Burdock features large, oval, dark green leaves and spherical, thistlelike purplish flowers tipped with spines. The roots, which are grayish-brown to black, may be cooked and eaten; they can also be brewed into a tea. Burdock root has been used in folk and traditional medicine to treat fever, infection, cancer, fluid retention and kidney stones. Modern-day herbalists advise burdock not only for weight control but for its detoxifying properties, and may recommend it to treat arthritis, acne, eczema and cancer.
Constituents and Effects
Burdock root is made up of 50 percent inulin, a partially digestible carbohydrate composed of chains of fructose. Burdock root also contain tannins; polyphenolic compounds such as caffeic, isoferulic and chlorogenic acids; and antioxidants, including quercetin and rutin. Acetic, butyric and costic acids are also present. Drugs.com, which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers, reports that inulin, also found in chicory root, has improved the metabolism of fats in animal studies, as well as promoting the absorption of calcium. Burdock may also help rid your body of excess water weight. Drugs.com credits the herb with diuretic activity, along with the tendency to promote sweating. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health reports that the mucilage in burdock root can have a soothing effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Research
In a clinical trial published in 2009 in the "Journal of the American Dietary Association," researchers evaluated feelings of hunger, fullness and appetite suppression in 38 volunteers who had consumed various combinations of both high-calorie and low-calorie yogurt beverages. They found that volunteers who drank a low-calorie yogurt beverage with added inulin experienced suppression of appetite and sensations of satiety -- or fullness -- equal to those of volunteers who drank the high-calorie yogurt beverage. The team concluded that the use of inulin in low-calorie food could be an effective method of limiting food intake and body weight through appetite suppression.
Usage and Considerations
According to Drugs.com, burdock is considered a safe and edible food. BSCAH advises taking burdock in amounts of 2 to 4 ml of burdock root tincture a day; you can also take the dried root preparation in capsule form in dosages of 1 to 2 g three times a day. Allergic skin reactions to burdock have been reported. Consult your doctor before taking burdock root. Burdock root has uterine stimulant activity. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, don't take burdock root.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Burdock information
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health: Burdock
- "Journal of the American Dietary Association"; Added Soluble Fiber Enhances the Satiating Power of Low-Energy-Density Liquid Yogurts; M.M. Perrigue et al.; November 2009
- Drugs.com: Complete Chicory Information
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