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From burns to acne: 7 surprising burdock plant uses

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Burdock plant used for medicinal purposesPicture

Burdock plant used for medicinal purposes

With the ebb and flow of life, sometimes I feel more connected to the blog, and sometimes less connected. In the heart and and the heat of summer, I confess it’s one of those less connected times. It’s time to indulge in my last summer whims before it’s all over. So I plead for patience. And I can’t even say I’m weeding the garden with a straight face because I’m not. But wait! Maybe I’m harvesting? Again no. Too much rain, too little crop to harvest. If you need me, I’m probably in the backyard playing bean bag toss with the kids. Maybe even in the kiddie pool. Just give a holler. So today I have a wonderful guest post for you brought to you by my younger sister. Yep. I have one of those and she’s sharing her riveting insights on the magnificent burdock plant. Since we all love to garden and grow in my family (not to mention blog)….you’ll yearn to learn more at Pretty Simple Ideas. Here goes her story…
Burdock growing in the wild

Burdock growing in the wild

A few months ago my husband and I visited his grandpa’s 100 acre horse farm in Pennsylvania. As we walked around his wrap around porch I noticed a pile of large leaves, and asked about them. “Pappy” as we call him, said they were Burdock leaves and he had been using them to treat his shingles. As crazy as it sounds, he said, he could feel the pain leaving his body after placing them on his skin. After a little more research on “Burdock Uses” I found out that its leaves, stems, and roots, have been used for centuries to treat many skin and pain ailments, and are still used in the Amish communities today.
Burdock growing in the wild

Up close burdock plant

Background on the burdock plant

You may have seen Burdock leaves growing in the wild and not been aware of them. They come from the same plant as those pesky burrs that get stuck on your pet’s fur after they come back from an adventure. Fun fact: velcro was created after these burs!

RELATED: 10 toxic plants you don’t want in your garden or yard.

Burdock is native to Europe and Asia but now grows quite widespread across the United States. It grows between 3 and 4 feet tall and sprouts purple flowers between June and October. Now let me take you through some of the many uses and benefits of both Burdock leaves and roots.

Burdock growing in the wild

Burdock growing in the wild

Burdock plant uses & benefits

Burdock leaves:

After Pappy told us about the Burdock leaves relieving his shingles, he told us a story about an Amish boy who had his leg damaged by machinery.  His family placed boiled (more on that later) leaves on it, wrapped it up, and after checking back days later his skin had almost completely healed. Apparently, it is common practice for their farm animal injuries, too.

Not only do the Amish use the boiled leaves for serious injuries, but it is a common home remedy for burns. Thankfully, I haven’t had to experiment with this yet but here is a remedy from the Amish to treat burns if you want to try it out yourself.

Boiling burdock

Boiling burdock

It got me thinking that if these leaves can heal skin and reduce pain, maybe it could help with my migraines. Thankfully, Pappy is a generous man and sent me home with a huge brown bag full of leaves. I’ve since been experimenting with them on my migraines, as well as a cure for acne. I’ll have to update this once I find out for sure whether it helps both.

RELATED: 5 Fresh Ways to “Go Green” In Your Home
 
Until then you might wonder how to store the leaves. Dry them in a cool, dry place until all the moisture is gone to prevent molding. When you want to use just place in a large pot until the water reaches boiling temperature, take out, allow to cool, and place on burn, cut or even your face as a (potential) treatment for acne or migraines.
 
**There is still surprisingly little research out there on burdock. Most of the information available is from home remedies.

Burdock plant used for medicinal purposes

Burdock plant used for medicinal purposes

Burdock roots:

According to the University of Maryland’s Medical Center, Burdock “has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments.”

“Traditionally, it has been used as a:

  • Blood purifier to clear the bloodstream of toxins
  • Diuretic to help eliminate excess water by increasing urine output
  • Topical remedy for skin problems such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis”

**It is recommended that you not take burdock root if pregnant or nursing as it may cause damage to the baby. Consult with a doctor before using natural herbal remedies as they can negatively interact with supplements or medications you may be on.

Now you might wonder how to get the benefits of burdock if you are unable to grow it where you live. Don’t worry, you can purchase burdock for internal use as a dried root powder or capsule, decoctions (liquid) tincture (solution soaked in alcohol, or water and alcohol) or as an extract in a local health food store or even on Amazon.

Drying burdock

Drying burdock

Burdock stem:

Turns out, the stem can be cooked and eaten like a vegetable. They say the flavor is similar to an artichoke. Yum!
 
According to Hunger and Thirst:
 
“Raw burdock stalks taste faintly starchy. Burdock stalks, if boiled for just 2 minutes in salted water, retain a nice crunch. Boiled 8-10 minutes, burdock stalks get tender, but not mushy. Boiled burdock stalks can be used immediately, keep in the fridge for several days, or be put into the freezer to be enjoyed later.”
 
As for recipes using burdock stem, just look up ones for artichoke and replace that with burdock. I’m excited to give this a try, too.
So whether you have shingles, acne, burns, or just want to try a new vegetable, you should give some of these burdock plant uses a try.  

Sarah blogs about “green living,” DIYs, and Home & Garden over at Pretty Simple Ideas.  Check it out for more tips on living simply.

Burdock growing in the wild

Burdock growing in the wild

Do you use any plants for medicinal purposes? Have you seen burdock growing in the wild?

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“And he who waters will be watered himself.”
• Proverbs 11:25 •