Root used for digestion and skin health
Burdock’s heart-shaped leaves and burr-like pink or purple flowers make for an impressive visual presentation. Yet it’s the deep taproot that holds Burdock’s medicinal power. Burdock root has been used for centuries to treat a variety of different conditions. It’s commonly used as a diuretic and digestive aid, and its multiple antioxidants are considered beneficial for reducing inflammation. It’s perhaps best known for its traditional use in soothing skin conditions and supporting overall skin health.
Burdock is a vegetable, particularly popular in Japanese and Korean cuisine. Many plants can be safely collected by the side of the road or in fields. It’s best not to try wild-harvesting this root, as it resembles the poisonous nightshade belladona. That’s just another reason to support the study of botany and herbal medicine programs, which ensure such knowledge is handed down and shared with scientists and researchers, as well as the general public.