Image source: "ArctiumLappa1" by Christian Fischer. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ArctiumLappa1.jpg#/media/File:ArctiumLappa1.jpg
Common name burdock
Plant family Asteraceae
Parts used root, leaf, seed.
Qualities Bitter, sweet, slightly cool (Holmes, 2007). Cooling, moderately drying (Culpeper, 1985). Pungent, bitter, cold (Heinrich, 2004).
Constituents
Inulin (Sarris & Wardle, 2010). Mucilage, tannic acid, and lappin, a crystalline glycoside (Grieve, 1971). Vitamins A, B complex and E, chlorogenic acid, taraxosterol, arctigen, resin; lignans, arctigenin, arctic acid, volatile oils and acids, non-hydroxy acids and sucrose (Legacy, 2015).
Actions
Alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-scorbutic, demulcent (Grieve, 1971). Laxative, depurative (Hechtman, 2011).
Indications
Grieve recommends A. lappa as a cure for eczema, recommends its use for boils, scurvy and rheumatic conditions, and topically as a wash for ulcers and scaly skin conditions, calling it a "certain remedy" in "all skin diseases" (Grieve, 1971). Bone also recommends it as a general eliminative with a particular application for skin diseases (Bone, 2013).
Bone refers to A. lappa as having been a remedy used by Native Americans as a general tonic and blood purifier, and in treatments for stomach pain and during labour (Bone, 2004).
Indicated in cases when hepatic detoxification is inadequate (Bone, 2013).
Topical extract has shown effectiveness in improvement to aged skin; it decreased wrinkles on the face, and promoted synthesis of procollagen (Knott et al., 2008).
Cautions/Contraindications
No known issues with using during pregnancy and lactation (Bone, 2004).
A. lappa is noted as having the potential to exacerbate conditions as it stimulates elimination, and it is recommended that it be used in combination with, or is preceded by, remedies that strengthen the body's ability to process the products of elimination (Bone, 2013).
Dosage
Dose per day: 1.5-3.5ml of 1:2 liquid extract (of root); Dose per week: 10-25ml of 1:2 liquid extract (of root) (Bone, 2003).
Combinations
Per Grieve, it can be used in combination with Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla for skin complaints (Grieve, 1971).
The Ojibway tribe native to Canada mixed four herbs, Arctium lappa, Rumex acetosella, Rheum officinale and Ulmus fulva. This formula was then commercialised as a tea in 1922 and is sold as 'Essiac', a treatment for cancer. Clinical studies have shown efficacy in slowing proliferation of prostate (Ottenweller, Putt, Blumenthal, Dhawale & Dhawale, 2004) and breast cancer (Zick, Sen, Fen, Green, Olatunde & Boon, 2006) cells in vitro with this tea.
References
Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs. Edinburgh [u.a.]: Churchill Livingstone.
Bone, K., & Mills, S. (2013). Principles and practice of phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Culpeper, N. (1985). Culpeper's complete herbal. Omega.
Zick, S., Sen, A., Feng, Y., Green, J., Olatunde, S., & Boon, H. (2006). Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, 12(10), 971-980.
Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. New York: Dover Publications.
Hechtman, L. (2011). Clinical naturopathic medicine. Sydney, Australia: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier Australia.
Heinrich, M. (2004). Fundamentals of pharmacognosy and phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Holmes, P. (2007). The energetics of Western herbs. Cotati, Calif.: Snow Lotus Press.
Knott, A., Reuschlein, K., Mielke, H., Wensorra, U., Mummert, C., & Koop, U. et al. (2008). Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. Journal Of Cosmetic Dermatology, 7(4), 281-289.
Legacy, H. (2015). Chemical Constituent of Burdock. Herballegacy.com. Retrieved 27 July 2015, from http://www.herballegacy.com/Light_Chemical.html
Ottenweller, J., Putt, K., Blumenthal, E., Dhawale, S., & Dhawale, S. (2004). Inhibition of Prostate Cancer-Cell Proliferation by Essiac®. The Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, 10(4), 687-691.
Sarris, J., & Wardle, J. (2010). Clinical Naturopathy: An Evidence-based Guide to Practice. Churchill Livingstone.
Zick, S., Sen, A., Feng, Y., Green, J., Olatunde, S., & Boon, H. (2006). Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, 12(10), 971-980.