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Burdock was once considered one of the best natural remedies of our grandmothers. It helped in treating many health problems and became an important part of traditional medicine. Even today it is worth remembering this powerful plant and its healing effects.
„There is such a doctor who cures all diseases. This doctor – burdock – hides in the ground and waits for people to discover it and begin to treat themselves with it.“
Effects of burdock on health
Burdock has a wide range of positive effects on health. It helps in the treatment of oncological diseases, diabetes, bronchitis, sinusitis, rheumatism, arthritis, osteochondrosis, but also with problems from bone fractures, intervertebral hernias, atherosclerosis, and ear problems.
Burdock also improves conditions in all skin diseases, such as burns, pressure ulcers, eczema, trophic ulcers, hair loss, purulent wounds, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus and others. Its root can also be useful in the treatment of liver tumors, steatosis, and even cirrhosis.
Burdock is also effective in the treatment of cholecystitis, kidney diseases, and in dissolving stones in the kidneys and gallbladder.
Traditional use of burdock
In the past, during influenza epidemics people often used burdock instead of antibiotics. Our grandmothers knew that burdock root helps treat influenza and reduce fever. Many also remember the time when, during the wars, people walked barefoot and when they had colds the burdock root together with linden flowers helped them get rid of fever.
Various foods were prepared from burdock: roasted and fried root, soups, porridges, dressings and even coffee. Traditional „burdock coffee“ was considered amazingly tasty.
How to prepare a homemade remedy from burdock root?
The best time to harvest burdock roots is in spring, but they can also be dug up in autumn. Burdock is a biennial plant and for maximum effectiveness it is best to use the root of a one-year-old burdock that has young leaves. The burdock root must be washed, dried and then cut into small pieces.
- Pour 2 cups of boiling water over one tablespoon of crushed dried roots.
- Boil for 10 minutes.
- Let steep for 2 hours.
- Drink half a glass 3 times a day 10–15 minutes before meals (maximum 3 weeks).
With regular use of this tea the active substances are absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout the body.
Burdock root tea
To increase effectiveness you can prepare the tea from a combination of burdock roots, leafy greens and dandelion in equal proportions, or alternate one plant each week: one week burdock, one week dandelion and one week leafy greens.
