Burdock

Burdock (Arctium Lappa) - Burdock, or Great Burdock, is a robust biennial herb plant grown from herb seeds with long-stalked leaves. It is a nutritious vegetable and medicinal herb used as a remedy for measles, arthritis, tonsillitis, viruses like colds, throat pain, and as a diuretic. In modern times, burdock is also used in oncology and to treat many other serious health problems. Burdock stalks are cooked like celery. Young roots are eaten raw or cooked like parsnips. Burdock herb seeds can be sprouted.

Burdock grows along roadsides, in open fields, at the edges of woods, and anywhere ground has been disturbed just as most thistles would. In its first year, burdock forms a cluster of large leaves, resembling rhubarb. These grow from a carrot like root that can penetrate over two feet into the ground. It is this root of burdock that is most often used in herbal medicine. After a year of growth, burdock puts forth a branched stalk with smaller leaves and, in the late summer, purple-pink flowers. In autumn, these flowers are replaced by round brown burrs that persist into the winter. The herb seeds contained in these burrs are also used medicinally.