INCI Name

What is it?

Organically grown in Croatia. Burdock is any group of biennial thistles in the genus Arctium, family Asteraceae. Native to the Old World, several species have been widely introduced worldwide. Plants of the genus Arctium have dark green leaves that can grow up to 18” (45cm) long. They are generally large, coarse and ovate, with the lower ones being heart-shaped. They are woolly underneath.  Burdock is a traditional medicinal herb that is used to treat many ailments. The parts of the plant used are the roots.

Action/Benefits

• Burdock root’s anti-scorbutic (anti scurvy) properties make it useful in the treatment of boils, scurvy and rheumatic problems.
• As Burdock Root is depurative (promotes cleansing and eliminates toxins and purifies the blood) it can be used for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis.
• Recent studies show that Burdock has anti-allergy properties.
• Burdock contains iron and insulin and these are good for the blood. It clears the kidneys of excess wastes and uric acid by increasing the flow of urine.
• Burdock is believed to be a galactagogue, a substance that increases lactation (breast milk production).
• Folk herbalists consider dried burdock to be a diuretic (increases water excretion from body), diaphoretic (increases perspiration), and a blood-purifying agent that cleanses the bloodstream of toxins.
• Burdock root oil extract, also called Bur oil, is popular in Europe and studies indicate that it is effective as a scalp treatment to improve hair strength, shine and body as well as helping to reverse scalp conditions such as dandruff, and hair loss.

Which products to use it in

• Use as a decoction for treating boils. See ‘How to use in products’ section for more information. 
• As a blood purifier in eczema and psoriasis products such as creams, lotions, gels, body washes and foam baths.
• In all acne and rosacea products.
• Effective in anti-itching products.
• Use as a fomentation for wounds, swellings and haemorrhoids. It will stimulate the circulation of blood and lymph, to relieve colic, to warm joints and other body parts, to relieve gas and pain and reduce internal inflammations. Fomentation is a hot pack applied to the skin to relieve pain, it means literally to warm or heat up.
• The taproot of young burdock plants can be harvested and eaten as a root vegetable. While generally out of favour in modern European cuisine, it remains popular in Asia, particularly in Japan, where promoters of the macrobiotic diet advocate its consumption.

Water or oil-soluble?

Water soluble.

Can I add it to ready-made products?

Not recommended as it needs to be boiled (decoction before use).

How to use in products

Soak a cotton towel in an herbal tea infusion or decoction, which is as hot as can be tolerated. Fold, wring out towel slightly and place on affected area. Place a layer of plastic over the hot towel, then place a thick dry towel or heating pad on top in order to keep the heat in. Re-saturate the towel in the hot infusion periodically.

For an in depth article on how to use Herbs in your products please refer to the Skin Care Library at the bottom of this page.

Storage and Shelf Life

2-3 years. Store in the dark and keep dry.

Related/Synergistic Products

1. When used in anti-itching products use it combined with chickweed herbs and chamomile flowers.
2. Use in psoriasis products combined with horsetail herb for its silica.

References:
Wikipedia; Mrs M Grieve, A Modern Herbal (edited by C F Leyel 1985), London, 1998 (first published in 1931); Flora Health Herb Encyclopaedia.

 

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