We harvest great burdock in the fall just after frost when the leaves are crisp and the great plant sends its energy to the roots. You know the one, whose burrs stick to your clothing and darned to get off. The basal or oval shaped leaves are a greyish-green in colour with broadly wavy leaves that cascade out over our paths and in urban sidewalk cracks! The most potent medicine is found in its 1 st years roots. The 2 nd years delicate flower stalks and roots are delicious as a vegetable or in soup and the seeds later nestled in the burrs act as an unfailing kidney tonic.
Healing with Burdock 
Burdock has an earthy, sweet and thorough way of healing, with a deeply reaching, slow acting and extensive effect on the whole system, most profoundly felt in the lymph, sweat, and oil glands and the organs of the liver, lungs and kidneys. Burdock is a tonifying herb with minimum toxicity and touted as an anti -cancerous herb and recognized as preventive in epidemics. Burdock is notably high in chromium, iron, magnesium, silicon, thiamine (Vit. B )and inulin an important lung herb. The Fresh burdock root is rich in Vitamin C.
Burdock builds strength and nourishes the lungs, the liver and kidneys. Burdock is a steady acting blood alterative. (cleansing) On the whole, burdock strengthens the immune system without the stimulation that many immune herbs do. The root has mucilaginous fibres whose action nourishes the digestive system and eliminates toxins from the muscles and connective tissues -supportive for those with colitis, chronic stomach ulcers and colon cancer. As a bacteriastatic burdock treats candida and provides relief in spleen deficient digestive discomforts, sinus congestion and headaches. Burdock soothes and eases joint pain relieving chronic discomfort for those with osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and can stabilize blood sugar levels in hypoglycaemics and moderate them for those with diabetes. Burdock with its deep reaching affects on the liver treats skin diseases readily.
Preparation
The fresh root is best prepared as a tincture in alcohol or glycerine or as a decoction with fresh or dried root brewed on the stove. For an easy tincture preparation harvest the fresh roots, wash the dirt and chops it vertically into slices. Fill your jar with the root and enough alcohol to cover. Fill twice and leave for 6 weeks . Decant tincture to smaller 50 and 100ml bottles and label from what, where and when you harvested. For chronic care take 2 dropperfuls in a little water up to 3x a day for a minimum of 3 to 6 weeks. Or until your body tells you to stop.
Cooking with Burdock
The Japanese have cooked with burdock (gobu) for centuries in soups and stews. The native Cherokee woman prepared burdock for both the woman and her womb before and after birthing. Burdock gives you stamina and strengthens the uterus.
Harvesting
How could we not benefit from this roots goodness? Make sure to bring a fork and an extra pair of gloves when you go to harvest burdock. She is a tough one and not for cold or the faint of heart. Burdock is for strong, fiery woman with more ambition that they know what to do with. Give yourself time to let burdock works its way through for best results.
Fall Herbal Blend
Try this Fall Herbal blend to strengthen you liver, lungs and kidneys, to nourish your immune system and to prevent from colds and flus. Take a large handful each of Burdock root, Oat straw, Hawthorn leaf and berry, Parsley, Cardamom, Orange peel and Fennel. Take 1 tbsp. per cup and steep for 15 min. Enjoy up to 3x a week.
Dharani, Andree Beauchamp - Holistic Health Practitioner CNHP, Intuitive and Herbalist RH, teaches yoga , offers herbal workshops & sees clients at the Lila centre in Kingston Ontario .
See www. lilacentre.ca / www.dharanihealingarts.com 613 542 6878
