burdock (arctium lappa)

[Guest guest]

When your dog comes home with those spiny burrs on their coat, or

your kids with them around the bottom of their pants legs, they're

probably burdock seeds.

Burdock is a biennial. The first year it looks quite a bit like

rubarb only all green. The second year it branches up for its

flowers that are much to look at (though a curious shape)

and eventually turn into those pesty burrs.

The best time to harvest burdock roots is either the fall of the

first year after the above ground parts have died down or in the

spring before its really started growing. This is because those

are the times when most of the plant's energy will be stored in

the roots.

It goes without saying that it grows best for harvesting in light

sandy soil but that doesn't mean it won't also grow (and totally

frustrate the harvester) in heavy clay soil.

Asians use it to tonify yin. You can extrapolate that over to a

person using it to calm down heat issues. If you tend to be

skinny and cold already, use it in combination with foods/

herbs to neutralize that factor.

Burdock can inspire peristalsis.

Burdock can assist a person in dealing with stress.

My current teacher cautions against giving it to pregnant women

however.

She also suggests that if one is trying to use it theraputically,

expect it to work slowly and

very deeply at a minimum of 3 to 6 months.

I like my burdock in maki rolls.

Penel