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Big burdock is distributed almost all over the territory of the former USSR. Grows in vacant lots, garbage areas, near housing, in vegetable gardens and orchards.
Roots are used, which are harvested in the fall in the first and second year. The smell of burdock big has a faint, peculiar, the taste is sweetish with a sense of mucilage.
Chemical composition and properties of burdock
The properties of burdock are well known to phytotherapists. In the roots are found polysaccharide inulin (up to 45%), proteins (about 12.34%), essential oil (up to 0.17%), fat-like substances, palmitic, stearic acids, mucus, tannins, bitter and protein substances, sitosterol, resinous and other substances. The properties of burdock also apply to the leaves. They contain essential oil, mucus, tannins, ascorbic acid up to 350 mg%.
Effects and uses of burdock
Infusion and decoction of the roots have diuretic and diaphoretic action. The use of burdock, namely its root extract improves blood and urine composition in gout patients with simultaneous improvement of clinical status. The second fraction of the plant alkaloids obtained by electrodialysis showed distinct activity against tumor growth inhibition. The young leaves of the plant show antibacterial activity. Consumption of burdock root has been experimentally found to increase glycogen deposition in the liver. According to S. А. Tomilina (Kiev), in fresh form or in the form of liquid extract burdock root is indicated in diabetes - decoct of crushed root: 20 g to 250 ml of water, 3 times a day.
In Poland and the GDR, the fresh root or an extract from it is used as a good diuretic and diaphoretic. The properties of burdock are good for skin diseases and for strengthening hair (Dorfler, Roselt).
In Austria, two-year-old burdock root is used as a mild laxative and choleretic. Decoction, cold extract, tincture, powder are recommended. As recent studies have shown, the leaves contain substances that act choleretic. Decoction and extract in some cases (in the presence of a large amount of tannins) may not have a laxative effect, but on the contrary - to cause constipation. The content of mucus and tannins justifies the use of tea or tincture in stomach diseases, they have a slight diuretic effect and are indicated in rheumatism and gout. The assumption that the use of burdock promotes hair growth has not yet been confirmed by anything. Preparation of cold extract: 3 g of finely ground root to 250 ml of cold water, insist for 5 hours, then strain (daily dose).
Tincture: add 4 drops 3 times a day to chamomile tea. Use as prescribed by a physician.
In Chinese medicine, the seeds and the whole fresh plant are used internally as a diuretic for edema. It is prescribed for hemorrhages in combination with other plants, for the treatment of syphilis and for intoxication from insect and poisonous snake bites. Externally, the properties of burdock help with eczema, furuncles, scrofuloderma, as well as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the genitals.
In domestic folk medicine root finds a wide and versatile use: in kidney stone disease, diabetes, gout and rheumatism, dropsy, hemorrhoids, rickets and scrofula, furunculosis, chronic eczema, constipation, as well as poisoning with mercury drugs and poisonous animal bites. Decoction of burdock root is also used for venereal diseases, joint pain. The use of burdock (fresh leaves) is recommended for the treatment of old festering wounds, tumors by applying them to the affected areas. The action of burdock root is similar to that of the imported sarsaparilla root.
In Bulgarian folk medicine burdock root is used as a diuretic and metabolism-improving remedy, for kidney and bladder stones, for gastritis and stomach ulcers. Externally, the use of burdock is recommended for dermatitis accompanied by skin itching, in the form of a compress. Burdock root adjusted with almond or olive oil is known as "turnip oil" and is used as an external remedy to strengthen hair.
In Japan, burdock is considered a vegetable crop and is cultivated under the name "gobo" (S. Р. Semyonov, V. В. Telyatiev, 1966).
The use of burdock is recommended not only in medicine, but also in cooking. Young leaves are used for salads and soups, and the roots of the first year are eaten raw, boiled, baked, fried, put in soup instead of potatoes.
Burdock root is used by us as a diuretic, diaphoretic and metabolism stimulating remedy for gout, kidney stone disease in the form of decoction, and is also included in the collection for baths..
