Burdock Leaf
- Leaf: bitter, that is, strengthens appetite and digestion.
- Leaf: more bile + more pee -> "blood cleansing". Because of this, try it in all kinds of skin problems.
The Physiomedical Dispensatory by William Cook, M.D., 1869
The leaves, or their inspissated juice, is said to make a good ointment in scrofulous ulcers. I have been told that a tablespoonful of this juice, three times a day, will act on the liver and bowels gently, and purify the blood speedily in boils. It is in some places a popular practice to apply the bruised leaves directly to boils, as a “drawing” and cleansing fomentation.
External Uses
Leaves - Skin
An infusion of the leaves, taken as a tea, or used as an external wash, is excellent for skin disorders..
Burns, Bruises
A poultice made of the shredded leaves and egg whites is a popular treatment to speed the healing of burns and bruises. . Burdock leaves have also been blended with egg whites (Culpepper) or butter (Sauer) to ease the pain, prevent infection, and promote the healing of burns without scarring
Purpose: The purposes of this pilot study were to measure pain associated with dressing changes, assess the presence of infection, and document healing times of burn-injured Amish in central Ohio using an herbal therapy consisting of Burns and Wounds™ ointment (B&W) and burdock (Arctium ssp.) leaves. B&W contains honey, lanolin, olive oil, wheat germ oil, marshmallow root, Aloe vera gel, wormwood, comfrey root, white oak bark, lobelia inflata, vegetable glycerin, bees wax, and myrrh. Design: A prospective, case series design guided the study within a community-based participatory research framework. Methods: Amish burn dressers provided burn care. Registered nurses monitored each case and documented findings. Pain scores were noted and burns were inspected for infection during dressing changes; healing times were measured from day of burn to complete closure of the skin. All cases were photographed. Results: Between October 2011 and May 2013, five Amish were enrolled. All had first- and second-degree burns. B&W/burdock leaf dressing changes caused minimal or no pain; none of the burns became infected, and healing times averaged less than 14 days. Conclusion and Implications: The use of this herbal remedy appears to be an acceptable alternative to conventional burn care for these types of burns. The trauma of dressing changes was virtually nonexistent. Nurses working in communities with Amish residents should be aware of this herbal-based method of burn care and monitor its use when feasible
Oral Health
In the leaf extract, the active compounds isolated can inhibit the growth of micro-organisms in the oral cavity
Boils
Burdock leaves bruised or blanched and applied externally as a poultice is a traditional application in bringing boils to a head. The drawing action of Plantain, Peach leaves, and/or Honeysuckle flowers would lend itself well to such a poultice, and aid in treating the infection as well. William Cook stated that the expressed juice of Burdock leaves (a tablespoon three times daily) helps to address boils internally, presumably through some lymphatic action
Poison Ivy/Oak
It is a highly effective treatment against poison ivy and poison oak
Leaves:
INFUSION–this can be used in the treatment of disorders such as indigestion, where half a cup of the infusion can be taken as single doses just before eating food to prevent the occurrence of indigestion. The herbal leaf infusion has also a mild stimulatory action on the digestive system.
POULTICE–for topical treatment of different disorders , applied to all types of bruises and inflammatory reactions on the skin, also very effective against acne and other common skin problems.
INFUSED OIL – Leaves of the burdock can be used to prepare a hot herbal infusion, this remedy is use for the treatment of varicose ulcers in patients.