The root with medicinal values-burdock herbal supplement

The Burdock root is an underground tuber of a vegetable (greater burdock plant). It is also used as a medicinal herb in a variety of conditions. Burdock belongs to the daisy family plant and is a short biennial plant. The deep root of this plant is long and are black or brown on its outside. It is a native to the Northern Europe, Asia, Siberia and was introduced in America during the 1600s by English settlers. An English traveler John Josselyn, who visited New England in 1672 discovered burdock over there. During this period, burdock was introduced to Iroquois as well. Traditionally, it was commonly used as a digestive aid and diuretic, but now its numerous potentials, uses, and health benefits of burdock have been discovered by the researches.

In Japan, burdock is also known as GOBO. In China, it has been traditionally used to ease inflammation. Burdock plant grows to a height between 1 and 2 meters and bears purple flowers that bloom between June and October. Leaves appear to be large and it might grow up to 50cms. Isn’t it amazing?

Know more about this plant …

Healthy burdock-GOBO

Traditional diuretic: Burdock has been traditionally used as a natural diuretic as it can naturally and easily help the body to eliminate excessive water by enhancing urination. If you have been suffering from some fluid retention problem, then ask your doctor before consuming Burdock. It can be an excellent herbal supplement too.

Might help in alleviating skin ailments: It has been used in topical products to get relief from pesky skin issues for ages. This herb is known to claim some improvement in the condition like acne, eczema and even psoriasis. Some scientific pieces of evidence showed that burdock improved the signs of aging. One study in 2008 showed burdock extract topical treatment improved the metabolism of the dermal extracellular matrix.

Might help in treating diabetes: Burdock root contains inulin (a soluble and prebiotic) fiber that helps lower blood sugar and improve digestion. Thus, making it an excellent choice for people trying to naturally manage their blood sugar as its inulin content making it suitable for diabetes patients. In Europe, the fresh root is used for lowering blood sugar as well.

Maintains blood pressure: Burdock contains potassium (a mineral known for its benefits for cardiovascular health). Some studies have noted that higher consumption of potassium helped improve blood pressure levels for the patients suffering from high blood pressure.

Side effects: which you should be aware of:

• Every herb has side effects. so, before rushing to make any burdock oil to use it. First, you should be aware of the side effects.

•  You might show some allergic reaction upon consumption.

• On topical application, it might show dermatitis if allergic to this. So, do a skin patch test before applying on skin.

• Consult your doctor before using the burdock oil to avoid health complication.

Bottom line:

Burdock is used these days in herbal supplements which is beneficial for the health. With all its benefits it is an amazing herb as well. Beside these mentioned benefits, it has many other benefits like might help in maintaining gut health.