Burdock Root Fun Facts
Burdock Root Fun Facts
If you're a herb enthusiast looking for a nutrient-packed root veggie, look no further than burdock root! This root is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals and is popular in many traditional Japanese dishes. Here are 40 fun facts about this amazing medicinal food!
Burdock root is a vegetable native to Asia and Europe.
In North America and Australia, burdock root is considered an invasive species and weed.
Its botanical name is Arctium lappa, though it is often referred to simply as burdock, gobō, lappa, beggars buttons, or thorny burr.
Burdock is a biennial plant. It has a two-year growth cycle and produces purple flowers in its second year of life.
Burdock plants can reach up to 10 feet in height, and the root can reach up to three feet in underground length.
Burdock root is in the family Asteraceae, and is related to sunflowers, daisies, chrysanthemums, and chamomile.
Burdock is considered one of the essential ingredients in Japanese cuisine.
Burdock root has a sweet, earthy flavor with notes of roasted nuts, though some people liken it to a mild onion or salted potato.
Burdock root is known for its many healing properties including being a detoxifying and supportive aid to the liver, and a promoter of digestive health.
Burdock root can be prepared in a variety of ways, including shredded and baked, boiled, mashed, or pickled.
Roasted burdock root is an excellent ingredient when making herbal coffee alternatives. You can read more about it here.
Burdock root contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and manganese.
Burdock root is a popular herb used by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Fresh burdock root is available year-round in most Chinese grocery stores and health food stores.
Burdock root has a long history of being used to treat skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and acne.
To make a tea blend, try combining burdock root and dandelion root for a mild, lightly bitter and nutty flavor.
Burdock tea can be prepared by steeping the dried root in hot water for about 15 minutes.
Burdock root has been used as an ingredient in shampoo due to its antifungal and antibacterial action.
Burdock root contains inulin, which helps to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood and supports healthy gut flora.
Burdock is an edible weed, making it a great option for foraging if you know how to identify it confidently.
Burdock root is known for having antimicrobial activity, and it can be used to increase the body’s resistance to infections.
Burdock root functions as an overall tonic for the body, providing essential vitamins and minerals.
Burdock root can help increase the bioavailability of other nutrients, helping to maximize the benefits they offer.
Some Native Americans have historically used burdock root as a food and medicine. A traditional way to prepare the root for storage was to boil the root in maple syrup, producing a candy-like food.
Burdock plants are known for producing sharp burrs that stick to everything. Burdock burrs are so good at attaching to things that they helped to inspire the invention of Velcro.
In the middle ages, burdock root was used to treat syphilis, leprosy, rabies, kidney stones, and gallbladder issues.
In nature, burdock root can often be found growing in damp soil near rivers and streams.
Burdock is generally best harvested during summer and fall.
The part of burdock that is most often used as a food and medicine is the root, although sometimes the seeds or leaves are used instead.
Burdock root can help to regulate and lower blood sugar and may be useful for people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Burdock root is a natural diuretic.
Burdock flowers attract bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects.
When buying or harvesting fresh burdock root, look for the young and slender roots as they are less tough and fibrous than older roots.
To store fresh burdock root, wrap the unwashed root in a damp paper towel and place it in a sealed container in your fridge until it’s time to use it.
In many recipes, fresh burdock root can be used as a substitute for potatoes.
When applied topically to the skin, burdock root provides a soothing effect due to its high mucilage content.
Due to the length of their roots, burdock plants are notoriously difficult to dig up and harvest.
In 13th century England, it was popular to drink a beverage made from burdock and dandelion root. This drink may have even helped to inspire the creation of root beer!
In some parts of Turkey, burdock is used to ward off “evil eye” curses.
Many herbalists prefer to use burdock root in low doses over an extended period of time to achieve their best results.