Arctium Radix, Burdock Root

Bardana, Lappa Major, Personata
Niu Bang Gen (TCM)
Byi bzung  བྱི་བཟུང་ (Tibetan Medicine)
Picture Picture
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

 Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
Picture Medicinal Plants, Millspaugh, 1892

Picture Picture
ARCTIUM LAPPA
1, Crown with tuft of white hairs. 2. Longitudinal section
showing the white pith and the incurved edges of the
cortex. 3, Small curved root. 4, Large transverse
section. 5, Small transverse section.
LESSER (AMERICAN) VARIETY
1. Curved root with a crown and leaf base. 2. Twisted root with a finely furrowed surface. 3. Longitudinal section showing partially hollow pith. 4. White hairs in center of the crown. 5. Larger crown showing concentric ridges. 6. White pith.
Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919

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Botanical name:


Artcium lappa
Greater and Lesser types were recognised.

Parts used:


Root

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Bitter, pungent

Classification:


3A. SUDORIFICS & DIAPHORETICS.   3F. LITHONTRIPTIC.   3M. ARTHRITICS
 TCM: 
B. Clears Heat, Cools the Blood      B. Clears Deficient Heat
N. Tonics (confected Root)

Uses:


1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison:
-eczema, psoriasis, old sores, boils, styes, heat rashes
-scrofula, lymphadenitis; Tumors, Cancer (West, Tibetan Medicine)
-Spotted Fevers: Measles, Chickenpox
-‘puffy face due to attack of pathogenic Wind’ (Ming Yi Bie Lu)

2. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Dysuria, Incontinence
-clears Gravel and Stones of the Kidney or Gall Bladder (West)
-Urinary stones (Tibetan Medicine)
-‘it disperses fluid retention’ (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-Diabetes with hot sensation and wasting. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)

3. Clears Lung Heat:
-Benefits the Lungs; Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, spitting of Blood
-‘severe coughing that has damaged the Lung, pulmonary abscess’ (Su Gong)

4. Externally:
-leaves are applied to dislocated joints, burns, tumors, inflammations, ulcers (beaten, as a poultice etc.)
-as a wash to stimulate hair growth


PREPARED (CONFECTED) ROOT:
1. Tonifies Kidney and Lungs

2. Strengthens, Clears Heat and Poison:


Dose:


Decoction of the Root or Seed; 3–9 grams;
Powder: 1–3 grams

Substitute:


Various other Docks are used similarly including Yellow Dock.
Picture

Main Combinations:


Burdock root & Yarrow

1. To resist Infection during Epidemics, Burdock root, … available in PRO version
2. To clear Heat and Toxin, and clear Liver Heat:
i. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
3. To cleanse the Blood (Alterative):
i. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
4. Acne:
i. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
5. Acne Rosacea, Burdock root, … available in PRO version
6. Boils, Abscesses:
i. decoct roots of Burdock, … available in PRO version
ii. Salve for Boils, Burdock root, … available in PRO version
7. Herpes Zoster:
i. decoct Burdock roots and … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
8. Eczema, Skin diseases:
i. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
iii. Burdock root with, … available in PRO version
9. Scrofula, Swollen Lymph nodes:
i. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
iii. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
iv. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
v. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
vi. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
10. Tumors, Cancer:
i. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
iii. Burdock root, … available in PRO version, 
11. Cancer:
i. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
iii. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
iv. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
v. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
vi. Burdock root with … available in PRO version
vii. Roots of, … available in PRO version
12. Spitting Blood (Hemoptysis):. decoct Burdock root with … available in PRO version
13. Trauma, Bruising, Burdock root … available in PRO version
14. Obstinate Piles:
i. Roots of Burdock, … available in PRO version
15. Acute Rheumatism, Syphilis, Burdock root … available in PRO version
16. Gout:
i. Burdock root, … available in PRO version
ii. Burdock root, Burdock seed, … available in PRO version

Major Formulas


Infusion for Scrofula
Decoction for Hernia
Decoction for Skin Disease
Water of Burdock

Cautions:


1. Use cautiously in Pregnancy
2. Avoid in cold and weakness of the Stomach.

Main Preparations used:


Confected Root