Burdock – Arctium lappa L. Aster family – Asteraceae Biennial herbaceous plant 60-180 cm root of its fleshy, long. Stem erect, softly – hairy, ribbed. The leaves are large, long, alternate, cordate-ovate, lower surface tomentose. Flowers red-purple or white, gathered in the inflorescence – baskets placed on the tops of peduncles in the form of plates. Flowers in July and August.
Distributed almost throughout the former Soviet Union. It grows like a weed in garbage places, along roads, river banks, in gardens, orchards, near housing, especially in damp places. Use of roots collected in the fall (one-year), or two-year, collected spring. Chemical composition: the polysaccharide inulin, essential, fatty oil, tannins, stigmasterol, sitosterol, bitter, stearic acid, palmitic acid, protein. Action: diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-allergic, regulates metabolism, particularly carbohydrate, and the function of the digestive system.
Only used in folk medicine for skin diseases (eczema, neurodermatitis, prurigo, skin itching, hives, psoriasis, abrasions, hair loss). According to N. T. Kovaleva (1971), plant alkaloids, the second fraction, obtained by electrodialysis has a pronounced ability to delay tumor growth. One might think that the positive Burdock effect in psoriasis is due to its ability to inhibit mitosis, which then reinforced dermatosis. How to use: decoction or infusion (1 teaspoon of crushed root in 0.5 liter of water) – 0.5 cup 4 times a day to meal. Burdock root is a part of medical fees for treatment of many dermatoses. In their effectiveness, mechanism of action of burdock root can successfully replace the imported root sarsaparilly that Churolinov P. (1979), Pophristov P. (1963) recommend for psoriasis, lupus jingoistic, eczema, neurodermatitis, urticaria, acne vulgaris. Externally a decoction of burdock root is used for baths, washes, wet-drying Turbans in itching dermatoses (Eczema, neurodermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, prurigo, skin ulcers). Decoction and tincture is rubbed into the hair roots with hair loss. Ointment with burdock root has a good therapeutic effect in eczema, hair loss, burns (AP Popov, 1968). – Traditional recipes treatment