This is a lovely looking ‘weed’, Arctium lappa, is one of the most useful healing plants. All parts of the plant, root, leaves, and seeds are medicinally valuable. In Japan it is cultivated as a vegetable, I actually have some frozen Burdock in my freezer and cook with it often. Best of all the sticky burrs provided the inspiration for Velcro. The roots have tremendous detoxifying powers and are used for blood cleansing. Burdock supports the liver and helps eliminate poisons from the body. Burdock is often taken as a supportive remedy for acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Burdock root tea contains Vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium, all known to help reduce blood pressure levels. Additionally, its polyphenols have been shown to improve circulation by widening blood vessels thus allowing for a smoother flow of nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Certain studies have shown that Burdock root interfered with cancer cell growth.
It goes without saying that if you're pregnant (or are under the doc for anything) caution should be exercised with herbal decoctions.
