Burdock- Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Mother Nature has given us a lot of vegetables, which provide a lot of nutrition for living a long, healthy life. In particular, root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and beetroots, which come from the underground parts of trees or plants, are known to improve overall health. But burdock root, a root vegetable that isn't as well-known, is also great for your health and wellness in many ways.

Burdock has been used as both food as well as medicine for thousands of years in parts of Europe and Asia where it grows naturally. It is full of vitamins, minerals, fibers, proteins, and antioxidants, so it is good for your health. It has many great health benefits, like making the heart work better, easing joint pain, treating skin inflammation, and cleaning the liver, kidneys, and blood of toxins for a better immune system and metabolism. So, it makes sense that this plant is grown all over the world, including in North America and Australia, because it is so good for your health and has so many nutrients.

Burdock root is used as a vegetable in stir-fries, noodles, curries, and soups. It is also available as a powdered extract of the root and even as a capsule-based supplement for health.

About Burdock:

Burdock comes from the plant Arctium lappa, which is related to sunflowers and daisies. It comes from North Asia and Europe, but it is grown all over the world, even in North America. The burdock plant has long, deep roots that can be beige, brown, or almost black on the outside.

Burdock roots:

Burdock root comes from burdock, which is a group of weeds related to sunflowers and in the same family as daisies.  People think that the roots of the burdock plant are the most useful part of the plant. Burdock roots have a lot of nutrients like antioxidants and inulin that are known to help with things like skin problems, inflammation, digestion, and more.

Now, researchers have found that burdock root could be used in many ways and be good for your health. Because of these benefits, burdock root may be useful as a complementary treatment for some conditions.

Chemical composition of Burdock:

Burdock is mostly made of carbohydrates, volatile oils, plant sterols, tannins, and fatty oils. Scientists don't know which parts of burdock root are responsible for its healing effects. But the herb may help reduce inflammation, fight free radicals, and kill bacteria. Recent research shows that burdock contains powerful antioxidants like phenolic acids, quercetin, and luteolin.

Health benefits of Burdock:

1. Cancer prevention and treatment: The antioxidants quercetin and luteolin found in burdock root may stop cancer cells from growing and changing into other types of cells. In a lab, a 2011 study found that free radicals in burdock root may stop some cancers from spreading.

2. Treats cough and cold: Tea made from burdock root has been used for a long time to treat colds and coughs by making it easier to breathe and clear the chest. Even though there isn't much research on this, burdock does have vitamin C, which helps the immune system, and kills bacteria. 

3. Detoxifies the liver: Burdock root has been used for hundreds of years to clean out the liver and the rest of the body.

4. Anti-inflammatory properties: Burdock plant has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with aches and pains. A study done in 2014 found that people with knee osteoarthritis who drank the tea had lower levels of certain inflammatory markers.

5. Lowering blood pressure: The potassium in burdock root tea may help lower blood pressure and open up blood vessels to improve blood flow.

6. Cosmetic uses: Some beauty and weight loss products also have burdock root in them.

The antioxidants quercetin, luteolin, and phenolic acids in burdock root fight free radicals and fight the signs of aging, like wrinkles. In one study, it was found that a cream with burdock root extract made wrinkles look less noticeable.

7. Good for hair: Phytosterols in burdock root are thought to improve the health of the scalp and hair, get rid of dandruff, and strengthen hair follicles to stop hair loss and make hair thicker.