BURDOCK

OTHER NAME(S):

Arctium, Arctium lappa, Arctium minus, Arctium tomentosum, Bardana, Bardana-minor, Bardanae Radix, Bardane, Bardane Comestible, Bardane Géante, Bardane Majeure, Beggar's Buttons, Burdock Root Extract, Burr Seed, Clotbur, Cocklebur, Cockle Buttons, Edible Burdock, Fox's Clote, Gobo, Glouteron, Grande Bardane, Great Bur, Great Burdocks, Happy Major, Hardock, Harebur, Herbe aux Teigneux, Herbe du Teigneux, Lappa, Love Leaves, Niubang, Niu Bang Zi, Orelha-de-gigante, Personata, Philanthropium, Rhubarbe du Diable, Thorny Burr.

Overview

Overview Information

Burdock is a plant that is found all over the world. Burdock root is sometimes used as food. The root, leaf, and seed are used as medicine.

Burdock is used for skin problems, stomach problems, joint swelling, and other conditions, but there is no good evidence to support its use for any condition.

Burdock has been associated with poisonings because some products have been contaminated with root of belladonna. These poisonings do not appear to have been caused by burdock itself.

How does it work?

Burdock contains chemicals that might have activity against bacteria and inflammation

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Aging skin. Early research shows that applying a specific cream containing burdock fruit to facial skin reduces eye wrinkles (crow's feet).
  • Swelling (inflammation) is parts of the large intestine (diverticulitis). Early research shows that taking burdock tea helps to prevent the recurrence of diverticulitis in people who have had it before. But it doesn't seem to stop bleeding associated with diverticulitis in people that have had bleeding before.
  • Breast cancer.
  • Diabetes.
  • Swelling (inflammation) of the vagina (vaginitis), when applied to the skin..
  • Fluid retention.
  • Fever.
  • Anorexia.
  • Stomach conditions.
  • Gout.
  • Acne.
  • Severely dry skin.
  • Psoriasis.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of burdock for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Burdock is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if burdock is safe when taken in by mouth as a medicine or what the side effects might be.

When applied to the skin: Burdock is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin for up to 4 weeks. Burdock may cause an allergic reaction in people sensitive to certain flowers and herbs. When applied directly to the skin, it can cause a rash.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if burdock is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding disorders: Burdock might slow blood clotting. Taking burdock might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Burdock may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking burdock.

Diabetes: Some evidence suggests that taking burdock might lower blood sugar levels. Taking burdock might lower blood sugar levels too much in people with diabetes who are already taking medications to lower blood sugar.

Surgery: Burdock might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Interactions?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

!

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with BURDOCK

    Burdock might slow blood clotting. Taking burdock along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

    Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of burdock for use as treatment depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for burdock. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Bryson, P. D., Watanabe, A. S., Rumack, B. H., and Murphy, R. C. Burdock root tea poisoning. Case report involving a commercial preparation. JAMA 5-19-1978;239(20):2157. View abstract.
  • Chan, Y. S., Cheng, L. N., Wu, J. H., Chan, E., Kwan, Y. W., Lee, S. M., Leung, G. P., Yu, P. H., and Chan, S. W. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology. 2011;19(5):245-254. View abstract.
  • Dombradi, C. A. and Foldeak, S. Screening report on the antitumor activity of purified Arctium Lappa extracts. Tumori 1966;52(3):173-175. View abstract.
  • Fan, H., De-Qiang, D., Yu, S., Lin, Z., Hong-Bin, X., and Ting-Guo, K. Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of arctiin and its main metabolite in rats by HPLC-UV and LC-MS. Planta Med 2012;78(8):800-806. View abstract.
  • Farnsworth NR and Segelman AB. Hypoglycemic plants. Tile Till 1971;57:52-56.
  • Hirono, I., Mori, H., Kato, K., Ushimaru, Y., Kato, T., and Haga, M. Safety examination of some edible plants, Part 2. J Environ Pathol Toxicol 1978;1(1):71-74. View abstract.
  • Ichihara A. New sesquilignans from Arctium lappa L. The structure of lappaol C, D and E. Agric Biol Chem 1977;41:1813-1814.
  • Kassler, W. J., Blanc, P., and Greenblatt, R. The use of medicinal herbs by human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. Arch Intern Med 1991;151(11):2281-2288. View abstract.
  • Knott, A., Reuschlein, K., Mielke, H., Wensorra, U., Mummert, C., Koop, U., Kausch, M., Kolbe, L., Peters, N., Stab, F., Wenck, H., and Gallinat, S. Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. J Cosmet.Dermatol. 2008;7(4):281-289. View abstract.
  • Lapinina L and Sisoeva T. Investigation of some plants to determine their sugar lowering action. Farmatsevtichnyi Zhurnal 1964;19:52-58.
  • Morita K. Chemical nature of a desmutagenic factor isolated from burdock (Arctium lappa Linne). Agric Biol Chem 1985;49:925-932.
  • Morita, K., Kada, T., and Namiki, M. A desmutagenic factor isolated from burdock (Arctium lappa Linne). Mutat.Res 1984;129(1):25-31. View abstract.
  • Nose, M., Fujimoto, T., Nishibe, S., and Ogihara, Y. Structural transformation of lignan compounds in rat gastrointestinal tract; II. Serum concentration of lignans and their metabolites. Planta Med 1993;59(2):131-134. View abstract.
  • Sato, A. [Studies on anti-tumor activity of crude drugs. I. The effects of aqueous extracts of some crude drugs in shortterm screening test. (1)]. Yakugaku Zasshi 1989;109(6):407-423. View abstract.
  • Silver AA and Krantz JC. The effect of the ingestion of burdock root on normal and diabetic individuals: A preliminary report. Ann Int Med 1931;5:274-284.
  • Swanston-Flatt, S. K., Day, C., Flatt, P. R., Gould, B. J., and Bailey, C. J. Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Res 1989;10(2):69-73. View abstract.
  • Wang, H. Y. and Yang, J. S. [Studies on the chemical constituents of Arctium lappa L]. Yao Xue.Xue.Bao.[Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica] 1993;28(12):911-917. View abstract.
  • Wang, W., Pan, Q., Han, X. Y., Wang, J., Tan, R. Q., He, F., Dou, D. Q., and Kang, T. G. Simultaneous determination of arctiin and its metabolites in rat urine and feces by HPLC. Fitoterapia 2-1-2013;86C:6-12. View abstract.

  • Fletcher GF, Cantwell JD. Burdock root tea poisoning. JAMA 1978 Oct 6;240(15):1586.

    View abstract.
  • Carlotto J, de Souza LM, Baggio CH, et al. Polysaccharides from Arctium lappa L.: Chemical structure and biological activity. Int J Biol Macromol. 2016;91:954-60. View abstract.
  • El-Kott AF and Bin-Meferij MM. Use of Arctium lappa extract against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015;77:73-8. View abstract.
  • García F, Rodríguez CA, Palomo ML, et al. Efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of Zelesse for the treatment of non-specific vulvovaginitis in paediatric patients: The NINESSE Study. J Int Med Res. 2018;46(9):3583-3595. View abstract.
  • Guinot M, Blanco JE, Delgado JL, et al. Acceptability, tolerability, and effects on symptoms and signs of vulvovaginitis of a non-soap, herbal-based intimate hygiene solution (Zelesse). J Int Med Res. 2019;47(6):2626-2636. View abstract.
  • Hirose M, Yamaguchi T, Lin C, et al. Effects of arctiin on PhIP-induced mammary, colon and pancreatic carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats and MeIQx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Cancer Lett 2000;155:79-88. View abstract.
  • Holetz FB, Pessini GL, Sanches NR, et al. Screening of some plants used in the Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2002;97:1027-31. View abstract.
  • Iwakami S, Wu JB, Ebizuka Y, Sankawa U. Platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists contained in medicinal plants: lignans and sesquiterpenes. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1992;40:1196-8. View abstract.
  • Kardosova A, Ebringerova A, Alfoldi J, et al. A biologically active fructan from the roots of Arctium lappa L., var. Herkules. Int J Biol Macromol 2003;33:135-40. View abstract.
  • Lin CC, Lu JM, Yang JJ, et al. Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa. Am J Chin Med 1996;24:127-37. View abstract.
  • Lin SC, Lin CH, Lin CC, et al. Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride. J Biomed Sci 2002;9:401-9. View abstract.
  • Mizuki A, Tatemichi M, Nakazawa A, Tsukada N, Nagata H, Kinoshita Y. Effects of Burdock tea on recurrence of colonic diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding: An open-labelled randomized clinical trial. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):6793. View abstract.
  • Predes Fde S, Diamante MA, Foglio MA, Dolder H. Effects of Arctium lappa on cadmium-induced damage to the testis and epididymis of adult wistar rats. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2016;173(2):362-71. View abstract.
  • Rhoads PM, Tong TG, Banner W Jr, Anderson R. Anticholinergic poisonings associated with commercial burdock root tea. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1984-85;22:581-4. View abstract.
  • Rodriguez P, Blanco J, Juste S, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis due to burdock (Arctium lappa). Contact Dermatitis 1995;33:134-5. View abstract.
  • Sasaki Y, Kimura Y, Tsunoda T, Tagami H. Anaphylaxis due to burdock. Int J Dermatol 2003;42:472-3. View abstract.
  • Xie LH, Ahn EM, Akao T, et al. Transformation of arctiin to estrogenic and antiestrogenic substances by human intestinal bacteria. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2003;51:378-84. View abstract.
  • Yang WS, Lee SR, Jeong YJ, et al. Antiallergic activity of ethanol extracts of Arctrium lappa L. undried roots and its active compound, oleamide, in regulating FceRI-mediated and MAPK signaling in RBL-2H3 cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2016;64(18):3564-73.View abstract.
  • Bever BO and Zahnd GR. Plants with oral hypoglycaemic action. Quart J Crude Drug Res 1979;17:139-196.
  • Breed, F. B. and Kuwabara, T. Burdock ophthalmia. Arch Ophthalmol 1966;75(1):16-20. View abstract.
  • Zick, S. M., Sen, A., Feng, Y., Green, J., Olatunde, S., and Boon, H. Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). J Altern Complement Med 2006;12(10):971-980. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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