Latin: Arctium lappa
Also Known As: Lappa, Fox's Clote, Thorny Burr, Beggar's Buttons, Cockle Buttons, Love Leaves, Philanthropium, Personata, Happy Major, Clot-Bur, Bardana, Burrseed, Cockleburr, Great Burdock, Hardock, Hurrburr, Sweethearts, Cuckoo Button, Bardona, Grass burdock, Hareburr, Cuckold Buttons, Donkeys, Eddick, Flapper-bags, Gypsy Comb, Kisses, Loppy major, Pig's rhubarb, Sticky Jacks, Touch-me-not, Tuzzy-muzzy, wild rhubarb, Burr-top
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat and Description: Burdock is a tall, stately biennial growing to approximately 1.5 metres tall, with large, ovate, ruffle edged leaves that taper to a point, and a tall central stem bearing lots of small bristly seed heads, after tufted purple flowers. The seeds tend to stick to anything that brushes past them, hence many of the folk names for the plant. The root is harvested in the first autumn or second spring (when the tonic effect is apparently more pronounced), and takes a great deal of digging to unearth as it burrows extremely deep. Seriously – prepare for several hours work if you want to unearth one. The leaves have a pleasant aromatic scent, with dark green upper leaves and paler silvery grey undersides. The young plant grows close to the ground, around a basal rosette of leaves. The young leaves are roughly heart shaped.. The roots, once unearthed, are gnarly on the outside with a lovely creamy coloured, juicy centre, and can grow up to a metre deep – its difficult to dig the whole thing up, and even the smallest piece of root left in the ground provides enough for the plant to grow back from. It might be worth attempting to carve one at some point to see if they hold a shape well enough to carve amulets from.
Parts Used: Root, seeds, herb
Constituents: Burdock contains a considerable list of known constituents, including lignans such as arctigenin and its glycoside; polyacetylenes in the root, sesquiterpenes in the leaves, up to 50% inulin in the roots (although I seem to recall reading that this is only in the fresh plant – therefore in order to gain the benefit of this inulin the root would need to be tinctured fresh.) The plant also contains assorted organic acids, fatty acids and phenolic acids, including isovaleric and caffeic acid, as well as iron, sulphur, b-vitamins and mucilage. The root contains high levels of vitamin C as well as trace amounts of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, silicon, phosphorus and potassium.
Planetary Influence: Venus
Associated Deities and Heroes: Blodeuwedd. I wonder if it could also be connected with water Goddesses, especially those of rivers and lakes, since it has such a strong connection with fluid and its movement. I'd probably associate it at least in part with underworld deities such as Hel, Hecate and Cerridwen, not so much from a sorcerous point of view but from that of immortality, given how easily the plant regenerates from a tiny piece of root, and how hard it is to unearth the root.
Festival: Not known however since the plant is associated with Venus and primarily deals with watery things, I'm inclined to think probably Mabon or Samhain, especially considering that this is when the root is usually unearthed. I think this plant is quite an underworld plant, more associated with deep, watery, mysterious things, so Autumn would certainly be an appropriate season for it to be associated with.
Constitution: Cool and moist (but not excessively so – I'm inclined to say its more temperate, personally.)
Actions and Indications: Burdock is primarily known as a blood cleanser and alterative – this is certainly how I've used it in the past. It can be used to treat acne and related skin conditions as well as problems such as psoriasis and eczema. Being ruled by Venus, it has a strong affinity with the blood and lymph, and stimulates the movement of lymph around the body, causing a cleansing effect that can sometimes worsen the problem before it improves. Opinion on dosage seems to be divided, with some being of the opinion that it is best taken in small doses over a long period, and others considering that using it over a smaller space of time is a better method of prescription. I think it probably depends pretty heavily on what you are trying to achieve.
The herb works by encouraging the cells to release any stored waste materials. Apparently burdock combines well with red clover or dock as well as with the traditional dandelion, part of the original well known drink. Burdock has a well known and longstanding reputation as an extremely reliable blood tonic, as well as being antibiotic and with some adaptogenic effects.
Burdock is a nutritive tonic and deep healer, which has been used for hundreds of years. The constituent arctigenin can be used in the treatment of cancerous growths and to inhibit tumour development. Apparently the Wisewoman tradition uses it in an anti cancer treatment, and to treat the side effects of chemotherapy. Burdock makes a wonderful long term immune strengthener, useful in the treatment of CFS and immune diseases, and can be used over long periods of time.
In addition to the above, our friend Burdock can be used to treat arthritis and rheumatism (probably through improving clearance of toxins from the system) as well as to treat syphilis. The bitter taste of the root acts as a CNS stimulant (possibly through action on the vagus nerve). It is also a hepatic stimulant and choleretic, so probably best used with a little care if you are on any medication as it will improve the body's ability to process the drugs.
The plant is used for dry conditions where lack of oil and moisture is causing reduced functionality of the body. The root is for chronic, long lasting conditions, and the seed for acute conditions. The seed is considerably more diffusive to the root, well suited to people suffering from problems that impact the skin and kidneys. Constitutionally, the plant is well suited to stoic people, as well as those who are debilitated, worried or tired. This isn't greatly surprising given its use in the treatment of CFS and autoimmune diseases. Burdock is a useful prostate and uterine herb as it regulates the menstrual cycle by acting as a uterine stimulant. It has been used to treat uterine prolapse and as a tonic to strengthen the uterus before and after labour.
Spiritual and Energetic Uses: As I've researched this herb I've been intrigued to note that there's very little information to be found on the plant's spiritual and energetic purposes. One author makes the interesting point that the dark appearance of the plant means that the plant is ruled by Saturn and Pluto (which contradicts the opinion of most other authors but I'll ramble about that later) as well as commenting that the colour of the flower is due to the plant's mastery of the dark powers – the underworld. This is particularly interesting because, despite the lack of folklore surrounding the plant, I get a strong feeling of the Underworld, of deep flowing energy connected with this plant. So I think that it could probably be connected with a lot of the Underworld Goddesses, such as Hecate, Persephone and Cerridwen, and with the dark, unseen face of the moon – the sorceress. I'd probably use it to encourage a deeper understanding of the Underworld side of the personality, and a greater ability to accept that duality and be at peace with it.
Because the plant is associated with Venus, the plant also has associations with love. Charms used to be cast with the burrs, to determine whether or not a lover was true. The burr would be thrown at the skirt, and if it stuck then the lover was true, but if it fell off then they weren't. Its possible that the burrs could be used in love charms.
Magical Uses: Burdock is primarily used for protection, for example by threading pieces of dried burdock onto a string and wearing it as a necklace. An amulet can be made from the root, or the leaves can be used as part of incense and spread around the house. It's possible it could be used as part of a smudge stick, or perhaps an infusion of burdock leaves used instead of salted water in protection rituals. The leaves can also be used in water related incense, and in any spells or incenses related to Venus.
A string of protective Burdock beads can be threaded on red string (unsurprisingly – this is an old folk belief of the old 'rowan berries and red thread' type. Burdock is used for healing – unsurprisingly, given the plant's association with Venus. The root needs to be gathered in the waning moon – probably because this draws the plant's energy and power downwards into the roots and concentrates it there.
Because the plant is associated with Venus, the plant also has associations with love. Charms used to be cast with the burrs, to determine whether or not a lover was true. The burr would be thrown at the skirt, and if it stuck then the lover was true, but if it fell off then they weren't. Its possible that the burrs could be used in love charms.
Folklore: Very little folklore is known about the Burdock plant. The plant seems to have remained relatively unknown throughout history, appropriately enough for an Underworld plant, although its latin name – Arctium – comes from the Latin 'Arctos', meaning 'Bear'. This is apparently due to the hairy appearance of the well known burrs. Two of the common names of the plant – 'Personata' and 'Prosopium' – come from the Greek and Latin names for 'masked', because historically the large leaves were used as masks by Greek actors. The Native American Indians make extensive use of the plant as a vasotonic alterative. The young leaves were eaten as spring salads in Italy, Scandinavia and parts of France. Burdock root is cooked and eaten as a root vegetable in Japan, Hawaii and New Zealand.
Dose: Dosage is given as 6mls of tincture or 4g of dried plant matter in an infusion. I personally think it makes a lovely tasting tea, and combines well with Nettle for this purpose.
Contraindications: Use in small doses as this plant can be quite stimulating, however it is quite safe to use over a long period in smaller doses. Larger doses promote toxin removal from the body. The plant is part of the asteraceae family which can cause skin reactions in some people.