BURDOCK

Arctium lappa: Compositae

PLANET: Venus

ELEMENT: Water

TASTE: bitter, sweet, astringent	VIPAKA: pungent
WARMTH: cool	DOSHAS: V+ P- K-

MERIDIANS: Lungs, Stomach, Kidney, Liver

ACTIONS: alterative, moves body to balance and health, diuretic (seeds), diaphoretic, hypoglycemic, nutritive, bitter, increases bile secretion, aperient, vulnerary, demulcent, antipyretic, estrogenic, anodyne.

INDICATIONS: dry and scaly skin diseases, effective for psoriasis used long-term, boils, carbuncles, arthritis (particularly psoriatic arthritis), scurvy, anorexia nervosa, cystitis, fevers, inflammations, fluid retention, excess yang or Pita, lymphatic clogging, nephritis, hypertension, clears Ama, tumours

PRECAUTIONS: anemia, chills, high Vata

CONSTITUENTS: essential oil, 45% inulin, ARCTIGENIN (is an inhibitor of experimental tumour growth), ARCTIIN, matairesinol, polyacetylenes (antimicrobial), ARCTIC ACID, ARCTIOL, fukinalolide, petasitolone, eremophilene, amino acids, an unidentified dysmutagenic factor, the dietary fibre has been shown to protect rats from the toxicity of various food colours

PREPARATION AND USE:
-tincture, 10-30 drops or decoction (1 tsp in 1c boiling water) three times daily
-internally and externally in poultice for skin
-externally for wounds
-combine with Yellow Dock, Red Clover, or Cleavers for skin problems
-an infusion of the leaves as a digestive bitter and stomach tonic

NUTRITIONAL USE: "Gobo Root" is used as a vegetable in stews, stir-fries, and soups. Rich in fibre. Stimulates appetite.

USE IN MAGIC: Protection, Healing
-cast around home to ward off negativity
-add to protection incenses and use in Protection spells
-gather in waning moon, dry and cut into small pieces, string on necklace and wear for protection from negativity and evil
-leaves laid on soles help cure gout

USE IN PERSONAL GROWTH:
-helps clear pitagenic emotions like anger, aggression, ambition
-helps emotions to flow more freely; relieves stagnation or discontent
-very nurturing

"All that I need to nourish myself will be mine if I open to it."