Burdock: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Beggar's buttons, common burdock, Burdock
Scientific name(s)
Arctium lappa, Arctium minus, Arctium tomentosum
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Phenolic acids
Flavonoids
Tannins
Lignans
Sterols
terpenoid lactones
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Wrinkles ✪✪✪✪✪
A very small study conducted on women aged 39 to 65 showed that applying a 1.2% fruit extract emulsion of Burdock to the face twice daily for 4 weeks slightly reduces skin wrinkles around the eyes compared to a placebo.
Posologie
Topical: fruit
4 - weeks
cream
Acne ✪✪✪✪✪
Due to its sebum-regulating and antibacterial properties, Burdock is traditionally indicated for superinfected acne in adolescents and adults.
Posologie
Oral: root
350 - 1050 mg
4 - weeks
Adolescents, Adults
powder, dry extract
Eczema ✪✪✪✪✪
Due to its anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating properties, Burdock is traditionally used for eczema, and other seborrheic skin conditions.
Posologie
Oral: root
350 - 1050 mg
Adolescents, Adults
powder, dry extract
Dermatoses ✪✪✪✪✪
On the skin level, the root is used to regulate sebum secretion. More generally, burdock can be used for all dermatoses on a metabolic terrain, thanks to its properties related to blood sugar (hypoglycemic) and the liver (hepatoprotective).
Posologie
Oral: root
350 - 1050 mg
Adolescents, Adults
powder, dry extract
Urinary disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
Burdock root is traditionally used for its effects on renal functions. Through its diuretic property, it increases urine volume, promoting the elimination of microbes during urinary infections.
Posologie
Oral: root
350 - 1050 mg
Adolescents, Adults
powder, dry extract
Detoxification ✪✪✪✪✪
Burdock promotes the elimination of body waste through urine, feces, and sweat, mainly due to its diuretic, choleretic, and laxative properties. Experiments support this use. The constituents of the root cause, at the liver level, an increase in bile secretion, and at the renal level, the excretion of uric acid in urine. Burdock root also reduces the risk of kidney stones.
Posologie
Oral: root
350 - 1050 mg
Adolescents, Adults
powder, dry extract
Gout ✪✪✪✪✪
The use of Burdock could potentially reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of gout symptoms. It acts as a diuretic. Burdock root helps in the expulsion of uric acid crystals responsible for gout through urine. Phytotherapists like Valnet also recommended the local application of the fresh plant for rheumatic pains.
Posologie
Oral administration: root
350 - 1050 mg
Adolescents, Adults
powder, dry extract
Properties
Dermatological effect
Burdock is purifying and detoxifying: by stimulating the eliminative functions of the liver and kidneys, it helps prevent skin diseases. On the skin level, the root is used to regulate sebum secretion and promote the maturation of abscesses and elimination of pus.
Usages associés
Depurative
Burdock promotes the elimination of body waste through urine, feces, and sweat, mainly due to its diuretic, choleretic, and slightly laxative properties.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
Different burdock root extracts have shown antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo. This antioxidant activity results on one hand from its ability to trap free radicals and on the other hand from the increase in endogenous antioxidants like glutathione.
Diuretic
Rich in inulin, potassium nitrate, as well as organic acid, the roots show confirmed diuretic properties in vivo.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Burdock has anti-inflammatory properties, notably by an anti-PAF (platelet-activating factor) action thanks to the lignans it contains. In vivo, the administration of powdered burdock root helped reduce intestinal inflammation, this effect being linked to a reduced production of cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-1.
Usages associés
Antibacterial
Polyacetylenic derivatives exclusively from the fresh root exhibit certain antibacterial activity in vitro (Bacillus subtillis, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, and S.sonnei).
Usages associés
Hepatoprotective
Burdock protects liver cells from damage induced by hepatotoxic substances. This effect is due to the sesquiterpene lactones and antioxidant properties of the plant. Furthermore, the root's alcohol acids help stimulate bile production, this choleretic action of Burdock is akin to that of its cousin, Artichoke.
Usages associés
Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride
Hypoglycemic
Traditionally, the burdock root is used to decrease hyperglycemia. It limits the increase in blood sugar after carbohydrate ingestion. In vivo studies have shown that inulin intake could explain this effect.
Usages associés
Antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa root's hydro-alcoholic extract on nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced type 2 model of diabetes in male mice
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 1.05 g - 1.75 g (powder)
The use of burdock is not recommended for individuals under 18 years due to insufficient data. The daily dose (according to the EMA) is 350 mg 3 to 5 times per day for the powder form, or an infusion of 2 to 6 g, 3 times per day. In mother tincture: 3 times 50 drops per day.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antiplatelets/Anticoagulant: moderate interaction
Theoretically, taking Burdock with an anticoagulant may increase the risk of bleeding due to decreased platelet aggregation.
Antidiabetic: moderate interaction
Theoretically, taking Burdock in combination with antidiabetic medications may have additive effects and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Individuals under antidiabetic treatment should use Burdock with caution.
Precautions
Child up to 18 years: avoid
The limited research conducted on children so far does not provide enough data to exclude any risk associated with the use of this plant.
Nephritic colic: avoid
Individuals suffering from urinary stone crisis (nephritic colic) should avoid taking burdock. Indeed, if there is an obstruction in the urinary tract, the intake of liquids or diuretics will increase the pressure upstream of the obstruction and cause significant pain.
Contraindications
Pregnant woman: prohibited
Due to a potential stimulating effect on uterine contractions, burdock is not recommended for pregnant women.
Lactating woman: prohibited
The limited research conducted on lactating women so far does not provide enough data to exclude any risk associated with the use of this plant.
