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HEALING REMEDIES
Burdock - Nature's Blood Purifier	JoAnna Cassidy-Farrell
March 2010 HEALING REMEDIES By JoAnna Cassidy-Farrell MH, CNHP Herb of the month: Burdock Burdock is a very common biennial weed with burrs of seeds and leaves as broad as the rhubarb leaf. It grows along paths, stonewalls and almost anywhere its roots can take hold. Burdock is commonly used today by herbalists as a blood purifier. This versatile herb has an unexplained anti-poisoning effect as it protects against toxic chemicals. Burdock has a constituent called polyacetylenes, which kills disease causing bacteria and fungi, and also decreases mutation in cancerous cells. Burdock is one of our important anti-cancer herbs and is included in most of the popular anti-cancer herbal formulas on the market today. This herb has a very deep root, which indicates it may be successful at getting to the root of a chronic condition and working to purify the blood without nausea, gradually improving the body’s general nutrition. When taken internally this herb strengthens the kidneys. Extracts from this plant lower blood sugar levels and are thought to exhibit estrogenic activity as well as nourish the lymphatic system. It is very useful for boils, pox, burns and chronic skin issues such as psoriasis, eczema and hemorrhoids. Burdock is extremely safe to use, having been utilized as a food by Native Americans and Asians. Curiously, burdock’s historical uses also include a sort of herbal irrigation -- the plant’s deep roots were thought to bring up water for use by other garden plants in drought years. JoAnna Cassidy Farrell MH, CNHP, owns and operates Keep It Green at 361-1416, mykeepitgreen.com
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JoAnna Cassidy Farrell MH, CNHP, owns and operates Keep It Green at 361-1416, mykeepitgreen.com