Burdock - Blood Cleansing Edible and Medicinal Plant - Identification, Description, and Harvesting

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Here is a link to the experiment with burdock root tea/decoction.
• Burdock Tea Trial Week...
Burdock spp.
Common Burdock, Lesser Burdock - Arctium minus
Great Burdock, Greater Burdock - Arctium lappa
Woolly Burdock - Arctium tomentosum
Burdock is Edible and Burdock is Medicinal
In North America there are three kinds of burdock species. Common burdock, great burdock, and woolly burdock. They are all described as alternatives and burdock root benefits include their balancing effect on the body. They are edible and medicinal and have been used to purify the blood to improve liver, kidney, and the lymphatic system to which can help improve skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and more. They have also been used to treat things like rheumatism or pain in the muscles, joints, and connective tissue.
This video shows common burdock which can be found almost everywhere across Canada and the United States. Common burdock is a wild edible plant, but it's leaves are very bitter and might need multiple water changes to be palatable. The roots of common burdock are more commonly eaten. Common burdock is also a wild medicinal plant. Some potential burdock root benefits include relieving joint pain, helping to clean the blood and liver, and helping to relieve eczema.
Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!
References
Kloos, Scott. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Inc. 2017
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
Parish, R.; Coupe, R.; and Lloyd, D. Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. 2018
Warnock, C. 437 Edible Wild Plants of the Rocky Mountain West. Familius LLC. 2018.
Wiles, Briana. Mountain States Medicinal Plants. Timber Press Inc. 2018.

[@kennyberry5171]

Mom added a few spoonfuls of burdock tea to her coffee every morning. Lived to be 94. She got her seeds from her grandfather's plant that grew behind the barn since the 1800s. I'm growing it now from seeds from her plants.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That's really cool! Thank you!

[@kennyberry5171]

Also, my great-aunt was a licensed herbalist in North Georgia back in the 1960s, which meant she was licensed to treat people with illnesses if they so desired. Plant medicines were passed down from one generation to the next. I'm 70 years old and need to pass it on to my grandkids, but they don't want to know about stuff like that.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I think there's a tremendous amount of knowledge that has been largely dismissed and ignored about plant medicines in recent years. Fortunately, I also think many people are now seeking out this knowledge and looking for different ways to achieve better health.

[@kennyberry5171]

Thank you for your efforts to that effect.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome!

[@michaelmonaghan9226]

I grow burdock in raised beds 2 foot deep and a few months I have a 2 foot long root. Taste great fresh eat it like bugs bunny.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That sounds great! Thank you!

[@bridget3694]

Thought it was wild rhubarb when i first moved to my home 7 years ago. Figured it out. What a blessing 😌 also was told i have century plants which turned out to be yuccas and i have curly dock and wold lettuce everywhere ❤️

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I think a lot of people think that! That sounds really nice. Thank you!

[@naturegirl4074]

My husband also thought ours was rhubarb

[@cm3819]

Where do you live?

[@Finding_Funny]

So cool to go through the identifying process while you talked me through - this mysterious, huge-leaved plant in my garden is common burdock and there are people in my family who could well benefit from it's properties. Thank you! Xx

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! I'm glad it helped! Thank you, too!

[@sarac2484]

Great video! Thank you

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@sciencelearnremember]

Great timing. Now I know what this is.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Great! I hope it was helpful!

[@mamasmurf7830]

Thank you! ☺️

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thank you, too!

[@jerrymarlow9735]

I'm just starting and I enjoyed... also keep us updated on your experiment... thank you

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thank you, too! Welcome to foraging! If you'd like, here is part 1 of the experiment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWnGoIuldp5mnKs& Here is part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaWZmmOpgbBoopo Thanks again!

[@naturegirl4074]

This was very useful thanks

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thank you, too!

[@naturegirl4074]

I have a huge one growing in my backyard! Wyoming (central)

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Nice!

[@tersta1]

Thanks for putting the video together. I mostly have common burdock around here but every couple years a few greater burdock will grow HUGE. I didn't know that it was a different species until watching your video. I just picked some leaves and will have them sautéed with garlic, onions and milder greens from the greenhouse. A few years ago I had some that had the flavor of high quality olive oil. I'm hoping for this same this time.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching. That sounds delicious!

[@isabelseeley1634]

You are a superhero, I will used this for my mom , you just help me identify this plant. Thank you

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! I'm glad it helped!

[@LH-zw7dg]

I also can’t wait to see the results!!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

We will be sure to let you know!

[@nwolfe8269]

Did it work?!?

[@peelingoffthelayers]

Try Castor Oil for your aching joints. Thank you.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! Good idea.

[@BeLoud13]

Burdock root tea has made me feel better. How unfortunate that the plant has those accursed burrs that torment my horses, dogs and cattle. Makes me want to say a bad word.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yes, it can be super frustrating. Thank you!

[@annedwards358]

Be glad you don’t have sheep!😳 what a mess !!

[@emmalee478]

Can't wait to see the results of drinking burdock tea!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Me too!

[@claudinecrook6660]

Drinking burdock tea now!

[@DJRenee]

Peeing every hour

[@lynn3289]

Nice

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@user-wh6qt9ee9o]

I see many over by my house Across the street from the bus stop is plenty of the burdock and took a picture of it with this plant app and it tells me as a common burdock and they look big just like those and right now they look so healthy looking that’s what the app told me that they’re at is healthy state

[@shelleymacdonald8035]

Thanks for the video! I live in Northern AB and purchased seeds to plant in containers to harvest the roots, my plan is to multi sow them similar to carrots.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Good luck! I would think that would make it much easier to dig them up!

[@kevywilliams3304]

Beautiful man you are :)

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@chrissypacheco9635]

I wish I lived in an area where I could trust the land as safe to consume because these wonderful plants grow large and abundantly in our neighborhood park.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yes, I was fortunate to find some I could trust to be safe. I hope you find some, too!

[@michaelmonaghan9226]

Raised beds are the best way and you get a nice long unblemished root and I can pull it out with both hands with ease, add lots of peat and sand. with local 50 percent local soil

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Good idea! I'm going to try to grow some in the yard this year. I think that will help. Thank you!

[@sojournsojourntraveler1203]

Good to see the Okanogan energy going on .

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@sojournsojourntraveler1203]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager You finely got back to this , good I hoped to connect at the Barter Fair Planning on working in my garden next week. Thanks again for the reply Shalom

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@sojournsojourntraveler1203 sorry for the late reply!

[@sojournsojourntraveler1203]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager Npo problem , what is 1203 ?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@sojournsojourntraveler1203 I think the 1203 is just a part of your name on here. Like your profile name.

[@carolynlouise8659]

Ty

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thank you, too!

[@FrontlineHeroes]

We have burdock EVERYWHERE in our yard... I had no idea it was so useful! Any idea if there is any pro or con to harvesting while it is still small?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I would say it depends on what you want to do with it. The leaves get really bitter, so they would only be somewhat edible when they are young. If it's the roots you're after, I would say a drawback would be they are probably small when the plant is small, so you would have to harvest more roots.

[@lisastrozzieri9043]

Watched another video about. Said to eat the first year plant. Second year plant bitter and too fibrous.

[@modestiafashion7943]

Such a great informative video! Thanks. Did you do the experiment for pain and acne? If so, how did you take it?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yes, we did do the experiment. We made tea/decoctions from the roots. I put a link to the video showing the experiment and how to make the tea in the description if you're interested.

[@busikushatewa2054]

I really like you Okanagan, I like you naturally how I wish I could see you in person 😔😔😔😔😔

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! That's very nice of you to say!

[@expatkaz742]

Japanese people eat the roots (Gobou, ごぼう). They are highly valued and eaten commonly in the dish even though I never heard of sexual validity effect. I should grow this now that I learned other effects as well. Thanks!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you, too!

[@loveforeva12]

In Korea the roots (oo-ung 우엉) are eaten in a stir fry usually (oo-ung jo-rim 우엉 조림) but there are other ways. It can usually be found in stores quite easily!

[@lorireimann1960]

Great Video...I just found you. I am in the South Okanagan also in Oliver and I am wondering if you know where this grows wild in our area as I have some acreage here (small) but would like to start a Burdock Patch on my property...this is so cool you are so close it's awesome living where we do. Thanks, Lori.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I'm glad you found the video, and I agree it's great living here! I often find burdock near the edges of things like roads, fences, fields, and other disturbances. In Oliver I would look along that bike trail that goes along the river to start. I'm not sure what the rules are for harvesting, but burdock is often described as noxious and/or invasive, so not many people would mind if somebody takes some of it plus you'd probably only be after the seeds. I hope that helps!

[@lorireimann1960]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager Thank you very much I can walk to the bike path it is very close and I have many times I will definitely keep my eye's open for it now that I know what to look for thank you again!!

[@johnoryjr4269]

I just found your videos after discovering burdock in a local store and wanted to learn more. Your presentation is refreshing, organic with a BROADCASTER'S VOICE. Best of success. I hope a scout finds you and utilizes your voice for other audio productions. 🦚⚘🌱☘🍁🌿🌴🌻

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate it!

[@Pixics]

I wish I knew about this as a teenager, I had a ton of acne. haha.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Haha! Me too on both points!

[@PremiumUp]

There are a lot of holes in the burdock leaves. Is there a slug problem? The holes in the leaves were noticeable about the three minutes

[@grantzimmerman2675]

What do you make of this ? so if you do'nt get the first year's root, they aren't good for food or herbal preparation?? Harvesting Guidelines Burdock root is best harvested during the fall of the first year of growth, before the flower stalk appears (Brill & Dean, 1994). Burdock root may also be dug in the early spring of the second year before the seed stalk has come up; after the stalk has emerged, the roots become too tough and fibrous for food or herbal preparations (Thayer, 2006).

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I can't remember what I said in the video, and I might have oversimplified. I think the quote is a good one. I think the best time to harvest is between the fall of the first year and before the flowering stalk emerges. Thank you!

[@DDD-um5co]

Hi 👋 Good-Day Kind Sir, HOW Can I GET & GROW The "Burdock Root" & Sorrel-Root In The USA🤔 ❓❓❓ 🤔

[@kaylahurley4926]

What are the ways you process them?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Here's a video showing me processing some burdock root and making a decoction. Something I would do differently now is I wouldn't peel it unless parts were really dirty and I could get the dirt off or there was something else wrong. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ61d4qXmsqYnbM

[@thesanfranciscoseahorse473]

Well. Any update on the experiment? Did it reduce any of your symptoms noticeably.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Here's the video that my wife and I discuss some of our results. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaWZmmOpgbBoopo For me I felt like my joint pain was much improved. I think for the acne and eczema two weeks was fairly short. We still drink burdock tea for health reasons but also because we think it tastes good. Thank you!

[@thesanfranciscoseahorse473]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager Thanks for your response. I am planning a garden this year and I also have joint and skin issues that doctors have told me I'll "never cure", and only offered heavy pharmaceutical regiments to control. I refuse. I want to try this tea and see if I have similar results.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@thesanfranciscoseahorse473 I think it's worth a shot. Burdock and dandelion are both useful for cleansing the body, and I think they also taste good, so I think they're good choices. I think natural medicines work, but they are much gentler and slower to work than what we get from the mainstream medical industry. When we did the two week trial, I had fairy sore and was surprised how much better they felt. It could have all been in my head or a coincidence, but I don't think so. Good luck! I hope you have success!

[@DJRenee]

​The joint part I can attest too. Works pretty quickly too..under 5 days when I do 2000mg a day. The tea works way faster.@@OkanaganGardenerandForager

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@DJRenee Nice! I'm glad it worked for you, too!

[@kennethdilling9710]

If you were to dig up the 2nd year root would there be root could you still use it a complete waste of time?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

If you dig up the second year root in the spring, I think it would be good. In the fall of the second year after it flowers and seeds, yes, I think it would be a waste of time. There might still be something there, but I think the plant would have put almost all of its energy into flowers and seeds, so the root would have little value. Thank you!

[@Troldmandens_hule]

Does harvesting the roots kill it or will it grow from leftover root system? I want the root, but also want it to come back next year.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Harvesting the root would likely kill it unless you left some behind and it grew back. In many places it's considered very invasive, so usually removing them is encouraged, but I get what you're saying. Burdock is pretty good at reseeding and expanding its territory, so I would say as long as one or two are left behind to go to seed, there will enough burdock around for a new crop every year.

[@T3rsky]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager ...unless you have free range chickens. They apparently eat the seeds as soon as the pod opens. I thought I was giving the burdock a head start by cracking the pods open and tossing the seeds everywhere, but not one inside the fenceline grew up. Plenty along the road though.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@T3rsky chickens taking care of business!

[@T3rsky]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager Yeah, but sometimes their business clashes with mine. Not as badly as the dog 's though. He tore out my entire Chigago hardy fig tree. Nothing left but a hole in the ground. At least the chickens have never eaten something I paid good money for. There's more burdock further out on the property. I can't keep chickweed or purslane anywhere though.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@T3rsky wow! What a troublemaker dog!

[@theronika7967]

Are the flowers of the greater burdock good to use for anything? 🤔

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I'm not sure about the flowers, but the seeds have some medicinal uses like making a tincture from them to help cleanse the liver and kidneys.

[@buttergurls6401]

Does it grow in Texas?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I can't say from personal experience, but I think common burdock can be found throughout North America.

[@lindaarot1175]

I need them please?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

It's a great plant I think!

[@hairrum]

Can burdock grow in Tennessee

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I can't speak from personal experience, but I think so. Some of my books show it being there. Look for it at the edges of fields, along roads and fences, and other disturbed sites.

[@tanyahopper1883]

Yes we have it on our property in middle TN.

[@donniechilo3966]

It should do fine in TN. I have some here in SE Kentucky. I see it in many places.

[@lelienti]

Đất ở ven sông thích hợp với nó hơn . Lên luống , thêm than bùn và cát , cây phát triển tốt

[@haveacigar5291]

I read this growing is a good indication you have alot of nitrogen in soil?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I'm not sure. I think they can survive in some pretty different environments. They can be very difficult to remove as well.

[@haveacigar5291]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager yeah you have to dig it up totally and by the time you get a few out youre too tired to keep digging lol

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@haveacigar5291 definitely! Haha!

[@gaylemann5829]

Where can you order good quality??

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I'm not sure where you are, but I like Light Cellar and think they have good quality stuff. lightcellar.ca/

[@freemanmt]

How to get rid of them permanently? Please help , We have them spreading all over the lawn . I don't want to use weed killer because we have a cat.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I think you need to dig up the roots to get them out, and that's not easy. They grow a big taproot which can go down pretty deep, and it also breaks easily if you try to pull it out and could come back. I think if you try to dig out the roots and make sure you cut down the flowering stalks before it makes more seeds, you'll be able to get it under control over time. I hope that helps! Don't give up!

[@TheMistressMisery]

They grow because your soil is high in nitrogen. If you balance the PH of your soil it should help to lessen them

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! Good tip!

[@brownlee5849]

So you have a business you say?😁

[@Maid3n]

Hawaiʻi is NOT AMERICA. The U.S. had illegally overthrown the Hawaiian kingdom. Statehood took place in 1959 because AMERICANS were able to vote for it due to the fact that the U.S. had decimated native population by that time. Please look up LANGUAGE OF A NATION by Conrad Lihilihi to learn the facts and history about Hawaiʻi.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

OK! Thank you for this perspective!

[@haveacigar5291]

this stuff is everywhere in ohio

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yes, I think they are pretty widespread! Thank you!

[@TheShender64]

I have taken over my backyard.

[@amandabaker4496]

I saw marshmallow

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

As in Malva neglecta? Or something else maybe?

[@amandabaker4496]

Yes i learned it from euell gibbons. They used to make marshmallows from that, now they use egg albumin.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I saw that too. I haven't tried it myself though. Thank you!

[@naturegirl4074]

Yep Jurassic park leaves lol

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

They can get so big!