Burdock Root Tincture (Arctium lappa)

Alcohol-extracted tincture of Arctium lappa, Burdock, the large biennial herb whose root has been used across Western, Japanese, and Chinese herbal traditions as a "blood purifier" and liver-supporting herb. The plant also has culinary use in Japan, where the root ("gobo") is a traditional vegetable.

Key Facts

Botanical name

Arctium lappa

Family

Asteraceae

Common names

Burdock, Gobo (Japanese)

Format

Alcohol tincture (concentrated liquid extract)

Studied compounds

Arctigenin, arctiin, inulin (in root)

Traditional uses

"Blood purifier," liver support, skin support, daily nourishing tonic

What is Burdock?

Burdock is a tall biennial herb native to Eurasia and now globally naturalized. The plant produces the round burs (sources of the inspiration for Velcro - the bur's hooked spines stick to clothing and animal fur exactly the way Velcro hooks attach to loops) in its second year, after producing a substantial taproot in its first year. Traditional Western herbal use focuses on the root as a "blood purifier" and skin-supporting herb. In Japanese cuisine, the root ("gobo") is a popular vegetable.

How to Use Burdock Tincture

Typical use: 30-60 drops in a small amount of water, 1-2 times daily. The tincture format provides consistent measured dosing and concentrated delivery of the active compounds. Combines well with: dandelion, yellow dock, nettles, red clover in traditional Western "blood-purifying" or skin-support formulas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Burdock used for?
Traditional Western use as a "blood purifier," liver support, and skin-supporting herb.

What is "gobo"?
The Japanese name for burdock root, used as a traditional vegetable in Japanese cuisine.

Did Velcro really come from burdock?
Yes; Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented Velcro in 1948 after noticing how burdock burs stuck to his dog's fur. The hook-and-loop attachment principle was directly copied from burdock.

What's a "blood purifier" in traditional Western herbalism?
A category of herbs traditionally used to support liver and kidney function in clearing metabolic waste. Burdock, dandelion, yellow dock, and red clover are classic examples.

Is Burdock safe daily?
Yes; one of the more well-tolerated daily nourishing herbs.

What does it taste like?
Earthy, slightly sweet, mildly bitter - the gobo flavor.

This product has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.