The health benefits of burdock root, and its interesting history.

Burdock is a type of plant that I'm sure you've seen before. Its that big ugly leafy plant that you killed last summer because it invaded your yard or garden. Burdock is very common throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. The leafy green giant is a pretty hardy plant when it comes to whats needed for it to thrive. Burdock really doesn't have a certain specific place it grows. You can find it in someones yard, a ditch, forests, the edge of a playground, etc. Burdock can pretty much be found anywhere. After your done reading this I can guarantee you will think twice about killing the big green giant.

Burdock has been being used in Europe and Asia for centuries. It was common for people to use the root of the plant for its healing properties. They prepared the root in a couple different ways. Some would make tea out of the root, and others would cook the root. In Japan they called the root "gobo", it was more common for them to cook the root and use it in stir fry dishes. To the Japanese it was popular as a food source of vitamins and other nutrients . Not far over in China, traditional Chinese healers used burdock root in combination with other plants to make cures for colds, measles, throat pain, and tonsillitis. The Native Americans also used the root, they called it "bardana". Even though burdock is so common in the United States it is actually not native to there. There's really no way of proving how exactly it got there, but its believed that it came overseas with the English settlers.

And now we get to burdock root and its amazing wide range of health benefits. Burdock root's number one thing it works great for is detoxification. It improves the performance of many of the organs which purify the body and eliminate toxins or waste (like the kidneys, liver, colon, etc). This ultimately improves overall health and helps repair disorders. That being said, burdock root is great for past alcoholics trying to get healthy. If you know anyone who is a past alcoholic that is looking for something safe and effective to help aid in the cleansing of their body; I would defiantly recommend burdock root. How burdock root detoxes the body is simple. It contains diaphoretic properties which causes increased perspiration, which is essential in cleansing the body of toxins or harmful elements. Aside from detoxification burdock root also has many other beneficial healing properties. These would include:

• Curing urinary infections (high antibacterial and antifungal powers)
• Acne
• Skin ulcers
• Reduce arthritis pain
• Boost immune system
• Anti cancer and tumor properties
• Enhances blood circulation
• Prevents high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cerebrovascular disease

Its quite clear that burdock root can be used as tool for achieving better overall health. It would be a great addition to anyone's daily diet. Make sure that your burdock root comes from a trusted and known dealer/company. Burdock itself is not toxic, but has a "cousin" plant called belladonna or "nightshade". Which look very similar from above ground, and grow in the same areas as eachother. Belladonna contains atropine a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid which is dangerous for human consumption. This is why it is not recommended for you to pick your own burdock unless you know what your doing. Also, even if the plant you pick is burdock it can still be harmful if belladonna is nearby. Belladonna can contaminate the roots of burdock making it just as toxic as if you were to consume belladonna itself. Like most powerful herbs and roots; even though it can be very helpful it may trigger certain side affects. Burdock root can cause allergic reactions to individuals who are already sensitive to chrysanthemums, ragweed, or daises. It is also not recommended for those who are suffering from dehydration or pregnant women, because of it being a diuretic. I hope you've learned something after reading this. If you know someone who may be struggling with just overall bad health in general. Help them out and refer them to burdock root.