Arctium lappa
Botanical Nomenclature | Arctium lappa |
Common Name | Beggar's Buttons, Edible Burdock, Greater Burdock, Happy Major, Thorny Burr |
Taxonomy- Family | Compositae or Asteraceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Arctium lappa is a biennial plant growing up to 1m, with oval, wrinkled leaves and spherical, thorny, purple-red flowers in inflorescences. The flowering lasts from July to September and the harvesting takes place from September to October |
Region Found | Epirus |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Root, rhizome |
Active Substances | Flavonoid glycosides (arctiin), bitter agents, alkaloids, essential oil (45% inulin), minerals (iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, titanium), vitamins C, E, K, B6, folic acid, choline, sterols, palmitic acid |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The herbal tea has diuretic, sudorific and cholagogue properties. In folk medicine the poultice is recommended for treatment of various skin diseases such as psoriasis, allergy, itching, ringworm, acne, herpes, rashes, insect bites, eczema and burns. Also, due to the contained bitter agents the plant's extract has appetizing and diuretic properties and it is used against cystitis, vaginitis, gout, kidney stones and gallstones |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered as diuretic and cholagogue in the form of herbal tea (a spoon of dried root in a cup of boiled water, 3 times a day). It is applied externally against various skin diseases in the form of poultice made from the dried root. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | No side effects have been reported. Attention is required when the herbal tea is administered at the same time with diuretic drugs or to diabetic patients (possible hypoglycemia) |
References | 1) Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, Α' τόμος, σελίδες: 113-114 2)Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 278-279 3)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20981575 4)https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/burdoc87.html 5)http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-111-burdock.aspx?activeingredientid=111&activeingredientname=burdock 6)http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail65.php |