Used as an infusion, decoction, extract, tincture and ointment.

For skin problems, the decoction is used both internally and externally. Burdock is also used as a skin ointment.

The presence of high amounts of inulin and mucilage may explain Burdock’s soothing effects on the skin and gastrointestinal tract. As King's puts it: 'Skin diseases, depending upon a depraved state of the cutaneous tissues and less upon the state of the blood itself, are conditions in which lappa has gained a reputation. It has been particularly praised in psoriasis, its use being long-continued to produce good results.'

Bitter constituents in the root may also explain the traditional use of burdock to improve appetite and digestion.

The herb seems to act by encouraging bile secretion, an hepatoprotective action that helps the body process water-insoluble fats. Burdock has been shown to reduce liver damage in animal studies. It also contains polyacetylenes that have been shown to have anti-microbial activity.

Burdock root and fruit also have the ability to mildly lower blood sugar (hypoglycemic effect).

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic.'

'One of the best blood purifiers. In all skin diseases, it is a certain remedy and has effected a cure in many cases of eczema, either taken alone or combined with other remedies, such as Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla.'

'The root is principally employed, but the leaves and seeds are equally valuable.'

'Both root and seeds may be taken as a decoction of 1 oz. to 1½ pint of water, boiled down to a pint, in doses of a wineglassful, three or four times a day.'

'The anti-scorbutic properties of the root make the decoction very useful for boils, scurvy and rheumatic affections, and by many it is considered superior to Sarsaparilla, on account of its mucilaginous, demulcent nature; it has in addition been recommended for external use as a wash for ulcers and scaly skin disorders.'

'An infusion of the leaves is useful to impart strength and tone to the stomach, for some forms of long-standing indigestion.'

'When applied externally as a poultice, the leaves are highly resolvent for tumours and gouty swellings, and relieve bruises and inflamed surfaces generally. The bruised leaves have been applied by the peasantry in many countries as cataplasms to the feet and as a remedy for hysterical disorders.'

'From the seeds, both a medicinal tincture and a fluid extract are prepared, of benefit in chronic skin diseases. Americans use the seeds only, considering them more efficacious and prompt in their action than the other parts of the plant. They are relaxant and demulcent, with a limited amount of tonic property. Their influence upon the skin is due largely to their being of such an oily nature: they affect both the sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and probably owing to their oily nature restore that smoothness to the skin which is a sign of normal healthy action.'

'The infusion or decoction of the seeds is employed in dropsical complaints, more especially in cases where there is co-existing derangement of the nervous system, and is considered by many to be a specific for all affections of the kidneys, for which it may with advantage be taken several times a day, before meals.'

'Preparations: Fluid extract, root, ½ to 2 drachms. Solid extract, 5 to 15 grains. Fluid extract, seed, 10 to 30 drops.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'The root is alterative, aperient, diuretic, and sudorific.'

'A decoction of it has been used in rheumatic, gouty, venereal, leprous, and other disorders, and is preferred by some to that of sarsaparilla. It is also useful in scurvy, scrofula, etc.'

'Rheumatism, both muscular and articular, when previous inflammations have left no structural alteration, are said to be benefited by the seeds.'

'Skin diseases, depending upon a depraved state of the cutaneous tissues and less upon the state of the blood itself, are conditions in which lappa has gained a reputation. It has been particularly praised in psoriasis, its use being long-continued to produce good results. Chronic erysipelas, milk crust, and various forms of eczema have been cured with it. The cutaneous circulation is feeble in cases requiring burdock seeds.'

'A tincture of the recent seeds may be given in doses of from 1 to 60 drops; of specific lappa officinalis, 1 to 25 drops. An ointment of the leaves, or their juice, has been used advantageously in certain diseases of the skin and obstinate ulcers.'

'The dose of a decoction, or syrup, of the root is from 4 to 6 -fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a day.'

Eclectic Materia Medica, 1922 (Felter): 'Lappa is a potent but neglected alterative and diuretic. It relieves urinary and bronchial irritation, favors the elimination of waste material, and secondarily proves tonic.'

'Lappa is especially valuable in psoriasis, crusta lactea, stubborn eczema, obstinate ulcers, and in catarrhal and aphthous ulcerations. It is one of the best of agents for recurrent boils and styes.'

'Bronchial cough, with much irritation of the pulmonary tract, is relieved by it, and it is sometimes beneficial in dyspepsia due to irritation of the stomach in cachectic individuals. As it gently stimulates the kidneys and promotes waste it should be largely used in strumous and cachectic conditions, with tendency to dry, scaly, cutaneous eruption and low grades of cellular inflammation, with feeble circulation in the skin.'