Photos of Arctium lappa, Burdock, Greater Burdock, Gobo, Goboshi, Niu-bang, Niu bang-zi.
Arctium lappa, Burdock, Greater Burdock, Gobo, Goboshi, Niu-bang, Niu bang-zi, a common weed in the aster family is a plant whose roots, leaves, and seeds have all been used as sources of herbs or foods. Burdocks are Old World temperate climate species that occur throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. In Japan, it is commonly grown as a vegetable for its edible roots. The main part of the plant used in Western herbal traditions is the root, famous as a blood purifier, to “cleanse the blood” for the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis or hives. It is also considered diuretic, slightly laxative, was used to disperse kidney stones, and in liver conditions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the seeds (fruits), known as
niu-bang-zi, are the main plant part used. Here, the seeds were used to detoxify the blood, reduce swelling and clear skin eruptions. They were used in tea for treating cough, swelling, infections, and other conditions. Email: sfoster@stevenfoster.com, or call +1-479-253-2629 for licensing terms and fees. All images © Copyright Steven Foster. Thank you!
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