(REAL) —
Arctium lappa L. Lappa major Gaertn.
The family of Compositae is Compositae, or Asters are Asteraceae
What does it look like?Biennial herbaceous plant. The root is long, fleshy, spindle-shaped, up to 50 cm long. The stem is 60-150 cm tall, all webbed, straight, furrowed, green or purple, branched in the upper part, the branches are directed upwards. The leaves are large, up to 50 cm in diameter, alternate, heart-shaped-ovate or ovate, notched-toothed, pointed at the end, bare above, grayish-cobwebbed below. The baskets are numerous, collected in shields at the top of the stem and its branches, the peduncles are short, the baskets sit in the axils of the gradually reduced upper leaves; their wrapper is almost spherical, cobweb-fluffy green, consists of three layers of hard leaves, of which the lower and middle ones are awl-like pointed, ending with hooks (burdocks) bent to the middle. Flowers are bisexual, bell-shaped, purple-purple, less often white. Blooms in July-September.
Where does it grow? All over the territory of Ukraine — in damp places, wastelands, near fences, near houses, in gardens, near roads, on the banks of rivers and streams.
What and when are collected? Rich in inulin (polysaccharide) annual roots, in autumn or spring of the following year. Slightly dried, unwashed, they are cleaned with a brush and cut lengthwise into pieces and dried in a low-temperature oven. Keep for 1 year. Seeds are collected in autumn.
When is it used? In case of impaired metabolism and functional activity of the gastrointestinal tract, in case of kidney and gallstones, in case of gout, rheumatism, for blood purification in case of boils, rashes on the body, in case of pain in the urinary bladder, in case of diabetes (due to the content of glycoside of arctine, volatile oil , inulin, pectins, tannins, bitterness, sitosterol, stigmasterol, palmitic and stearic acids, antibiotic). Used in the form of tea. Take 1 teaspoon of chopped burdock root (or seeds) per 1 cup of water, infuse for several hours, then boil for 5-7 minutes and drink 1-2 cups of decoction per day, in sips. A decoction of seeds has a laxative effect.
In case of diabetes, 1 tablespoon of a mixture (equally) of burdock roots , bean husks, blueberry leaves, and walnuts is infused in 1 glass of water, boiled as indicated above, and drunk after meals for 5-6 glasses during the day. In case of gout, stomach ulcer, metabolic disorders, itching of the body, boil 1 tablespoon of a mixture (equally) of burdock root , wheatgrass rhizomes, sedum grass, veronica grass and tricolor violet in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes and drink. day, the first time on an empty stomach. In case of eczema, rheumatism, a decoction of a mixture (in equal parts) of burdock root and oleander is taken internally and the body is smeared with ointment, baths and warming compresses are used not only on individual parts of the body, but also on the whole body.
In case of rheumatism, arthritis, ulcers, ringworm, eczema, a decoction of a mixture of burdock roots , heather grass, nettle roots, marsh grass, rosemary leaves, lingonberry leaves in an unlimited dose is added to the bath. In case of hair loss and against dandruff, wash your head twice a week with a decoction of burdock root and marigold flowers in a ratio of 2:1 (a handful of the mixture per 1 liter of water) or wash your head three times a week with a decoction of a mixture of burdock roots, heather and nettle in 1 liter of water ( 2 tablespoons each) and 1 tablespoon of hop cones (volatile burdock oil works).
Decoctions can be replaced with an ointment made from a mixture of fresh burdock root , oak bark, walnut leaves, and marigold flowers in a ratio of 2:1:1:1 – take a handful per 250 g of almond, olive or sunflower oil, cook for 15 minutes over low heat, cover tightly , put in a warm oven overnight and strain into a jar in the morning. This ointment is rubbed daily on the affected areas (also burnt areas). It can also be used to treat chronic rheumatism. Lubricate the sore joints and go to the bathhouse, lie down on the top shelf and drink, intermittently, a glass of warm decoction of burdock roots, steam until the body becomes dry (they drink whey from milk for thirst). After the bath (in the same place), the diseased joints are once again smeared with the same ointment and well bandaged. At home, they stay warm all night in bed. Fresh, clean, crushed burdock leaves are applied to poorly healing wounds and painful joints.