Burdock root is a vegetable that has been used for many different things since ancient times – as a food source, a healing medicinal plant and as an ingredient in certain cosmetics. In Co-Creation, the 4th book in the Ringing Cedars of Russia series written by Vladimir Megre, Anastasia explains how she soaked burdock root in cedar milk to use it as a bread replacement.
“I picked up a cucumber, surveyed the diversity of taiga food, and said, “Too bad there’s no bread.”
“There is bread,” Anastasia replied. “Look here.” She served me some kind of tuber. “This is burdock root. I prepared it so that it would replace tasty bread, potatoes, and carrots for you.”
“I never heard of burdock root being used for food.”
“Try it. Don’t worry. People used to make all kinds of delicious and healthy dishes from it. First try it. I soaked it in milk. It softened.”
Here are a few other ways that burdock root is used:
Burdock root: nutritious food source
Burdock root is often eaten as a wild food for its nutrients and vitamin content. The leaves and stems have been known to be edible but tend to have quite a bitter flavour. The roots however, can be added to soups, stews or stir fry’s – and as Anastasia described, it can be soaked in milk to soften and eat like that.
In addition to being a tasty root vegetable, burdock root also contains vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, vitamin B6, manganese, potassium and is considerably low in cholesterol.
Health supplement and herbal remedy
Burdock root has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries, it is said to have properties such as:
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-bacterial
- cleansing
- anti-cancer
- contains antioxidants such as quercetin
It has been used as a tea, in tinctures and taken in powdered capsule form. One can also add it to soups and broths.
Hair and skincare
Burdock (specifically burdock oil) is said to be incredibly beneficial to the scalp and is therefore often used to treat conditions such as an itchy or flaky scalp. It contains active ingredients that may assist in bringing blood circulation to the surface of the skin as well as containing essential fatty acids and Vitamin A which can help strengthen the hair and promote a healthy scalp.
When used topically, burdocks anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties may assist in soothing and treating skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne.
With all of its uses and health benefits, burdock is definitely an ingredient you want to have around – even if its just in your soap or shampoo.
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