Burdock is well known for its blood-cleansing properties. Behind the scenes, burdock also has a story to tell that reveals more about its history and use.
For example:
Burdock is native to Europe and Northern Asia. It is now cultivated in China, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, the U.S., and Canada. This means burdock is an herb well-known in both the West and the East.
Burdock is an acrid, bitter, and cold herb and contains 50% inulin, a carbohydrate that strengthens the liver, helping treat hepatitis. This compound is responsible for burdock’s long history as an effective digestive and liver-supporting herb.
Besides its medicinal and culinary uses, burdock was also the inspiration for Velcro. The Swiss inventor of Velcro was hiking and noticed how much the herb’s burrs stuck to his socks. He examined the plant’s hooks and duplicated their gripping action in the lab–another example of the many ways plants and the natural world can inspire us. They are foods, medicines, sacred, and can even suggest applications you might not expect, such as becoming the inspiration for velcro!
