In Japan Burdock is cultivated as a vegetable called Gobo. The leaf stalks are harvested in springtime. In Autumn the roots are harvested. Dried roots are used in making extracts, tablets and tinctures. Parts used are the stem, root, leaves and seeds.
Burdock is popular in Asia. They believe it purifies the blood, cures skin problems such as acne, rheumatism, canker sores, eczema, measles and chicken pox. Native Americans used burdock as a poultice to treat skin infections.
Chinese use the seeds to cure respiratory problems such as colds, pneumonia and sore throats. One remedy for rheumatism is to mix burdock tea with honey and milk and take three times a day to ease the pain.
In the kitchen, young stalks are cooked like celery. Roots are eaten in salads cooked as carrots or fried like french fries. Japanese call this ingredient Kimpira (Burdock root and carrot.) |
