Burdock Root- Cure all? I think so

In China and Japan people are always consuming this vegetable called Burdock. It's almost like the consistency of Jicama when cooked and it looks like, well, a root. It takes on the flavor of whatever it's cooked in, and is often served in Japanese restaurants. While many view it as a food item, it is in actuality so much more...

The lore of its curative properties stretches back for ages. While always being a huge component in Chinese medicine, Burdock was also used in the middle ages to cure a whole slew of things.
Are you ready for the list?
It's primarily known to be a blood purifier, a remedy for measles, arthritis, tonsillitis, viruses like colds, throat pain, and as a diuretic. It helps with many skin disorders when taken internally as a supplement or used topically (acne, boils, eczema, psoriasis, and skin infections).
The Chinese use it as an aphrodisiac, and found it effective in treating barrenness and impotence. Hmph you say? Cure-all? What about cancer? Well some say it helps cure that too. Recently Burdock root has been employed by Russian and Indian doctors in the treatment of certain cancers. (However, this use of Burdock root still needs to be tested thoroughly.)

I studied natural remedies while abroad and a lot of old wives tales and remedies worked because people believed they did. A lot of "medicines" were all about the placebo effect. Well I'm not so easily a believer.

The people in my family are often getting upper respiratory tract infections requiring intense courses of antibiotics. We get sore throats, colds, fevers, skin infections you name it. I'm sure your family does as well! All we want is something that works! After trying Burdock for the first time I became a believer; over the course of two hours my glands shrunk from golf balls back down to normal. My father who gets killer upper respiratory tract infections and is out cold on the couch for a week straight (even with antibiotics) felt better over night after taking the Burdock pills (requiring no antibiotics) My sister who gets sore throats and colds every couple of weeks was better a day after taking this stuff. I started telling everyone I knew and thats why I'm posting it up here!

(Just a warning: the first time you take it you will sweat like you have never sweat before. Burdock is used as a diaphoretic, which means it makes you sweat, a lot, which is essential for cleansing the body of toxins. According to natural healers, diaphoretics are vital for treating the flu, gallbladder or liver disorders, and to aid the kidneys in purifying the blood.)

How can a tiny supplement made from a vegetable do all of this?
There has been a lot of analysis of the chemical properties of Burdock root and what makes it so effective.
Some of the active ingredients of burdock are polyacetylenes, which are known to be really effective antibacterials and anti-fungals. Burdock enhances the performance of many of the organs whose main purpose is to purify the body and eliminate toxins (i.e. kidneys, liver, colon, etc). This brings your body out of whack.

Although, it is important to make sure that the herb is pure. There was a case where burdock root was contaminated with the plant belladonna, which contains atropine and makes humans sick. The key here is to purchase your supplement from a reputable source or brand(not picked out of someone you knows garden.)

I use Nature's Way brand. 6 a day, 2 with each meal when I'm not feeling well. I take it like this until I feel better.

So next time you're in a Japanese restaurant, go for the Burdock root ( the veggie won't make you sweat I promise) but it is chock full of vitamins and still gives some loving care to your vital organs.

Be well people!

OOOoh cookies (organic, vegan, gluten free, peanut butter cookies-that don't taste like old shoe!)

Living in a intentional community in the East Village with a bunch of vegetarians (some with crazy food allergies) you pick up some interesting recipe ideas here and there...These cookies are so great, and so easy! Try em out...

1 cup organic or all natural peanut butter
1 cup organic sugar
1 free-range egg
1 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon organic honey

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
Cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg, baking powder, and honey
Mix thoroughly, then form into balls about an inch and a half in diameter,
roll in granulated sugar
Bake 10 minutes.
Let sit on tray for 4min (I know it'll be hard, I'm sorry)
Let cool on a wire cookie rack

ENJOY!