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ARCTIUM LAPPA (Great Burdock)

Niu Bang Zi

Burdock and I sat for a while on a brisk fall afternoon I thought about how and why it was once considered a bad plant by some of the natives. It eventually was recognized as a gifted plant. It speaks to me and tells me that it strengthens from the inside out and that it is here to get to the root of the problem. -Sharon Chung

MONOGRAPH

Prepared by:C. Karen Stopford Botanical medicine October 25, 2011

Background
Burdock is a biennial native to Eurasia and naturalized in North America in many states. It is a biennial member of the order Compositae, family Asteraceae, belonging to the thistle group. Plants grow 2-6 feet tall and have stout pale green stems, wide branches with broad heart shaped leaves covered on their undersides by a fine down which may grow to a foot in length on the bottom of the plant, with smaller, more egg-shaped leaves near the top of the plant. It blossoms with purple flowers during July through September. The long taproots may grow one to several feet in length.
Its botanical name arctium is derived from the Greek arktos, or bear, suggesting the roughness of the burr and lappa, or to seize, which is descriptive of the way the hooked burrs latch on to the fur and clothing of passing animals and humans. Its common name is a composite of 'dock' describing its large leaves; and 'Bur' which is thought to be a contraction of the French bourre, from the Latin burra, meaning a lock of wool (often found entangled in the burrs when sheep have passed by the growing plants).
SYNONYMS

Burdock is variously known as akujitsu, anthraxivore, arctii, bardana, Bardanae radix, bardane, bardane grande (French), bat weed, beggar's buttons, burdock root, burr, burr seed, chin, clotburr, clotbur, cocklebur, cockle button, cocklebuttons, cuckold, daiki kishi, edible burdock, fox's clote, grass burdock, great bur, great burdock, Great burdocks, great clothbur, gobo (Japan), Grosse klette (German), happy major, hardock, hare burr, hurrburr, Kletterwurzel (German), lampazo (Spanish), lappola, love leaves, niu bang zi, oil of lappa, personata, Philanthropium, snakes rhubarb, thorny burr, turkey burrseed, woo-bang-ja, wild gobo.
USE IN BOTANICAL MEDICINE

Arctium lappa has been used as a medicinal in Asia for at least 1,500 years and has been a staple of folk medicine in both Europe and North America for centuries. All parts of the plant are used, but while Europeans focus primarily on the benefits of the burdock root for internal use and the leaves for external use, Chinese medicine uses mostly the seeds or fruit of the plant (in fact, in Chinese medicine, the seeds and the root of Arctium lappa are classified as two separate herbs). In Japan, Arctium lappa is cultivated as a healthful food source. Among both Europeans and native Americans, burdock was used foremost as a blood purifier and detoxifier. Additional uses in Western medicine for the different parts of the plant include:. Roots: Alterative; antibacterial; antifungal; antiphlogistic; antiscorbutic; antitumor; aperient; blood purifier; carminative; cholagogue; depurative; diaphoretic; diuretic; hypoglycemic; laxative; stomachic/digestive bitter/demulcent. Leaves: Alterative; antibacterial; antifungal; antimicrobial; vulnerary (when used as a poultice). Seeds: Alterative; antiphlogistic; antipyretic; demulcent; depurative; diaphoretic; diuretic; hypoglycemic; relaxant; urinary tonic.

DISTRIBUTION AND CULTIVATION


Burdock is native to Eurasia, but has become naturalized in North America and is actively cultivated as a food source in Japan. Because it is self-sowing it can readily become invasive. Burdock can grow in any soil, but a light, well-drained soil is best. It requires sun and is often seen in meadows on roadsides, in abandoned lots, and on the wooded edge of forests. The distribution of naturalized Arctium lappa is shown in the map below.
Seeds are best sown in late autumn, though they may also be sown in spring; it is best to avoid allowing new plants to grow taproots longer than 3 mm before winter lest they go to seed early in spring. Germination takes as little as 6-10 days, and can be hastened by soaking overnight in warm water and/or by scarification. Plants are best grown fairly close together to encourage them to develop long, straight taproots. The plants attract bees and butterflies and self-sow freely; in addition, passing people and animals can easily pick up the burrs and carry them for miles away from the planting bed. The root is picked in the autumn of its first year just as the leaves start to fall, or in the spring of its second year of growth. Seeds are harvested from the dried fruits after the flowers have faded. Leaves are collected from one-year old plants and dried. Plants for a Future recommends taking precautions when harvesting the seeds to avoid toxicity from inhalation of the tiny hairs that cover the burdock fruit.

ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
The Burdock root is composed primarily of complex carbohydrates, mostly inulin (approximately 45%), mucilage, starches, and some sugar. The primary active ingredient is thought to be inulin, but other compounds such as arctigenin and arctiin have been more widely studied. Burdock root contains lignans including arctigenin, the glycoside arctiin, and matairesinol which have been studied for their anti; triterpenes and sesquiterpenes; polyacetylenes including tridecadienetetraynes, tridecatrienetriynes; and a sulfur containing arctic acid. The lignans in particular are thought to be responsible for many of the anti-inflammatory actions of the root and root extracts. Polyacetylenes contribute to the antibacterial properties, and polyphenols are strong antioxidants. Burdock also contains essential oils (25-30%), amino acids including alpha guanidino-n-butyric acid, organic acids, fatty acids, and phenolic acids such as acetic, butyric, isovaleric, lauric, myristic, tannic, caffeic and chlorogenicaids. These compounds have not been studied in isolation for their contribution to the medicinal effects of the herb. Compounds that have been identified in Burdock seeds include daucosterol, arctigenin, arctiin, matairesinol, lappaol, and the lignin neoarctin. Many of the studies conducted to date tested extracts of the entire root or seeds of Arctium lappa rather than specific compounds in isolation.

INDICATIONS AND USE IN WESTERN HERBOLOGY


BODY SYSTEM AFFILIATIONS

Burdock is said to have an affiliation for particular organ systems; specifically the digestive and urinary tract, kidneys, liver, lymphatics and immune system.

BLOOD PURIFICATION/DETOXIFICATION

Arctium lappa has long been touted as a blood cleanser or purifier, based on its alterative and depurative actions which help the Liver break down toxins and stimulate dieresis to remove metabolites and waste products from the bloodstream In addition, platelet activating factor (PAF) is an important inflammatory mediator that has been implicated in anaphylaxis. Both the lignans and the sesquiterpenes extracted from arctium lappa were demonstrated to inhibit platelet activating factor (PAF) in vitro. Preparations made from burdock root have diuretic and diaphoretic properties which facilitate elimination of toxins through the skin and urinary system.

Many natural chelation therapies use burdock as an ingredient to remove heavy metals from the body, citing its use in both Chinese and Western herbalism as a blood purifier and detoxifier. John Barron in Lessons from the Miracle Doctors notes that any good blood cleansing formula will contain some, or all, of the following herbs: Red clover blossoms, Burdock root, Chapparal, Periwinkle, and Goldenseal. He also recommends an infusion containing burdock and other herbs as a Liver cleanse. When taken internally, the fibers of whole or dried burdock root are able to bind toxic compounds such as PCBs.

ANTIOXIDANT/ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Preparations of burdock root have long been used internally to treat rheumatism, gout and other inflammatory diseases. Its efficacy in treating gout may be due in part to its antiinflammatory properties and in part to its ability to promote urination. It is currently used as an adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In Europe, fresh macerated leaves are applied as a poultice around painful joints of patients with rheumatism and gouty arthritis to relieve symptoms, ostensibly by improving blood flow to the affected area. A tea infusion has been used in Europe to treat gastric inflammation and stomach ulcer. While Europeans typically use root preparations, the seeds of Arctium lappa are used in Korea to treat inflammatory disorders. The English Botanist Nicholas Culpeper advocated use of burdock root mashed in wine as an antidote for snake bite; in other cases, macerated leaves have been applied directly to the site. It is thought that topically, the herb acts to modify the constituents of the venom by oxidation in a manner similar to that of potassium permanganate. In fact, anti-inflammatory properties of topical applications of Arctium lappa extract were demonstrated in vivo using a mouse allergy model (Knipping et al, 2008). Diarctigenin (a dimeric structure of arctigenin) isolated from the seeds of Arctium lappa was shown by Kim et al (2008)to down-regulate the expression of inflammatory genes in macrophages by inhibiting gene transcription. In addition, it blocked transcription of genes necessary for the production of nitric oxide, an important inflammatory mediator, as well as other substances that induce inflammation such as TNF- and proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1. The transcription activating factors blocked by diarctigenin in this study play a key role in the pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory disorders such as asthma, arthritis, and IBS. Previous studies had shown that the monomer, arctigenin, inhibited nitric oxide production in response to the release of LPS, an endotoxin released by gram-negative bacteria (Zhao et al, 2009), and Wei et al (2011) confirmed that arctigenin prevented the inflammatory cascade the typically occurs when human T lymphocytes encounter foreign antigens, inhibited the proinflammatory proliferation of T lymphocytes, and decreased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IFN- , and NF-AT.

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is an important inflammatory mediator that has been implicated in anaphylaxis. Both the lignans and the sesquiterpenes extracted from arctium lappa were demonstrated to inhibit platelet activating factor (PAF) in vitro. In vivo studies have also demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of Arctium lappa. In one study, treatment with plant extract was shown to prevent mucosal damage and edema, ulceration, inflammatory cell infiltration and intestinal damage associated with a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. The results showed a decrease in inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFwhich have been implicated in the pathological changes of UC in humans. While the exact mechanism was not determined, the authors speculated that activity of inulin, a primary carbohydrate constituent of Burdock, to enhance beneficial intestinal flora, reduce inflammation and stabilize the intestinal mucosa had a positive impact on the outcome.

DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Burdocks effect on the skin is due to a number of factors, including its systemic blood purifying action, anti-inflammatory effects, and the special affinity for it exhibits for skin even when administered orally. In the 14th century, a decoction of burdock in wine was used by Europeans to treat leprosy. Burdock tea was used in pre-colonial England to clear the complexion, later it came to the new world and it is still used as a folk remedy for poor skin in the Appalachians. Taken internally, it has been used to treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, boils, carbuncles, sties, sores, and scrofula. The Pennsylvania Dutch people make a strong tea from the root of arctium lappa which, when applied externally, is used to cure dandruff; and taken internally, it is said to clear up all manner of dermatological conditions. The skin-clearing ability of burdock is assumed to be related to its ability to clear toxins from the body; therefore, it may take several weeks or even months of drinking burdock tea 2-3 times a day for the benefits to be seen. Mashed burdock root has been made into a poultice and used as a topical treatment for eczema, psoriasis, acne, seborrheic dermatoses and warts. The juice squeezed from the pulp of burdock root is said to prevent baldness when applied daily to the head. Mashed root and leaves have also been used traditionally to treat boils, skin ulcerations, bruises and cuts, and all manner of infectious and non-infectious skin conditions. Culpeper also recommended mashing the leaves with salt and applying to the skin to ease the pain and inflammation from dog bites. Dry extract is used in capsule form in France to treat seborrheic skin conditions. In vitro studies have confirmed the direct inhibition of inflammatory mediators involved in chronic, allergic atopic dermatitis by extracts of Arctium lappa (Sohn et al, 2011). There have been few clinical trials testing these benefits but one human study by Knott et al (2008) found that topical application of the extract from arctium lappa seeds visibly reduced wrinkles, perhaps due to the stimulatory effect on extracellular matrix metabolism (including increased collagen synthesis) demonstrated in the study.

LIVER HEALTH

Arctium lappa root liquid extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) has been prescribed by herbalists in Europe to treat liver congestion, cirrhosis, and liver toxicity; it is also available in syrup, pill, and powder form. Animal studies have demonstrated a hepatoprotective effect of Arctium lappa extract. In one study (Lin et al, 2000), the extract inhibited damage due to injected carbon tetrachloride, a potent hepatotoxin, and also protected the liver from damage by the common analgesic, acetominophen.

ANTIVIRAL, ANTIBACTERIAL, AND ANTIFUNGAL

Arctium tincture is used in the treatment of measles and other local and systemic infectious diseases. Pereira et al (2005) demonstrated that extracts from the leaves exhibited antimicrobial properties against common bacterial pathogens Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacilis subtilis and the fungus Candida albicans. In another study, researchers injected mice with a lethal dose of Japanese Encephalitis. Those treated prior to injection with arctigenin provided complete protection against the virus. The neuroprotective effect was associated with decreases in viral load and replication in brain tissue, nerve cell death, and inflammation and oxidative stress. They concluded that arctigenin was the active compound responsible for arctium lappas antiviral, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. Inhibition of HIV-1 infection has been demonstrated in vivo; this activity has been attributed to the lignans. Its antibacterial activity has been attributed to polyacetylonenes. In vitro studies have demonstrated its effectiveness against such gram-negative bacteria as E. coli, Shigella flexneri, and Shigella sonnei. An in vitro study using isolated polyacetylenes from arctium lappa demonstrated both antibacterial and antifungal effects. Traditional Uses In addition to antimicrobial effects, the anti-inflammatory properties of Arctium lappa lignins may be responsible for alleviating the symptoms of some bacterial infections. Dubois et al, for example, found that arctigenin, a lignin found in Burdock root, not only inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF- but also the LPS-stimulated nitrous oxide secretion in vivo. LPS is one of the most inflammatory substances released by bacteria. Another study (Cho et al) showed that arctigenin appears to regulate the immune response in activated macrophages and lymphocytes, inhibiting the release of TNF- and NO, and the activation of lymphocytes.

KIDNEY HEALTH

In Spain, Arctium lappa is sold as a tea to promote urination. Indeed, as far back as the middle ages, it was used in Europe as a diuretic, kidney tonic, and as a remedy for kidney stones. Some American Indian tribes also used burdock for difficult urination and sand. The decoction is consumed 2-3 times per day to treat urolithiasis (kidney stones). Burdock extract has been shown to inhibit kidney stone formation using in vivo rat studies, and may be useful in stimulating the kidneys to eliminate uric acid and thus help treat conditions such as cystitis and gout. It may be used periodically to flush the urinary tract and thereby resolve minor irritation and stones. Arctiin, a lignin isolated from the seeds of Arctium lappa, was found to improve renal function, inhibited inflammation, and protected against glomerular damage in a mouse model of glomerulonephritis (Wu et al, 2009). Arctiin is converted naturally to arctigenin by commensals in the large intestine.

STOMACHIC, CHOLAGOGUE, AND DIGESTIVE AID

Arctium lappas bitter property stimulates secretion of digestive juices and the release of bile into the digestive tract and thus aids appetite, digestion, and absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. Infusions made from the leaves of arctium lappa were used to treat chronic indigestion, and teas and tinctures have been used to treat anorexia nervosa and lack of appetite due to illness and depression. An infusion made from burdock leaves is also used to treat gallstones by simulating the flow of bile. In France, powdered Arctium lappa is sold in 350 mg capsule form as a digestive and elimination aid.

HYPOGLYCEMIC

Arctium lappa has been promoted as an aid in reducing and/or modulating blood sugar levels, although the mechanism whereby it exerts these effects is not clear. Studies in animals have been conflicting, and have used different parts of the plant; therefore, no clear conclusions can be drawn. The high fiber content of the ingested root also delays digestion and absorption, and thus exerts a regulatory effect on the release of insulin.

ANTINEOPLASTIC

Burdock has been used in Western folk remedies to treat tumors and cancerous growths as far back as medieval times. In vitro studies have demonstrated Arctium lappas ability to inhibit the cancer-promoting effects of Epstein-Barr virus, and preparations of the root have resulted in hemorrhagic necrosis and liquefaction of existing tumors derived from the virus. Cancer cells are able to survive and proliferate even when starved of blood supply and nutrients. Awale and Kalauni screened 500 medicinal plant extracts for antitumor effects, and discovered that an extract of arctium lappa not preferentially killed cancer cells in nutrientpoor conditions by inhibiting mechanisms used by the cell to tolerate glucose deprivation. Subsequent research identified the lignin arctigenin as the substance responsible for this antitumor action. Another group, Predes et al, discovered that a 70% ethanol extract of the seeds of arctium lappa inhibited proliferation of tumor cells in vitro by stimulating apoptosis. In vitro studies demonstrate that Burdock root extract decreased mutations in cells exposed to toxic chemicals (Morita et al, 1984 ref in Tamayo et al, 2000). Other studies have demonstrated a protective effect against a number of mutagenic substances implicated in the initiation of neoplasms. Burdock root is a chief ingredient in the herbal remedy EssaicTM which is marketed widely used in Canada and some areas of the United States as a natural treatment for cancer and some autoimmune conditions. The original Essaic formula contains just four herbs: 27% Burdock C/S: 55%Sheep Sorrel: 4 % Rhubarb: 14% Slippery Elm. In this preparation, burdock is used chiefly for its ability to purify and clear heat from the blood, similar to its use in native American and Traditional Chinese Medicine. An herbal tea called Essaic Plus is sipped by cancer patients during chemo- and radiation therapy. The extract is also a key ingredient of the tonic used in the alternative Hoxsey treatment for cancer (although this treatment was later discredited and banned by the FDA in 1960, and forced to move to Mexico). Essaic tea has been found to have strong antioxidant effects, preventing lipid peroxidation and free-radical induced DNA damage in vitro (Leonard et al, 2006.)

NATIVE AMERICAN USES


Native American ethnobotanical research has discovered that arctium lappa was used medicinally by several indigenous tribes. Not surprisingly, among the Ojibwa and Cherokee an infusion made from burdock root was used to cleanse the blood; it was also taken internally to treat rheumatism, gynecological issues (weakly females), and kidney stones. Roots and seeds were both used to treat venereal diseases. The Cherokee also ate the root to prevent scurvy, and dried root was wintered over to form a staple of the Iroquois diet. Other tribes such as the Menominee, Malecite and Micmacs applied burdock topically for skin conditions, sores, and scrofula.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE


Original sources date the use of Arctium lappa in China back to at least 500 A.D. Unlike traditional Western herbalists who traditionally focus on the burdock root, Chinese medicine practitioners primarily use the seeds of Arctium lappa as the active ingredient in herbal formulas. The pinyin name for Arctium lappa seed (Fructus arctii) is Niu bang zi; the root (Radix arctii) is referred to as Niu bang gen and is rarely used outside of its biomedical application as a hepatoprotective agent. Niu bang zi is energetically acrid, bitter, and cold and it is said to enter the Lung and Stomach channels. Three primary actions are attributed to the herb:

Dispels wind-heat and soothes the throat in febrile diseases due to invasion of external windheat characterized by fever, cough, and a sore, red, swollen throat.
Eliminates toxin and vents rashes to treat a variety of dermatological disorders in which heat and accumulated toxins lie under the surface of the skin and cause irritations, itching, redness and pain. In this role, niu bang zi also treats carbuncles and other fixed, painful, erythematous swellings. Moistens the intestines in cases where febrile disease due to external wind-heat is accompanied by both external heat in the form of rashes, and internal heat in the form of constipation. The prototype formula containing niu bang zi is yin qiao san (Honeysuckle and Forsythia powder), which is used to treat wind-heat external pathogens with fever, thirst, and cough with sore throat which may be red and inflamed. It is also used to vent measles and other rashes, and treat boils and other heat-induced skin conditions.

USE AS FOOD
Burdock root, also known as gobo or "Poor-man's potatoes", was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks and is cultivated there as an important food known for its many healing properties. As a food, Burdock is listed as a GRAS food (Generally Recognized as Safe) in the US and Canada. Very young roots may be eaten raw, but the typical preparation involves cooking mature roots. Avoid very old and very long roots whose cores have become woody. They are relatively flavorless when first harvested and gain flavor on exposure to air; however, they are also known for soaking up the flavors of foods they are cooked with, as in a stew. Roots may be eaten as asparagus (with rind removed), and leaves may be used like spinach, although they do not have the nutritional content of the roots. Seeds may also be sprouted and used in recipes calling for bean sprouts, and slices may be crisped and eaten as a snack. The roasted root can be ground and used to make a coffee substitute. As a source of food, arctium lappa root is mostly water and thus is low in calories (about 72 calories in 100g). It is high in potassium and low in sodium, and rich in minerals iron, magnesium, and manganese. It contains B vitamins and is a very good source of pyridoxine (B6), with a serving supplying 18% of the US RDA. In Japan, arctium lappa is known as gobo and is cultivated for use as a food. It is often prepare it in kinpira style (kinpira gobo) mixed with mushrooms and other root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, etc. In Russia, fish and game may be wrapped in arctium leaves for cooking in a firepit, similar to the use of seaweed in the Northeastern US clambake.

PREPARATION AND DOSING Western Botanicals


Currently there is no widely accepted standard for dosing. Though recommendations vary, dosing guidelines typically fall in the ranges cited below for adults over 18 years of age. Dosage guidelines for children have not been established and therefore it is not recommended for use in children. It should be noted that to insure proper absorption and flushing through the urinary tract, non-tea preparations should be taken with appropriate amounts of liquid. Dried Root Take 2-6 grams of pure dried root per day, or the amount one would use in a decoction. Dried root may be powdered and made into tablets or capsules. Natures Way sells 540 mg capsules of dried root; the European Medicines Agency recommends 350 mg capsules of powdered root be taken 3 times daily for acute conditions.

Pure Liquid Extract Use ethanol 25% 1:1 as extraction solvent. Daily dose of pure extract is between 2-8 ml, 3 times daily.
Tincture Most sources indicate that a tincture should be prepared 1:5 in 40% alcohol and taken 2-4 ml 3 times a day. The European Medicines Agency, however, is more generous and recommends either a 1:10 ratio (herb to solvent) in 45% ethanol or a 1:5 ratio extracted in 25% ethanol. The European Medicines agency recommends dosing at 8-12 ml, 3 times per day. Decoction To make a decoction, put 2.5 g (1 tsp is roughly equal to 2 grams) of powdered root into a cup of water, bring to a boil, and simmer 10-15 minutes. Drink 3x per day. Alternatively, Flora herb company recommends infusing the powder in cold water for up to several hours before boiling for up to an hour, then straining to enhance the bioavailability of key ingredients. Leaves For topical application, the leaves may be mashed with water, alcohol, wine, or salt depending on the application. Alternatively, a tincture in the above dosage can be applied directly to the skin. The BHC (British Herbal Compendium) recommends of 2-6 g dried root by decoction, 8-12 ml tincture (1:5 in 25% alcohol) or 2-6 ml fluid extract (1:1 in 25%) 2 times per day.

CONTRAINDICATIONS
Due to the hypoglycemic effects of arctium lappa root, diabetics and those with blood sugar regulation problems should only take this herb after consulting with their physician. Use should be avoided in pregnancy, as in vivo animal studies have shown that arctium lappa stimulates uterine contractions. Safety for nursing mothers has not been established. In TCM because of its cold and slippery nature of the seeds, niu bang zi can easily damage the Spleen and is thus contraindicated in patients with Spleen qi deficiency or diarrhea.

HERB-DRUG INTERACTIONS
Antidiabetics: Because Arctium lappa lowers blood sugar, it may intensify the effects of insulin, sulfonylureas, and other antidiabetic agents and lead to hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, nervousness, hunger, sleepiness, confusion and disorientation. Burdock extract was found to aggravate hyperglycemia in diabetic mice, although it had no effect on normal mice (Swanston-Flatt et al, 1989). Therefore, it is not recommended for use in patients with disorders of glucose metabolism. Acetaminophen: The hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa help minimize the damage due to toxic metabolites from acetaminophen when it is broken down in the Liver.

TOXICITY
Taken in recommended doses, arctium lappa is considered generally safe for short-term therapy. Rat studies failed to show any adverse effects with a 3-month regimen of a 33% burdock diet. There have been reports of allergic reactions including chest pains and sense of obstruction in the throat, tachypnea, dizziness, vomiting, itchiness, and hypotension with ingestion of Arctium lappa. Contact dermatitis is also possible from contact with the plant itself. No overdoses have been reported. While tannins in Arctium lappa are potentially toxic, no ill effects have been shown in studies to date. Contamination with belladonna from a burdock preparation was reported in one instance, presumably due to errors during harvesting . Signs of contamination include dry mouth, blurred vision and bradycardia. For this reason, you should always investigate the testing and quality control measures and insure compliance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) for any manufacturer of herbal products that you consume, particularly in countries such as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Poland and Hungary where Arctium lappa grown for medicinal use is subject to only very limited quality control measures.

REFERENCES
Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, 3rd Edition. Bensky, Dan, Stever Clavey, Erich toger and Andrew Gamble. Seattle Washington, Eastland Press Inc. ,2004 Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. John K. Chen, Tina Chen. City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press, 2004. Burdock Monograph from the Evergreen State College, Olympia Washington Archive and Special Collections. Read at http://archives.evergreen.edu/webpages/curricular/20062007/healinggardens0607/healinggardens/burdock-monograph/index.html The Australian Naturopathic Network Web site herbal database at http://www.ann.com.au/herbs/Monographs/arctium.htm Arctium Lappa: Bastyr Botanical Medicine Web page at http://www.bastyr.edu/academic/botmed/arctium_lappa.asp Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Pp 528-529 David Hoffman. Healing Arts Press, Rochester VT 2003. The Chemistry and Biological Activity of Herbs Used in Flor-EssenceTM Herbal Tonic and EssaicTM Carmen Tamayo, M.A. Richardson, Suzanne Diamond and Inga Skoda. Phytotherapy Research Vol 14: 114 (2000) Flora Herb Company health information: Burdock Root read at http://www.florafmd.com/flora/home/Canada/HealthInformation/Encyclopedias/BurdockRoot.htm Effect of Arctium lappa L. in the dextran sulfate sodium colitis mouse model Tzou-Chi Huang, Shinn-Shyong Tsai, Li-Fang Liu, Yu Lin Liu, Hung-Jen Liu and Kuo Pin Chuang. World Journal of Gastroenterology 2010 September 7, 16(33): 4193-4199. Anthony E. Dubois and Johan Garssen, Karen Knipping, Elisabeth C. A. M. van Esch, Selva C. Wijering, Sicco van der Heide. In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Allergic Effects of Arctium lappa L. Experimental Biology and Medicine 2008, 233:1469-1477. T.Matsumoto,K.Hosono-Nishiyama,H.Yamada Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Butyrolactone Lignans from Arctium lappa on Leukemic Cells Planta Medica 2006; 72(3): 276-278 Cancer Res 2006;66:1751-1757. Published online February 1, 2006. Suresh Awale, Jie Lu, Surya K. Kalauni, et al. Identification of Arctigenin as an Antitumor Agent Having the Ability to Eliminate the Tolerance of Cancer Cells to Nutrient Starvation Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Volume61, Issue3 Pp. 679-688. Novel strategy for treatment of Japanese encephalitis using arctigenin, a plant lignan Vivek Swarup, Joydeep Ghosh, Manoj Kumar Mishra and Anirban Basu*

Immunomodulatory Effect of Arctigenin, a Lignan Compound, on Tumour Necrosis Factor- and Nitric Oxide Production, and Lymphocyte Proliferation JAE YOUL CHO1,3,*, AE RA KIM2, EUN SOOK YOO1, KYONG UP BAIK1, MYUNG HWAN PARK1 Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Volume 51, Issue 11, pages 12671273, November 1999

Burdock root at Mountain Rose Herbs at http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/BURDOCKROOT.html Burdock From Planet Botanic: http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/burdock.htm
Distribution maps obtained from http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARLA3 University of Michigan Dearborn Native American Ethnobotany site at http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Arctium+lappa Burdock Root Nutrition Facts from http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/burdock-root.html Plants for a Future online database read at http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Arctium+lappa John Barron Lessons from the Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief From Catastrophic Illness. Healing America Inc., pub. 1999. Am J Chin Med. 1996;24(2):127-37. Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa. Lin CC, Lu JM, Yang JJ, Chuang SC, Ujiie T. Abstract read at Pubmed online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8874669 Sigma-Aldrich Plant Profiler: Burdock (Arctium Lappa) at http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/lifescience/nutrition-research/learning-center/plant-profiler/arctium-lappa.html J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008 Dec;7(4):281-9. Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. Knott A, Reuschlein K, Mielke H, Wensorra U, Mummert C, Koop U, Kausch M, Kolbe L, Peters N, Stb F, Wenck H, Gallinat S. on PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19146605?dopt=Citation Burdock Nutritional information at http://allnutritionals.com/natural-products/burdock-arctiumlappa.php Essaic Tea The Happy Herbalist read at http://www.happyherbalist.com/essiac_tea.htm

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