If you are looking to live a more natural and holistic lifestyle, herbs are bound to enter your life. There are a wide range of herbs, spices, and oils that provide amazing healing benefits, one of which is burdock. Burdock is a type of weed, which has a burdock root with lots of healing properties. Here is more information about burdock so you can decide if it is right for you.
Some Things to Know About Burdock
Burdock root is typically native to Europe and North Asia, though some areas of the United States also have it. It is not uncommon for some people in other area of the world to eat the burdock root the same as other root vegetables, like potatoes. Though now in modern times, more people are grinding up the root to be used in various natural health remedies and for holistic purposes.
As you will see, burdock root has some impressive health benefits, among them are the fact that it can protect your heart health and lower our blood sugar levels naturally. There are also some risks to be aware of, which is true of any herb or supplement you consider taking.
Health Benefits of Burdock
Perhaps one of the most important things to learn about burdock is the number of health benefits. Here is a roundup of the most common ones that research is still looking into:
- It might help with type 2 diabetes – Quite a bit of the research about burdock root is with treating type 2 diabetes. Burdock root extract was used to look at how it can actually balance out insulin levels, controlling body weight and therefore helping mice who had diabetes.
- Research shows it can lower cholesterol – Another study looked at how burdock can help with LDL, or the bad cholesterol. Rats had reduced body weight and improved cholesterol levels after using burdock root extract.
- It is good for the skin – There is also some evidence that shows it can be good for the skin, thanks to the antioxidants found naturally in the root.
- Burdock shows improvements with chronic pain – And finally, people with chronic pain from inflammation in the body, like with arthritis, saw improvement when they were drinking tea made from burdock root.
Are There Side Effects?
As with all herbal supplements, you should be aware of the potential side effects. Burdock is considered safe for consuming, though you want to be extra careful where you get it from. Use small doses of supplements at a time made with burdock, and don’t take it when you are dehydrated since it has diuretic qualities.
