Safe Herbs for Dogs - Burdock

Burdock Arctium lappa (Sunflower family)

Main Constituents

Minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron, thiamine, silicon, inulin, and riboflavin
Vitamin B2

Medicinal Activities

Antioxidant
blood cleansing
liver and gallbladder stimulant
nutritive
diuretic

Common Uses in Dogs

Burdock is a highly effective herb for the detoxification of the body. Its chemical constituents can remove toxic substances that are increasingly threatening the health of our dogs.

Burdock can be used as a long-term nutritive liver tonic to clean and build the blood.

It is also useful in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatoid disorders, kidney and bladder diseases resulting from poor waste elimination. It also has diuretic action that helps to eliminate waste materials from the body.

In addition, when taken as a tea or tincture, burdock root is effective in treating chronic or acute psoriasis or eczema. It can also treat flaky, oily, or inflammatory skin disorders as a result of an overload of toxic substances in the body.

One of its main constituents, inulin, is anti-inflammatory and helps correct imbalances of the immune system.

As burdock is a healthy food with no toxicity found, it can be given to our dogs in liberal quantity. Decoction of fresh or dried burdock root can be mixed in with our dog's food. Alternatively, a strong tincture of fresh or dried root in glycerin can also be used.

Availability

Fresh burdock roots are available at health food stores and some grocery stores.
Tea or tincture of the herb can be found at health food stores and herbal stores.

Get herbs (fresh and dried) and tinctures from:

Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and harmony c

J.A. Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook: Your Comprehensive Reference to the Best Herbs for Healing (Rodale Books, 2000).
M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999).

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