Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Burdock (Arctium lappa), of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Stout biennial with large heart-shaped leaves, a long tapering taproot, and purple thistle-like flower heads bearing hooked bracts (burs); native range: Temperate Europe and northern Asia; naturalized widely including North America. Globally recognized as niu bang zi (牛蒡子) in Chinese, and greater burdock, beggar's buttons, lappa, gobo in English. The part used is root (western herbalism); ripe seed/fruit — niu bang zi (TCM). Root: long, slender, grey-brown taproot, mucilaginous and earthy-sweet within. Seed: small, grey-brown, mottled achenes, bitter and pungent to taste.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
BURDOCK
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Burdock
- Scientific name
- Arctium lappa L.
- Family
- Asteraceae (Compositae)
Form
- Part used
- root (western herbalism); ripe seed/fruit — niu bang zi (TCM)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent · bitter
- Western
- bitter · sweet · mucilaginous
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
- Western
- cool
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Stomach
- Western
- skin · blood · liver · kidneys · joints
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- disperses wind-heat, vents rashes, resolves toxicity and disperses swelling, benefits the throat, moistens the intestines
- Western
- alterative, diuretic, mild bitter tonic, diaphoretic, antimicrobial
Cautions
Contraindications: diarrhea from spleen or qi deficiency (TCM); caution at medicinal doses in pregnancy; caution with known Asteraceae/Compositae allergy
Toxicity: generally low toxicity; excessive doses may cause mild gastrointestinal upset; rare contact dermatitis
Interactions
- Western
- antidiabetic agents: root may have mild hypoglycemic activity, potentially additive with glucose-lowering drugs · diuretics: mild additive diuretic effect
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