I have a very precious relationship with Burdock. It was the first herb I ever studied and the first tincture I ever made. During the cold and flu season, I decided to try it before I popped an Ibuprofen. Within an hour my sore throat vanished.
Burdock has been around for a while since most of the plant is edible and can be used to make an array of medicines. The root is commonly used in culinary dishes and helps cure skin diseases. The seeds have anti-inflammatory properties and Burdock also aids healthy food circulation.
What is a tincture?
A tincture is a concentrated herbal extract simply made using two to three ingredients. Most tinctures are made from alcohol which is one of the best ways to extract the right benefits from any medicinal plant. Non-alcoholic tinctures are made with vinegar and are not as concentrated.
The benefits of Burdock
Multiple studies have proved that Burdock increases urine flow, reduces fevers, cures cold symptoms and helps with skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema, and improves skin texture.
Burdock seeds have many anti-inflammatory properties and may stop the growth of tumours.
Where can I buy Burdock?
Burdock has its origin in Eurasia but has become naturalized in North America. It grows easily almost anywhere and adapts to most soil types and light levels.
There are some options when it comes to foraging Burdock or buying the dried roots, but it’s important you know if you’re picking it right. Check with your local extension office to be absolutely sure.
You can also purchase Burdock from Amazon. Your local health food store may also have some!
Etsy keeps Burdock root too
Equipment Required To Make Homemade Burdock Tincture
The equipment required to make herbal tinctures is very minimal.
Mason Jars: Regular mason jars work, but amber jars prevent light damage. Make sure the lid is tight-fitting.
*The Burdock tincture must be stored in a dark place while you're waiting for extraction.
Funnel: A medium-sized funnel with a couple of layers of cheesecloth works best when decanting the finished Burdock tincture.
The tincture must be stored in a dark amber glass bottle with a dropper to protect its medicinal compounds
Lastly, label your tinctures with blank adhesive labels or tags.
Disclaimer: You must always consult your doctor or clinical herbalist before you try any new herbal remedy. There is a possibility of an unintended reaction/consequence/side effect. I am not a practising clinical herbalist and the following is based on my research and experience. If you are foraging in the wild, please be 100% sure of the identification of the plant.
Let’s Make Homemade Burdock Tincture
Burdock roots are used to make the tincture and that's where all the medicinal constituents are stored. Harvesting the roots in the early spring or late fall will reap the maximum benefits. Look for second-year roots in early spring as they will be large and have all the benefits of the previous year. The same goes for harvesting in the fall.
Take a clean jar and fill 2/3 with chopped chunks of Burdock root. DO NOT pack them to the brim. Next, pour alcohol just an inch below the lid. I personally use Smirnoff Vodka because it's inexpensive and tasty, I mean you will be dropping the tincture into your mouth eventually. You can use any other ethyl alcohol you like as long as it is 80-proof (or 40%) alcohol. Anything below will ruin your tincture.
Never use rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) as it is poisonous and can make you extremely ill. You may use rubbing alcohol in herbal liniments as it's for external use but be sure to label them carefully.
Alright, on to the next step. Give the jar a gentle shake and then store it in a cool, dry place which is void of any direct light, like a kitchen cabinet.
Repeat gently shaking the jar for a few days and monitor the alcohol levels. Dried matter invariably absorbs more alcohol. In such cases, simply open the jar and top the Burdock chunks off with more alcohol.
After a month (but ideally 3-4 months), your tincture is ready for decantation. Place a folded cheesecloth over a medium-sized funnel. Make sure the tip of the funnel is placed into the neck of a dark amber glass bottle. Slowly pour the tincture into the bottle through the funnel, while making sure you squeeze the root chunks in the cheesecloth to the last drop.
Label the bottle with its contents, the date it was bottled, the dosage and what it can be used for
Burdock Root Tincture Dosage
As I mentioned earlier, I am not a clinical herbalist or doctor and you should always check with your practitioner for specific dosages. However, these are some suggested dosages I found online.
While the following dosages vary by age, the method to take the extract is the same, i.e. releasing the dropper under the tongue.
Sick adults (ages 12+) should take 2 dropperfuls, 3 times a day.
Adults (ages 12+) who are not sick but may feel a cold or flu coming in should take 2 dropperfuls, once a day.
Sick children (ages 5-12) should take 1 dropperful, 3 times a day.
Sick children (ages 5-12) who are not sick but may feel a cold or flu coming in should take 1 dropperful, once a day.
Sick young children (ages 4 and below) should take 1/4 to 1/2 dropperful, 3 times per day.
However, I would not recommend giving this tincture to a year-old child.
*Especially for infants and children, please consult their doctor before trying any new herbal treatment and consider making a glycerite tincture instead.
BURDOCK ROOT TINCTURE
There's an old saying that you should look for a herbal remedy that has the qualities you would want in yourself. Traditional folk herbalists always kept Burdock handy for strength.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Active Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 1 month (ideally 2-4 months)
Difficulty: Easy
Materials
- Burdock root, chopped into chunks
- Vodka or any other high-proof alcohol (or vegetable glycerin if making an alcohol-free tincture- see notes)
Tools
- Mason Jar (pint) with a tight lid
- Funnel
- Cheesecloth
- Dark amber dropper bottles
- Labels or Tags
Instructions
1. Fill a dry and clean mason jar 2/3 with chopped Burdock root.
2. Pour alcohol over the chunks, one inch below the lid.
3. Screw the lid tightly and gently shake the jar, allowing it to settle naturally.
4. Store in a cool dry place, away from direct light, like a kitchen cabinet, for the next 1 month (2-3 months preferably)
5. Shake alcohol-based tinctures every few days and glycerite every day. If alcohol levels decrease, top it off.
6. Once ready, decant it using a funnel with cheesecloth lined in it. Place the tip of the funnel in the neck of the dark amber bottle.
7. Pour the tincture and squeeze the cheesecloth for all the extract.
8. Label with its contents, the date it was bottled, the dosage and what it can be used for.
Notes
You can make a Burdock vinegar too in the same way in case you want to avoid alcohol.
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