Gout and Burdock Root

How burdock root can help you with your gout

Burdock Root contains many medicinal properties and has been used to treat many ailments for hundreds of years. During the Middle Ages, British herbalists preferred burdock root over sarsaparilla for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It is the root of the Burdock plant that is consumed and used for medicinal use.

Herbalists use Burdock Root primarily as a blood purifier since it is a popular detoxifier and has a diuretic effect on the body which helps remove impurities from the bloodstream through the kidneys aiding blood circulation. This is important to us gout sufferers since it is also a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

What makes burdock root particularly interesting to gout sufferers is that  the herb is a very powerful xanthine oxidase inhibitor, the enzyme in the body that produces uric acid. Blocking this enzyme is how the prescription drugs like Allopurinol and Febuxostat decrease uric acid levels in the blood.

Burdock Root contains inulin (or fructosan) which is a carbohydrate that may help strengthen the liver. It provides a sugar that doesn’t provoke rapid insulin production in diabetics. It also contains polyacetylenes which may destroy bacteria and fungus cultures.

If you plan on taking burdock root, keep in mind that it is a diuretic and causes your body to lose lots of water, so make sure to keep well hydrated. Burdock root can be taken as a tablet or drink it as a tea. Just cut off a 2-inch piece from the root and peel off the tough outer bark of the root and cut it into thin slices. Add it to about 8 oz of water and boil it for about 10 to 15 minutes.

If you have fresh ginger tea, it’s prepared the same way. Burdock root can also be eaten like carrots or added to salads. The roots, seeds and stems are all edible. As always make sure to speak to your doctor before introducing burdock root in your diet.