Burdock Root was something that enticed me the first time I ever saw the name. Without knowing anything about the plant, I just knew somehow it was amazing. Looking into it and researching here’s what I found.

• Burdock is extremely high in Vitamin E which is essential for skin and scalp regeneration.
• The high vitamin B content in burdock is the reason why many people will use it to help nourish the skin. It has been shown that Vitamin B has the ability to pull moisture to the skin’s surface.
• Burdock contains many trace minerals, many of which most of us are deficient in many of which are necessary for healthy glowing skin. This includes potassium, magnesium, silicon, zinc and sodium.
• Burdock has also been shown to increase the skins circulation allowing for nutrients to more effectively be delivered to the area where it is applied.
• Burdock can also act as a detox for the epidermal tissues helping to cleanse the skin of toxic buildup
• Because of it’s ability to both moisturize and detox, burdock root is used by many skin care companies to treat both scaly skin and acne prone skin.

So Burdock root is amazing, but what is burdock?

The burdock plant is native to Europe, Asia and Japan. Early settlers brought burdock over to the America’s and natives quickly began to use burdock in their gardens. Burdock is quite easy to grow and grows easily in the wild. In fact, a quick google search will turn up with plenty information on how to “get rid” of this “weed”.  Burdock, in the health field is definitely NOT considered a weed but rather a health food or supplement. The leaves, stock and root of burdock are edible. The leaves and stocks are generally cooked like swiss chard and the roots (which can grow up to 4 ft long) are eaten raw or used in soups and stir fries. The leaves and root have been used for centuries to help with skin conditions, dandruff and hair growth. This use of burdock is still very popular today. It is less common these days to hear about people eating the plant and more common to hear of people drinking burdock root tea or taking burdock supplements to support health.

As an internal supplement, burdock root is used by health practitioners to:

• Help to cleanse and purify the blood
• To assist the lymphatic system with detoxification and drainage
• Is used as a natural diuretic to help remove waste from the body
• As an internal supplement to combat sign of external aging
• To help lower blood sugar and decrease diabetic risk factors
• To support the body while it fights cancer
• To lower inflammation in the body and ease arthritis pain
• To relieve sore throat, cough and even tonsillitis

As with any supplement, it’s always recommended to consult your physician or certified health practitioner before using burdock root internally. This is especially important if you are diabetic, have fluid retention issues, have a lymphatic disorder or have been diagnosed with cancer.

So now when you see burdock on the ingredient list, you’ll likely get as excited as I do. This powerhouse “weed” is great for so many conditions and a secret weapon against aging, acne and dandruff. Try it in our Balance Facial Serum and see if you love it as much as I do!