Burdock Root

Fiber: Burdock root is a good source of a fiber called inulin. "Inulin is a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber found in certain plant foods," says Stefani Sassos, RD, deputy director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Nutrition Lab. "It has a variety of digestive benefits including alleviating constipation and increasing helpful bacteria in the colon. Other foods besides burdock that contain inulin include asparagus, bananas, chicory, garlic, and Jerusalem artichokes."

Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial: TCM and other alternative practitioners sometimes use burdock root as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial treatment. According to research published in 2010, the leaves and roots of burdock contained quercetin and luteolin (both plant flavonoids with anti-inflammatory effects), and phenolic acids (a type of phytochemical). A very small study of 36 adults with knee osteoarthritis found that those who were treated with burdock root tea had less inflammation and oxidative stress. A research paper published in 2014 showed that burdock root extract might be effective against urinary tract infections, though it was a lab study (not on humans) and more research is needed.
TCM has long emphasized the importance of “cleansing” the blood — promoting blood circulation and removing toxins that aren’t expelled via waste processes — and naturopaths and other alternative providers often use burdock root in “detox” treatments. Western scientific research hasn’t supported the need for this, and generally, the medical establishment feels that the liver and kidneys do a fine job of removing toxins from the body.

You may read online that burdock has anti-cancer properties. Research from 2006 focused on medicinal plants and their potential for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, and found that in the lab, elements of burdock showed promise. A 2018 laboratory study, also involving traditional Chinese medicine, found that an active natural ingredient in burdock seeds, arctigenin, has the potential to inhibit the growth of certain tumors.

Improve acne and eczema: A very small study on a homeopathic treatment with burdock found positive results in inflammatory-type acne. And a 2010 review of TCM research found that burdock “cured” skin diseases like eczema, though it’s unclear from the research abstract how big those studies were and what form the treatment took. According to dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, “If there is benefit, it hasn’t been proven on a scale large enough to have it integrated into the standard therapeutic ladder for eczema.”
Aphrodisiac: You may have read online that burdock root could boost a man's performance in the bedroom.