Burdock (Arctium lappa) is especially useful as a purifying herb. It works to purify the blood and, for this reason, is often effective against acne and such infections as staphylococcus which tend to circulate through the blood. It is a very mild diuretic and is useful to reduce water retention, and helps with some degenerative diseases.

It has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Burdock is also used as a food plant in many places, and is especially popular in Japan, where it is known as gobo and is eaten as a vegetable and prized for its health benefits and as a fiber source. (The high fiber content is not present in the tea form.)

In tea form burdock includes volatile oils, acetylenic compounds, phenolic acids, inulin, physterols, tannins, and mucilage.

A note: burdock is best used as a PEELED root. Burdock root tea should brew green in color and not brown.