Burdock Tea

Employed as a popular folk medicine in Japan, burdock is also consumed as a vegetable, where it is called 'Gobo'.  Because of its herbal value, it is also known as Eastern Ginseng in Japan.
Preparation:
Hot Drink: Simply put 6g of burdock slices (10 slices) in a 300ml cup of boiling hot water.  Leave it to infuse for 1-2 minutes and it is ready to serve. 
Cold Drink: For a delicious cold drink, add 10g (18 slices) in a 300ml container of boiling hot water.  Leave it to infuse for 30 minutes and then add 700ml of cold drinking water. Store in refrigerator for one hour and it is ready to serve. 
Hot Soup: To make a perfect soup, add 30g of burdock slices, 4 dates and 1 carrot to some chicken meat or meat bones to boil for 2 hours and it is ready to serve.

In China, burdock is a natural aid in the cleansing and detoxification of the body. It is particularly useful for those suffering skin ailments and is used to help bring relief to joints. It can also be used to treat respiratory infections.  People in South China regularly make soup with burdock to maintain the balance and the strength of their bodies.

As a vegetable, studies of burdock show that it is high in minerals, being a good source of iron. Data also indicates that the root is a good source of the carbohydrate inulin which can account for 45% of the plant mass. And it is also a good source of essential oils.

Burdock root has been traditionally used as a "blood purifier" to clear the bloodstream of toxins, as a diuretic to promote the excretion of urine, and as a topical remedy to relieve skin problems. In folk medicine, burdock has also been used as a laxative and to relieve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Plus, there is belief that burdock may be helpful for kidney stones.

During the Middle Ages, burdock was valued for treating a host of ailments. English herbalists used burdock root for boils, scurvy (a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, leading to bleeding, gum disease, and weakness), diabetes, and rheumatism (disorders characterized by joint discomfort and loss of mobility). Burdock also played an important role in Native American herbal medicine, and American herbalists have used the roots and seeds of this plant for two centuries.

traditionally used as a "blood purifier" to clear the bloodstream of toxins, as a diuretic to promote the excretion of urine