Burdock root is a common plant encountered by hikers. If you’ve hiked before, the burdock plant is a round ball of seed with spines that sticks to the clothes when you pass by them. This bur is what inspired the concept of Velcro.
The plant, which belongs to the Asteraceae family with daisies and sunflowers, is commonly grown in the US, Europe, and Asia. In some regions, this plant is cultivated for its health properties.
Burdock root is used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It can be used as an ingredient in soups and stews or consumed raw. Burdock root is also made into tea.
It’s uncommon to find this tea blend in most tea shops, as it’s not as popular as Oolong tea, green tea, or matcha tea. If you’re keen on making this tea and enjoying its health benefits, keep reading to get the burdock tea recipe you’re craving.
What Is Burdock Root Tea?
Burdock root tea has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years and still holds a place in traditional Chinese medicine. The root is also known as rhubarb, but it’s not related to the plant called rhubarb. The name comes from the fact that burdock roots were once used as a cure-all by herbalists and other healers. They believed this plant could treat everything from stomach ailments to diabetes.
What Does Burdock Tea Taste Like?
Burdock root tea possesses a unique taste. It boasts of a strong and bitter taste but also an earthy yet sweet flavor. This drink can be consumed either hot or cold.
Burdock Root Tea Ingredients
Yield: 2 cups
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Burdock root (1-2 tablespoons): You can buy organic burdock root from the market, or you can make them from scratch.
- Water (2 cups): Use filtered water. Tap water usually affects the taste of the tea.
- Sweetener (optional): If you can drink burdock tea without any added sweetener, the better. If you opt to add, go for a natural sweetener, like honey.
How To Make Burdock Root Tea
Here’s how you can make burdock root tea at home:
If you want to go the faster, easier route, you can simply buy dried burdock root from the market.
- Prepare a pot of water and add the dried burdock root. Bring it to a boil. Allow the herb to simmer for at least 10 minutes. Make sure it’s covered with a lid.
- Strain out the roots and serve. You can add sweetener if preferred.
If you plan to do it from scratch, you should prepare your burdock root. It might take you hours. Here’s how to prepare roasted burdock root tea:
- After cleaning the burdock roots, you need to peel them off. The peels should be about one to two inches long.
- Place them in a bamboo sieve or on a cooking sheet.
- Allow them to dry out for at least four hours. Make sure to turn the burdock root peels so they dry evenly.
- Once dried, prepare a pan on medium-high heat. Place the burdock root for ten minutes or until they turn golden brown. Make sure you don’t add any cooking oil.
- Once cooked, you can add hot water to steep them.
- Serve and enjoy!
You can also create your own iced burdock root tea at home. After steeping the dried burdock root, add ice, and you’re good to go!
Burdock Root Tea Benefits
Burdock root tea is a popular dietary supplement many people have used for centuries. The health benefits of burdock root are not just anecdotal. Many of its nutritional wonders are backed by science. Here are some of them:
Promotes Healthy Skin
Burdock root tea is a great way to detoxify the skin. It can help reduce acne, improve skin tone and texture, and prevent sunburns and redness.
Burdock root has been shown in studies to be an effective cleanser for oily or blemish-prone skin. It also promotes the cleansing of toxins from your body through its astringent properties, which can pull out impurities.
A study found that burdock root reduced acne when applied topically. This may be due to its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to inhibit Propionibacterium acnes bacteria responsible for causing breakouts or zits on your face.
Supports Good Digestion
Burdock root tea is a powerful anti-inflammatory and digestive aid. It helps to cleanse your digestive tract, which can help reduce gas and bloating, fight against inflammation, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
The root contains saponins that are found to have antifungal properties and can kill bacteria in the stomach. It’s also been shown to reduce cholesterol levels in people who consume it regularly.
Aids in Weight Loss
Burdock root tea is rich in inulin, which helps to increase the amount of fat burned during exercise. It can help you to feel full and satisfied after eating, which may help to prevent overeating.
Burdock root tea can also decrease your appetite, making you less likely to eat more food than necessary while drinking this nutritional beverage.
Fights Inflammation
Burdock root tea is a natural anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or infection, and it can be helpful in the short term, but if it persists for too long, it can cause damage to healthy tissue.
Burdock root tea has been shown to reduce inflammation through its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals by absorbing them and turning them into harmless substances.
Eliminates Cancer Cells
Burdock root tea is a natural cancer treatment. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that can help treat cancer in the early stages and prevent it from spreading. Burdock has been shown through many studies on animals that may prevent certain types of tumors by blocking cell proliferation.
Burdock root tea is safe to use long-term, even if you’re taking other medications or supplements with ingredients known to cause allergic reactions, like rash or hives. It’s still best to consult your specialist before using burdock root tea to fight cancer.
Helps To Balance Blood Sugar Levels
Burdock root tea can help to balance your blood sugar levels. This is because the plant contains a compound called inulin, which has been shown to promote healthy glucose metabolism and prevent diabetes. Burdock root tea may also reduce insulin resistance and help you maintain a healthy metabolism.
Burdock Root Tea Side Effects
While burdock root tea may afford some health benefits, this herbal plant isn’t as widely studied yet. It may have some side effects if taken in high amounts. Here are some potential side effects you should watch out for:
Increases Estrogen Production in Men
Estrogen is a hormone that plays a role in female reproductive health. In men, estrogen production can be increased by taking burdock root tea. This will cause your body to produce more of this hormone than it usually would.
In addition to causing you to have higher levels of estrogen production in the body (which is not necessarily bad), burdock root itself has been studied for its effects on men’s sexual health and performance.
Burdock root contains high levels of phytoestrogens—plant compounds that may mimic or block some of the functions of female hormones, such as estrogen or progesterone. These phytoestrogens may contribute to problems with erectile dysfunction (ED) among men who consume large amounts each day.
Causes Allergic Reactions
If you experience an allergic reaction to burdock root tea, it could be due to the plant’s thistle family. Some people who are allergic to burdocks may also have an allergic reaction to yellow mustard seeds or ragweed pollen. This is why it’s important not to overuse this herb, as it can cause more serious symptoms than just hives and itching. If you’re allergic to any thistle plant, it’s best to avoid consuming burdock root tea.
Slows Blood Clotting
Burdock root tea can slow blood clotting, which is good for people with bleeding disorders or who are on blood thinners. It can, however, be problematic for those who had a recent surgery or trauma to the skin.
Burdock root tea is not a drug, but it can cause some serious side effects. If you drink this tea regularly, be sure to research how burdock root can affect your body before drinking it too much. Note that many of the effects on your body may reverse over time if you stop drinking this tea.
FAQs
What is the best way to consume burdock root tea?
There are several ways to enjoy burdock root tea, but the best way is to drink burdock root as a hot tea, in its purest form, without any additives. Adding more ingredients, like sugar, can only add more calories. This means you can negate the beneficial effects of the tea.
If you want to add more flavor, adding healthier ingredients can also work. For example, if you choose to add milk, you can use soy or almond milk. If you want it sweeter, you can add organic honey rather than sugar.
Who should not drink burdock root tea?
Due to the limited studies available on the effects of burdock root tea, there are groups of people who should not drink this herbal tea, including:
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Children below 18 years old
- People with allergic reactions to the thistle family
- Individuals taking insulin or diabetes medication
- Persons on diuretics or blood thinners
How much burdock root tea to take daily?
Burdock root tea is generally safe to consume, provided you don’t belong to any of those mentioned above. If your doctor clears it, it’s safe to have one to three cups of burdock root tea daily.
Where can I buy burdock root tea?
Most Asian groceries will have dried burdock root tea. There are also online shops that specialize in organic teas that sell burdock root tea.
