Magickal Witch Coven by Le Lady Moon

💜Let's Learn About Burdock!💜 (Patreon)

Published:

2022-01-19 21:07:36

Imported:

2024-12

Tags:

Correspondences Green Witch Herbs Plants

Content

A witch from the coven chat asked for more information about burdock! Feel free to request and herbs or crystals you'd like to learn more about in the comments or on Discord! Here is some more witchy information about this herb from Grove anda Grotto and Witchipedia. Enjoy!

Burdock has a magickal reputation that belies its humble, earthy appearance. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, Burdock has been an ingredient in medicinal and brewing recipes since at least medieval times. (It was used as a bittering agent in beer before the widespread adoption of hops.)

Eventually, this persistent Old World herb spread to North America where it was foraged as a folk medicine and occasional food source. American conjurers and rootworkers adopted Burdock into their magickal pantries and elevated its status as a Witch’s herb. Bat Root and Beggar’s Buttons—referring to the bright round flowers—are folkloric names for the same plant.

Burdock is a member of the thistle family. It can be identified in the wild by its extremely large, flat leaves and purple flowers with burrs. (These burrs, with their small hooks that snag the fur of wild animals, inspired the invention of hook-and-loop tape, better known as Velcro.) Burdock has a large, edible taproot that is earthy and slightly bitter (think lotus root, turnip, or wild carrot). In the UK, Burdock and Dandelion is a popular old-timey soda flavor that tastes similar to American root beer.

A native of Eurasia, especially England and Scotland, and an invasive weed in the United States, Burdock grows in moist waste places, ditches, and roadsides.

It is a member of the thistle family. Purplish flowers appear in July of the second year followed by round spiky seed pods that cling to fur and clothing. Very large waxy leaves, reminiscent of rhubarb. The lowermost leaves are heart-shaped, sometimes over a foot long and downy on the underneath, giving them a silvery appearance.

Biannual, the basal rosette of leaves stays close to the ground the first year, and the second year sends up a central flower stalk. It can grow 3-7 feet high the second year.

Magickal properties of burdock

Burdock is employed mainly for cleansing and protective magick. Like many witchy herbs, its magickal functions appear to be connected to its history as a medicinal plant. Burdock is a natural diuretic reputed to cleanse the urine and purify the blood—hence, its use in formulas to “flush out” negativity.

A persistent, robust plant, Burdock gained renown among European witches as an effective ingredient in warding spells. With its deep roots, it is unfazed by adversity. A Burdock charm, buried or hung at a south door, was said to have the ability to protect homes and stables from evil influences. It is also added to protective charms and amulets to be carried when traveling. In American folklore, Burdock is a root often used in counter-magick--to prevent other workers from putting “roots” (i.e. curses) on the bearer.

Another aspect of Burdock is as an herb of health and sexual potency. Its, long phallic taproot may have something to do with the latter—although Burdock extract has indeed been shown to increase sexual behavior in rats.) It’s not unusual to see Burdock mentioned in charms for prosperity, vitality, and virility.

Correspondences of Burdock

Burdock is an herb of Earth. It’s low-growing habit, edible root, and use as a medicinal tonic place it firmly in the realm of Earth magick. Burdock is also attributed to the North, the traditional dwelling-place of the Earth element in the western esoteric tradition. Burdock’s scientific name, Arctium lappa, means roughly “bear grabber” and shares the same root as the English word Arctic. A secondary elemental correspondence is water, as Burdock is both a diuretic and a ditch-dwelling plant.

Despite its links to male performance, most sources attribute Burdock to the planet Venus. Venus is the ruler of many beneficial healing herbs, and Burdock’s large, lush green leaves and beautiful purple flowers are certainly Venusian in appearance. In the East, Burdock is also considered a feminine plant and used as a dietary supplement to restore yin energy to the body.

Spells and formulas with burdock

Write wishes on Burdock leaves and burn them to make them come true.

Steep Burdock in water (with Rosemary, Hyssop, and/or Lemon Balm) to make a cleansing floor wash.

Infuse Burdock root in oil to make an ointment to relieve impotence and enhance male sexual performance.

Incorporate Burdock root into spells for warding, hex-breaking, and good fortune.

Precautions

Some poisonings have been reported from foraged Burdock root that is contaminated with root of Belladonna. The toxic effects do not appear to be caused by the Burdock itself. Take care when buying or using wild-harvested Burdock and be sure that the plant has been properly identified. (Ours is organically cultivated.)

Burdock is generally regarded as safe. However, certain people should not take Burdock root internally without medical supervision: Pregnant women, people with allergies to Asteraceae family plants, and people who are already taking medication/supplements to increase urine flow or to lower blood sugar.

Scent profile: Earthy, Bitter

Correspondences: Earth/Water, Venus

Occult properties of herbs are provided for historical interest only, and no outcome is guaranteed. Nothing on this website should be taken as medical or legal advice. Please use herbs responsibly.

Other Names Great Burdock, lappa, Fox’s Clote, Thorny Burr, Beggar’s Buttons, Cockle Buttons, Love Leaves, Philanthropium, Personata, Happy Major, Clot-Bur, Bardona, Gobo

History and Folklore

The name Arctium is derived from the Greek arctos, “bear” Lappa is from the Greek “to seize”, and llap is from the Celtic for “Hand”. The word Dock in its common name refers to its large leaves and Burr is from the Latin Burra which means “Wool” alluding to the fruit’s tendency to get caught in fur or wool of passing animals.

It is said that George de Mestral, the Swiss inventor of Velcro, got the idea after examining the fruit of a burdock plant that had stuck to his dog’s fur.

Propagation

Burdock grows wild everywhere and is generally considered a weed, so wild collection in public places is not usually a problem. (Never collect any plant from private property, state or national parks or wildlife preserves without permission.)

Not fussy about soil, but does best in light, well-drained soil. Sow seeds one inch deep directly in the soil in autumn or early spring 18 inches apart.

Harvesting & Storage

Gather the roots from two-year-old plants in early spring and from one-year-old plants in mid-autumn. It is best to gather your roots in the autumn of the first year. Leaves can be gathered and used as needed but are at their peak in early summer.

The flower appears in mid to late summer and the fruits ripen in early autumn. Collect them when they are dry in appearance (and stick to your clothing) and shake out the seeds. You can spread the seeds on paper to dry.

The roots must be sliced thin to dry properly and may become moldy. Lay roots and leaves flat to dry.

Magical Attributes

Burdock is associated with feminine energies, Venus and the element of Water.

Burdock is used in rituals, amulets and spells to ward off negativity and for general protection. It can be used in potions, ritual baths, incense, and amulets. Also used for general healing. The root can be carved into a figure, dried and carried or worn as a protective amulet.

Household Use

Burning this plant when green produces a large amount of carbonate of potash.

Bored children on a picnic may find burdock fruits to be fun to play with. They stick together just like Velcro and can be used like building blocks to make things.

Healing Attributes

Burdock is considered one of Nature’s best blood purifiers.

Dried roots dug up in the first year are the best source, but fruits and leaves can also be used.

Take a decoction of 1-ounce herb to 1 ½ pint of water, boiled down to a pint, one teacupful per day as a blood purifier and for scurvy, boils and rheumatic afflictions.

Use the same decoction externally as a wash for ulcers and scaly skin disorders. A poultice of the leaves can be applied to bruises and swellings as well.

An infusion of the leaves is good for indigestion, especially in people who suffer often.

A tincture, essential oil or extract of the seeds can be used externally as a skin smoother and for problems such as eczema, psoriasis, canker sores, and hemorrhoids. Internally for kidney complaints or a general tonic. Large amounts induce sweating, which is believed by many herbalists to help rid the body of toxins.

Burdock can be added to shampoos or hair rinses for dandruff and itchy scalp.

In China, where it is called niupangzi, Burdock is used to treating impotence and infertility.

Some people experience dermatitis from topical exposure to burdock. Check for allergies by placing a bit of Burdock extract in a small area and wait 24 hours before using it to treat larger areas.

Culinary Use

Cut immature flower stalks before flowers open. Scrub and peel them. Boil for a vegetable similar in flavor to asparagus or artichoke hearts. You can also use them raw in salads, but they are a bit bitter if not boiled first. These stalks may also be candied like angelica stems.

The roots may be eaten like any root vegetable. This is called gobo in Japan. It is crispy and sweet and mild. Scrub the root and slice it thin. Simmer it for twenty minutes, until tender in butter or water.

There is a soft drink available in the United Kingdom known as “Dandelion and Burdock Beer”. Whether or not commercial varieties contain either herb is questionable (Like “Ginger Ale” in America) but health food stores may carry authentic varieties.