Botanical Name: Rumex Crispus | Family: Polygonaceae
Common name(s): Yellow Dock, Curly Dock, Broad-leaved Dock
GROWING
- Perennial | zones 3-9 | 1-3 feet | numerous pale green drooping flowers, from June – July.
- Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep in the soil in single rows, about 8 inches apart.
- Found in wet open fields. It’s found in the United States, Europe, and southern Canada.
- Rich, sandy loam.
HARVESTING
- Harvest the root in the fall of the second year.
- Roots should be 8 – 10″ long and 1/2″ thick.
PREPARATION / DOSAGE
Infusion: Grind 1 – 2 teaspoons dry root into a powder and add to 1 cup boiling water. Cover and steep for 15-20 minutes.
Decoction: 1 – 2 teaspoons fresh or dried roots to 1.5 cups of room temperature water. Slowly bring to boiling (in a covered pan) over medium heat and turn down heat to barely simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let steep for another 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink.
Tincture: (Preferred method) take 2.5 – 5ml of tincture 3-4 x/day taken on an empty stomach.
MEDICAL
Constituents: anthraquinone glycosides, rumicin, chrysarobin, tannins, oxalates, vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorus
Actions: alterative, blood tonic, cholagogue, mild laxative
Uses: anemia, skin diseases, liver congestion
Combinations: combines well with burdock roots and seeds, stillingia, red clover, and sarsaparilla root
CHINESE MEDICINE*
- Bitter, sweetish, cool
SOURCES
- Annie’s Remedy
- Global Healing Center
- Vitality
- *The Way of Herbs, Michael Tierra
- A Modern Herbal, Grieve, Volume 1
- photo credit: dowcet via photopin cc
I don’t have any personal experience with yellow dock, yet!
