Burdock, also known as niupang, dalizi, Dongyang ginseng, and Dongyang cow whip vegetable, is mainly produced in Taiwan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, and other areas in China. It has the effects of dispersing wind, clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. It is used for symptoms such as wind-heat cold, cough, sore throat, constipation, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision caused by wind and fire disturbance, and externally for treating facial swelling caused by wind and toxins, toothache caused by heat and toxins, swollen gums, boils, carbuncles, and mumps.
Improving Digestion and Relieving Constipation
Burdock contains a large amount of fiber, most of which is semi-fiber. Fiber can absorb water and expand in the stomach, promote the secretion of gastric acid, stimulate intestinal peristalsis, and promote bowel movements. It can also help the gastrointestinal tract eliminate toxins, promote digestion, and has a certain therapeutic effect on constipation.
Dispelling Wind and Clearing Heat
Burdock has the effects of dispersing wind, clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. It is used for symptoms such as wind-heat cold, cough, and sore throat, and can relieve discomfort in the body.
Anticancer and Antitumor Effects
The fiber in burdock can promote colonic peristalsis, help with bowel movements, reduce cholesterol in the body, and reduce the accumulation of toxins and waste. This can prevent strokes and help prevent and treat gastric cancer and uterine cancer. Burdock undergoes chemical reactions in the body and produces more than thirty substances, including "abundant folate," which can prevent adverse changes in human cells and prevent the formation of cancer cells. At the same time, burdock promotes cell proliferation in the body, strengthens and enhances white blood cells and platelets, and increases the growth rate of T cells by three times, thereby strengthening the immune system and enhancing the anticancer effect. In addition, the polyphenols in burdock have anticancer and anti-mutation effects, making it highly nutritious and pharmacologically active.
Improving Osteoporosis
Burdock can enhance the content of collagen in the human body. Hydroxyproline in collagen is the carrier that transports calcium from plasma to bone cells. Collagen is the binder of hydroxyapatite in bone tissue. Regular consumption of burdock can prevent and treat osteoporosis to a certain extent.
Weight Loss and Beauty
Burdock can cleanse the blood, promote cell metabolism, prevent aging, make the skin beautiful and delicate, eliminate blemishes and dark spots. Burdock is rich in dietary fiber, which can promote blood circulation, eliminate gastrointestinal waste, facilitate bowel movements, lower cholesterol in the body, reduce the accumulation of toxins and waste, and achieve the effect of weight loss.
Anti-Aging
During normal metabolic processes, harmful substances called free radicals are produced in the human body, which can cause cell aging. Free radicals can stimulate the production of pigments and the formation of age spots on the surface of the body, indicating that cells in the body have entered the aging stage. Burdock rhizomes contain peroxidase, which can enhance the vitality of the cell's immune mechanism, remove oxygen free radicals in the body, prevent the generation and accumulation of pigments, and have anti-aging effects, providing an internal protective environment for combating and removing oxygen free radicals.
Providing Calcium
Burdock contains a high level of calcium, more than 9 times that of celery. The rhizomes of burdock do not contain oxalic acid, so they have no negative impact on the absorption of calcium. Therefore, burdock is an excellent source of calcium and has the effect of supplementing calcium and preventing and treating osteoporosis and other diseases.
Boosting Immune System
Burdock can promote cell proliferation in the body, strengthen and enhance white blood cells and platelets, and increase the growth rate of T cells by three times, thereby enhancing the immune system and improving the effectiveness of anticancer.
What are the Nutritional Values of Burdock?
Burdock contains a variety of vitamins and minerals needed by the human body, such as burdock saponin, burdock phenol A, burdock phenol B, inulin, fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc. The content of carotene in burdock is 150 times higher than that in carrots, and its protein and calcium content is the highest among root vegetables. In addition, burdock roots contain inulin, volatile oil, burdock acid, various polyphenols, aldehydes, as well as rich fiber and amino acids.
1. Burdock saponin can expand blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and have antibacterial effects. It can treat various diseases such as hot colds, sore throat, and epidemic parotitis, as well as have anti-aging and anti-dementia effects.
2. The polyphenols in burdock have anticancer and anti-mutation effects, making it highly nutritious and pharmacologically active.
3. Burdock contains inulin, which is an arginine that can promote hormone secretion. It is considered to be a food that helps develop muscles, enhance physical strength, and enhance sexual function. It is particularly suitable for use by diabetic patients.
4. The fiber in burdock can promote colonic peristalsis, help with bowel movements, reduce cholesterol in the body, and reduce the accumulation of toxins and waste. This achieves the effects of preventing strokes and preventing and treating gastric cancer and uterine cancer.
5. The soluble dietary fiber in burdock can slow down the release of energy from food, accelerate the decomposition of fatty acids, and weaken the accumulation of fat in the body.
Who Should Avoid Burdock?
1. People with spleen deficiency and loose stools should avoid consuming burdock. Burdock is cold in nature and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
2. Pregnant women should be cautious in eating burdock. Burdock has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, which can easily cause miscarriage in pregnant women.
3. Infants and young children should not eat burdock. Burdock is cold in nature, and the gastrointestinal system of infants and young children is not well developed, so it may hurt their stomachs.
