Burdock Root cut (Arctium lappa)

Anyone who has walked a field edge in autumn knows burdock by the burrs stuck to their socks; the root beneath that clinging plant is what the old herbalists dug.

Origin & Traditional Use

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a large biennial of waste ground across Europe and Asia. Its long taproot is eaten as a vegetable, especially in Japan where it is called gobo, and in Britain it went into the old drink dandelion and burdock. Herbalists traditionally used the root as a cleansing tonic.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

• Protective sachet: carry cut root in a small bag or keep it in the home as a ward against harmful influence.
• House cleansing: simmer the root and add the strained liquid to a floor wash for a clearing after illness or quarrels.
• Burr charm: the clinging burrs themselves were hung up or carried as a ward, catching ill will before it reaches you.

Hoodoo & Rootwork

• Uncrossing: burdock root appears among roots used to break crossed conditions and jinxes, added to baths and washes.
• Protection: rootworkers carry pieces in protection mojo bags alongside other hardy roots.

A Simple Working

• Simmer a tablespoon of burdock root in two cups of water for fifteen minutes.
• Strain the liquid and let it cool until warm.
• Add a pinch of salt and stir it counterclockwise while naming what you are clearing away.
• Light a white candle in the room you are working on.
• Wipe the door frame and windowsills with a cloth dipped in the wash.
• Pour any leftover liquid outside, away from the house.

Pairs Well With

• Hyssop, the classic partner in cleansing baths.
• Salt, to strengthen floor washes.
• Rue, for added protection in sachets.
• A white candle, to hold the room while you work.

Lore & History

Burdock’s old name lappa comes from a Greek word meaning to seize, after its hooked burrs. In England, burdock root fermented with dandelion made a hedgerow drink brewed since the Middle Ages, still bottled commercially today.

What You Receive

Cut and dried burdock root, available in 1 oz, 2 oz and 1 lb.