Yellow Dock
Rumex crispus
Many different kinds of “Dock” exist and though some have similar properties, identification of the proper material is important. This particular plant has narrow leaves (Rumex translated from the Latin means Lanced) , which are usually curly (crispus) at the edges, vary in size and are not found in great numbers higher up the stem of the plant. The flowers become a green seed that turns a deep red color in the fall, traditionally marking the proper harvest time for the root. The plant is native to Europe and Western Asia but has naturalized itself widely in North America where it grows almost anywhere it can. Native American use of this plant was extensive. The Dakota used the bruised fresh green leaves as a poultice for infected wounds. The Blackfoot, Cheyenne and Dakota tribes used the fresh root pulp topically for rheumatic pains. The Iroquois also applied this mash to piles, and as a poultice in yellow fever. The Cherokee, as well as the tribes mentioned above, used the root internally for constipation, and to inspire the body to cleanse the blood. The Navajo used the whole plant as an emetic before ceremony to clear and cleanse the system in order to prepare the body for healing and spiritual ritual.
What is Yellow Dock Used For?
Most certainly the plant has been used as an alterative, but one of its amazing properties is the presence of fortifying Iron and its ability to encourage healthy peristalsis.
Traditional Health Benefits of Yellow Dock
Additional Information on this Herb
anthraquinone glycosides (chrysophanic acid, emodin, physcion), oxalates (oxalic acid and calcium oxalate), and tannins.
Root
Duke, James and Foster, Steven; Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000 Murphey, Edith Van Allen; Indian Uses of Native Plants Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1958, print 1990 1.) Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996. 2.) McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use
- This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.
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