Yellow Dock
Parts Usually Used
Leaves and roots
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Yellow dock is a perennial plant; its spindle-shaped, yellow taproot sends up a smooth, rather slender stem, 1-5 feet high. Lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, the pointed light green leaves have predominantly wavy margins. The lower leaves are larger and longer-petioled than the upper. Blooming from June to July, the numerous pale green, drooping flowers are loosely whorled in panicled racemes.
The fruit is a pointed, three-angled and heart-shaped nut. Other varieties: Great water dock (R. aquaticus); Water dock (R. britannica); Blunt-leaved dock (R. abtusifolius). They all have similar medicinal qualities, but the yellow dock is the only one entitled to extensive consideration.
Where Found
Found as a troublesome weed in meadows, fields and waste places in Europe, China, the United States, and southern Canada.
Medicinal Properties
Antipyretic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, tonic, laxative, anti-scorbutic, alterative
Biochemical Information
Chrysarobin, iron, manganese, potassium oxalate, tannin, and rumicin, iron, phosphorus, calcium, vitamins A and C
Legends, Myths and Stories
Native Americans applied yellow dock root mashed into a pulp to sores and swellings. ” “Pawia” means yellow root. Yellow dock is literally a storehouse for organic iron. A remarkable virtue of yellow dock is that it has mild laxative properties. Inorganic iron tends to bind and constipate but the laxative properties gives an abundance of iron while relieving the tendency toward constipation.
Most commonly thought of as a troublesome weed, this herb has been used medicinally since ancient times. The young leaves were much used as a pot herb in olden times.
Uses
Historically, herbalists classified yellow dock as a bitter herb and system toner, utilizing it as a laxative and as a blood purifier. Traditional practitioners administered it for digestive and liver complaints, including dyspepsia, bile congestion, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids, as well as for iron deficiency, rheumatism, and swollen lymph glands. It was widely employed in folk medicine for various dermatological conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, urticaria, ringworm, freckles, and age spots.
For chronic skin complaints, herbals often suggested combining it with sarsaparilla in tea form. Topical preparations, including ointments and poultices made from crushed leaves, were traditionally applied to soothe itching, sores, swellings, scabby eruptions, and ulcerated eyelids. Additionally, Native American traditions utilized crushed yellow dock leaves on boils and applied the pulverized roots to cuts.
How Sold
Yellow dock tea is bitter and some people find the capsules much to their liking.
Warning
Yellow dock is high in tannin content and should be taken only every other week. As a capsule, one a day. As a decoction, 1 tsp. in a cup of water, 1-2 cups a day. Care should be taken if emaciated. Large doses may cause gastric disturbance; nausea, diarrhea, etc.
Bibliography
, Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994 The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A. , Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , Copyright 1988, published 1992 The Complete Medicinal Herbal , by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993 Indian Herbalogy of North America , by Alma R.
, West Nyack, NY, 1987. Indian Uses of Native Plants , by Edith Van Allen Murphey, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1958, print 1990 Old Ways Rediscovered , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988 Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements , by James F.
D. and Phyllis A. , Special Sale Catalog, 1996 The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. , 1974