Arctium lappa

Burdock root (Arctium lappa) is a traditional medicinal root used in Chinese, Japanese, and European herbal systems for skin conditions, digestion, and 'detoxification.' Rich in inulin-type fructans (~40–50% of dry root weight) plus lignans (arctigenin, arctiin), polyphenolic acids, and polyacetylenes. Human clinical evidence is very limited: one small RCT (Maghsoumi-Norouzabad 2016, n=36 knee OA patients, 6 g/day as tea for 42 days) showed reductions in IL-6, hs-CRP, and malondialdehyde and increased antioxidant capacity. A second RCT examined a burdock-containing complex in asymptomatic H. pylori-positive subjects. No meta-analyses exist. Arctigenin shows anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity in preclinical models but has poor oral bioavailability. The inulin fraction provides legitimate prebiotic fiber activity, though not at typical capsule doses. Traditional claims for skin, liver 'detox,' and hair health are not supported by controlled human trials. ⚠️ Members of the Asteraceae family may trigger allergic reactions in people sensitive to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, or marigolds. Possible hypoglycemic interaction — caution with diabetes medications.