Yellow Dock Root Tea: Top 6 Health Benefits

Yellow dock root is a shrub that originally grew only in Europe and Asia but has spread to North America. Rumex crispus, curly dock or curled dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae.

Its leaves may be eaten as part of a salad dish, but its roots are the ones with medicinal value. It grows to about 3 to 4 feet. It blossoms in the summer months of June and July.

The herb naturally has anthraquinones, rumoquin, oxalates, glycosides, and tannins. These are chemical constituents that are responsible for its medicinal properties.

People may also call this alternative health herb by the following names: Curly Dock, Oseille Crépue, Acedera, Yellowdock, Rumex obstusifolius, Narrow Dock, Rumex, Broad-Leaved Dock, Chukkah, Parelle Sauvage, Field Sorrel, Rumex crispus, Amalvelas, Patience Crépue, Herbe à Cochons, Romaza, Sheep Sorrel, Lengua de Vaca, Sour Dock, Curled Dock.

Health Benefits of Yellow Dock Root Tea

1. relieve pain or swelling of the respiratory tract and nasal passages
2. treat diseases of the skin such as rashes, psoriasis, eczema, itches, boils, and dermatitis
3. cure scurvy, jaundice, and even constipation
4. treat bacterial infections, particularly those that cause sexually transmitted diseases
5. aid indigestion and constipation
6. treat anemia

The primary benefits derived from the herb are the following:

Relief from indigestion and constipation

The anthraquinones and glycocides in the herb make it a potent laxative. These natural chemicals soothe inflamed intestinal linings and stimulate free bowel movement to aid indigestion and constipation.

It also stimulates a healthy level of production of stomach acids and enzymes. For this to be effective, yellow dock root tea must be taken three times a day.

Treatment for skin problems

An ointment is made from the herb. This is then applied to skin lesions, abrasions, eruptions, and sores. Native Americans used to pulverize the pulp of the herb and apply it to various skin disorders.

Strengthening of the liver as an antioxidant

A scientific study showed that the roots contain antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, thereby preventing tissue and cell damage, especially in the liver. Such a benefit can be derived by preparing and drinking a tea made of the herb’s extracts.

Treatment for anemia

Not only does yellow dock root improve the absorption of iron in the intestines, but it also contains iron, which helps in the production of red blood cells and in fighting anemia.

It also has natural holistic chemicals called bio-flavonoids that strengthen capillaries, thereby helping blood circulation.

Yellow dock root is without a doubt a super herb for constipation, anemia, and skin problems. It may come as an invasive weed that hurts other crops, but as far as your health is concerned, de-weeding can be just as fulfilling as harvesting.

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Additional Health Benefits

In spite of its reputation for being a problematic weed for many gardeners, the yield from this plant can offer several health benefits:

• As a mild laxative, it encourages bowel movement in people suffering from constipation.
• As a tonic astringent, the juice from the plant helps remove dirt, traces of perspiration, and make up from the surface of the skin. It also closes pores to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering.
• As an ointment, it helps reduce the discomforting effects of skin itches, sores, scabs, and lesions.
• The leaves are used to minimize the debilitating effects of boils and other skin eruptions.
• The powdered roots can be used to treat cuts and wounds.
• The roots are also used as a tonic for rheumatism.
• Mature roots can also remove and clean residues left by bilious conditions, hemorrhoids, and lung bleeding.
• It detoxifies a congested liver.
• It provides relief to patients with skin inflammation.
• The plant’s seeds act as an astringent for dysentery and infection of the intestines, which causes mucus and blood to be present in the infected person’s stool.
• It aids the body in flushing out toxins through the urine.
• It helps treat urinary gravel or stones, abnormal water retention in the body, cystitis, and arthritis.
• It helps regulate the menstrual cycle and reduces heavy bleeding, symptoms of dysmenorrhea, and uterine fibroids.
• Since its roots are rich in iron, it is also used to cure anemia.

History of Yellow Dock Root

Yellow dock is a wild plant known around the world to possess medicinal properties. It has been used by many ancient cultures, notably the American Indians, to treat symptoms of a number of illnesses.

As a result, the plant has several native American names, such as curly dock. It is also known as chin-ch’iao-mai in Chinese, and as churka in Sanskrit.

Early Uses of Yellow Dock Root

For centuries, yellow dock was used by Native Americans to address skin conditions that are linked to liver and digestive malfunctions.

At present, the herb is being used to aid in treating age spots, acne, and other skin conditions. Most traditional medicine practitioners use it to cure anemia, liver illnesses, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Habitat of Yellow Dock Root

Yellow dock is a native of European and African soil, but it is also grown in many parts of the United States, southern Canada, and Asia.

While it can grow in any type of environment, the plant is known to prefer slightly moist soil in a humid climate. This buckwheat-like plant may be seen growing in unlikely places such as roadsides, the open fields, and even ditches and dumps.

The seeds may be planted during spring, in fertile and well-drained soil. Experts recommend burying the seeds a quarter of an inch deep in the soil in a single row at least eight inches apart.

These plants should reach their maturity in thirteen weeks, but essential parts, like the roots, are only ready to be used after two years.

Yellow Dock Root Side Effects

The leaves and the roots may be used to treat several health conditions, but certain precautions must be taken when using these parts, especially the roots. Fresh leaves may be used as is, but only in small amounts.

On the other hand, roots must be boiled several times in different batches of water to get rid of their toxic and volatile components, like oxalic acid.

Other Information and Preparation Details

This bitter and sour herb may provide relief of symptoms caused by internal organ diseases, but its most common use is to reduce the symptoms of skin conditions or to cure the skin condition itself.

Because there has not yet been any groundbreaking scientific study conducted to prove its potency when taken orally, health experts recommend using it only externally or until a valid medical prescription has been received from a doctor.

The yellow dock root’s juice may be coarsely ground and then extracted to be applied directly to the affected area of the skin. To make sure it will work, experts recommend leaving the juice on the skin for at least two hours before washing it with clean water.

As a whole, yellow dock may be used alone, as an alternative herb, or as an additional ingredient. As a medicinal alternative, the herb encourages a favorable change in the course of certain health conditions.

For example, if someone has constipation, he just needs to drink a cup of water boiled with yellow dock leaves to encourage a bowel movement.

As an additional ingredient, the herb may be mixed with burdock root and goldenseal to make a bath tea, which is known to cure chickenpox.

We’ll be updating this article with new information as more scientific studies and clinical trials are published.