Burdock has traditionally been thought of as a good plant for creating cleansing remedies. It has also traditionally been used as a blood purifier. In the past it has often been combined with dandelion and burdock wine to create a healing tonic for indigestion. In China, the seeds of the plant are known as niu bang zi, and it is used to get rid of fevers and evil spirits. It is also used in Chinese medicine to lower blood sugar levels.

The Burdock plant is well known of its hooked burrs, which are notorious for attaching themselves to clothing. This aspect of the plant is registered in its Latin scientific name, Arctium lappa, which is derived from the Greek lappa, which means to seize.

Three parts of the Burdock plant is used to create herbal remedies: the root, the seeds, and the leaves. The root of the plant is often used by the Japanese to treat a variety of ailments. They think of the Burdock root as a vegetable, which they call godo.

Western herbalists too also consider the root of the plant to be the most important. In the West, herbalists use the Burdock plant root as a cleansing and eliminative remedy. It is often used in cases where a buildup of toxins is suspected. Symptoms of toxin buildup include skin problems, digestive ailments, arthritic pains, or overall sluggishness. Burdock root can be used externally to treat infections and skin sores. The root is most commonly harvested in the fall.

Another commonly used part of the Burdock plant is the seeds. The seeds of the plant are used in several healing remedies of many healing traditions. For instance, the American Eclectic School of Healing has traditionally integrated the Burdock seeds as a diuretic or to create healing skin tonics. In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds are often used to treat common colds that are characterized by an unproductive cough and sore throat. The seeds of the Burdock plant are traditionally harvested in late summer.

The leaves of the Burdock plant are also harvested to create several herbal remedies. In general, the leaves of the plant are thought to be less effective than other parts, especially the root. The leaves of the Burdock plant are most commonly used to create a healing tonic for common stomach complaints, including indigestion and overall digestive weakness. The leaves of the plant are harvested before or during their flowering.

To create an herbal remedy using the Burdock plant, one easy way is to infuse the plant leaves to create a hot tea to treat indigestion. Burdock tea is used to treat indigestion by being taken in half-cup doses before meals. Burdock tea can also be taken as a mild digestive stimulant. Another herbal remedy from the plant is a poultice from the root of the plant, which can be applied to skin sores and leg ulcers.