Arctium lappa. 牛 蒡 子  Niú bàng zi   Burdock   Family: Asteraceae   
It is said that in former times the leaves were eaten as a vegetable.[5]
PART USED: Seeds- harvested early autumn when fruit has ripened.
Nature: Cold    FLAVOR: Pungent, Bitter.   CHANNEL: Lung, Stomach
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Exterior Clearing- Cooling
1. Disperse Wind and Heat.[2,3,4] Clear fever.[1] Benefit throat.[4] Stop cough.[3] Moisten Lungs.[3]
2. Counteract toxic effects.[1,3] Clears Heat and relieves toxicity.[4]
3. Vents rashes.[4] Speed up eruption of measles, heal swelling.
4. Moisten intestines.[3,4] Disperses phlegm.[3]
ACTIONS
INDICATIONS
1. Wind Heat conditions- Influenza:[1,3] fever, cough and a sore red swollen throat.[4] Common cold, sore throat.  Tonsillitis.[1] Cough.[3] Pertussis.[1]
2. Early stage of measles when there is complete expression of the rash.[4] Boils and abscesses.[1,3] Swelling. Superficial and internal symptoms together- eg mumps and constipation.[3] Red swellings, carbuncles, eythemas, mumps, and acute febrile maculopapular rashes.[4]
3. Wind Heat constipation.[4] Constipation.[3]
3. Hot Blood: Perverse Energy penetrates Blood- Toxins in Blood eg leukemia.[3]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
- Exogenous Wind and Heat: Releases exterior Wind-Heat, clears Heat and resolves Toxicity Lonicera & Forsythia- Yin qiao wan.
COMBINATIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Diarrhea.[4] Blood deficiency. Qi deficiency.[4] Stomach deficiency and Cold. Open sores and carbuncles.[4]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction- Seeds 3-9 g  for each dose.[1,2,5]
Seeds, roots, and leaves are used.  Roots and leaves crushed for external application to affected parts.[1,3]
    
PART USED: Root and stalk
PREPARATIONS: Decoction or tincture.[5]
HABITAT: Mostly cultivated.
DESCRIPTION: Biennial herb, forming a rosette in the first year. In the second year grows to 130 cm tall. Roots; fleshy. Stem; multi-branching, height 1-2 m. Basal leaves; clustered. Stem leaves; opposite, up to 40 cm long, broad-ovate or cordate, long pertioled, apexes rounded, bases cordate, leaf surfaces glossy, undersides pubescent with fine greyish-white hairs, margins irregularly dentate or slightly undulate. Flowers; in summer, purplish, in a capitulum inflorescence. Fruit; achene, obovate, covered with stiff hairs.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research.
Extracts of the fruit are reported to have hypoglycaemic activity in rats.[1]
The root is eaten as a food in parts of Asia, the fibre from it has been shown to protect rats from the toxicity of food colours.[2]
References

Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa.
Lin CC, Lu JM, Yang JJ, Chuang SC, Ujiie T.
Abstract
The effects of Arctium lappa L. (root) on anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenger activity were investigated. Subcutaneous administration of A. lappa crude extract significantly decreased carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. When simultaneously treated with CCl4, it produced pronounced activities against CCl4-induced acute liver damage. The free radical scavenging activity of its crude extract was also examined by means of an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. The IC50 of A. lappa extract on superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenger activity was 2.06 mg/ml and 11.8 mg/ml, respectively. These findings suggest that Arctium lappa possess free radical scavenging activity. The inhibitory effects on carrageenan-induced paw edema and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity could be due to the scavenging effect of A. lappa.
PMID: 8874669 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X96000177  Am J Chin Med. 1996;24(2):127-37. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Observational study of Arctium lappa in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Miglani A, Manchanda RK.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Arctium lappa (Lappa) is used in traditional Western and Chinese medicine for acne. It is mentioned in homeopathic literature for acne, but its effect has not previously been evaluated.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine Lappa in treatment of acne vulgaris.
METHODS:
An uncontrolled observational interventional study was conducted on human subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and gave written informed consent. Lappa was prescribed in potencies starting from 6c rising to 1M as required, over a period of 6 months. Objective assessment was change in acne lesion counts supplemented with Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and subjective assessment by using Acne-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (Acne-QoL).
RESULTS:
Out of 34 human subjects, 32 completed the follow-up. Statistical significant results were seen in lesion counts, GAGS and Acne-QoL score (p value <0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Lappa has shown positive effects in the treatment of acne especially of inflammatory type. Further controlled, randomized studies with larger sample size are desirable. Trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01040390.
PMID: 24931753 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.002  
Homeopathy. 2014 Jul;103(3):203-7. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.002. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protective effects of Arctium lappa L. roots against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury and potential mechanisms in SH-SY5Y cells.
Tian X, Guo LP, Hu XL, Huang J, Fan YH, Ren TS, Zhao QC.
Abstract
Accumulated evidence has shown that excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in neuronal cell death related with various chronic neurodegenerative disorders. This study was designed to explore neuroprotective effects of ethyl acetate extract of Arctium lappa L. roots (EAL) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell injury in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The cell viability was significantly decreased after exposure to 200 µM H2O2, whereas pretreatment with different concentrations of EAL attenuated the H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. Hoechst 33342 staining indicated that EAL reversed nuclear condensation in H2O2-treated cells. Meanwhile, TUNEL assay with DAPI staining showed that EAL attenuated apoptosis was induced by H2O2. Pretreatment with EAL also markedly elevated activities of antioxidant enzyme (GSH-Px and SOD), reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA) production, prevented ROS formation, and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, EAL showed strong radical scavenging ability in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. Furthermore, EAL inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis by increases in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreases in cytochrome c release, and attenuation of caspase-3, caspase-9 activities, and expressions. These findings suggest that EAL may be regarded as a potential antioxidant agent and possess potent neuroprotective activity against H2O2-induced injury.
PMID: 25352420 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-014-0129-7  Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2015 Apr;35(3):335-344. doi: 10.1007/s10571-014-0129-7. Epub 2014 Oct 29. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov