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Yellow Dock Curly Dock, Sour Dock
Rumex crispus
Family: POLYGONACEAE
If we could only take a few herbs with us – this would be one of them
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There are many varieties of Dock growing wild which are all edible. I use the leaves of these different varieties in salads, herbal teas and stir fries. Dock can be used fresh, dried or in tincture form.
The root is used for medicinal purposes. Dock has powerful medicinal properties and acts as a natural iron in the human system.
Dock is a wonderful blood purifier and body cleanser. It is known to have helped heal scrofula, leprosy, tumors and swellings. It is very helpful for ulcerated eyelids.
I have put some Dock leaves in a blender with water and applied it to itchy skin and it has provided instant relief.
Dock has also proven spectacularly successful in dealing with various forms of mouth infections in the gums and root canals.
As a practical means of preventing expensive dental work I have found Yellow Dock tea - 3 cups a day - very effective.
I usually brew a large pot in the morning and then drink it during the day, it works equally well taken hot, warm, cool or cold.
Yellow Dock is and was a favorite herb in many ancient cultures, with old time doctors, settlers and herbal practitioners. For some conditions we have found there is no equal. It is rich in easily-digested plant iron an essential mineral for man, animal and plant life.
This common herb has invaluable ingredients for conditions of the blood and glandular system and is indicated in scrofula, eruptive diseases, especially when discharges are experienced, as in running of the ears, ulcerated eyelids and skin conditions - such as rashes, eczema, itches, scurvy etc.
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Yellow Dock - Rumex crispus |
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When internal toxic buildup reaches the stage of cysts or tumours, Yellow Dock is of profound effectiveness both internally & externally. Many Herbalists use the mineral-rich plant for cancer, leprosy, bleeding of the lungs & bowels and for rheumatic conditions.
It also has much efficacy in dyspepsia, chronic bronchitis, ulcers and conditions affected by the spleen and lymphatic glands; also for female weakness when due to iron deficiency or loss of blood.
We dry quantities of herbs for making teas by infusion, in Australia it has become illegal to refer to these as “medicinal” or “therapeutic” - in fact to make any public statement suggesting thay have any beneficial effect upon a person's health - and so we offer them as teas.
Most of these plants have been used throughout mankind's history on planet earth for their medicinal and therapeutic properties.
Here you can see a quantity (about 12 KG) of dock leaves ready to start its processing journey.
You can see what's involved in processing a plant to make a herbal tea here.
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Vitamins
Yellow Dock contains vitamins A, B and C.
Minerals
Yellow Dock contains these minerals: Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium.
Constituents
Anthraquinone compounds, Oxalic acids, Citric acid, Malic acid, Tartaric acid, Gallic acid, Prussic acid, Rumecin, Tannins, Saponins, Resins, Protein.
Actions
Tonic, Laxative, Astringent.
Uses
I have found that these conditions are helped immensely by Yellow Dock:-
- Anemia
- Blood Purifier
- Cancer
- Energy
- Liver
- Skin Problems
Yellow Dock is recommended for these other conditions as well.
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Acne
Bladder
Boils
Childhood Diseases
Cleansing
Diabetes
Digestive Disorders
Earache
Ear Infection
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Eyes
Fatigue
Fever
Flue
Fractures
Gall Bladder
Glands, Swollen
Gout
Inflamation
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Itching
Pancreas
Pituatory Gland
Poison Ivy-Oak
Psoriasis
Spleen
Tumors
Ulcers
Venereal Disease
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Rumex crispus L POLYGONACEAE
Yellow Dock Curled Dock/Rumex
In ancient writings both this species and another common weed, the Broad-leaved Dock (R. obtusifolius L) have been used for the same medicinal purposes, and more recently they have been shown to possess similar chemi- cal constituents. R. obtusifolius was known as Lapathum or Lapathum acutum from the fourteenth century, while the Yellow Dock was called Lapathum crispum. In the development of physiomedicalism in the early nineteenth century in America, R. crispus was used for obstinate skin complaints, while in Europe R. obtusifoliw was used for the same condition. today Rumex is found in English herbals, and Lapathum in European ones.
Description Perennial 50- 100 cm tall on stout rootstock. Leaves with undulate edges, lanceolate, large, crispy. Flowers greenish, small, in whorls along a somewhat branched inflorescence, appearing mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Distribution Eurasian native, widely distributed in temperate and subtropical countries as a weed. In any rich, heavy soil in weedy places, to 1500 m altitude.
Cultivation Wild. Propagate from seed.
Constituents (root-stock) Oxymethylanthra- quinone (to 0.2%); emodin (to 0.1i%); chrysophanic acid; volatile oil; resin; tannins; rumicin; starch; thiamine. The combined action is both astringent and purgative, and is described as tonic laxative.
Uses (root-stock, young leaves, rarely seed) Purgative; cholagogue; tonic; astringent. Of much value both internally and externally in skin complaints, especially where the cause is associated with constipation or liver dys- function. May be applied to ringworm, scabies and urticaria, the parasites probably being destroyed by the rumicin content.
In small doses it is stomachic and tonic, and in China it is considered antipyretic. The powdered root-stock in water is employed as a gargle for laryngitis and as a tooth powder in gingivitis. The seed is highly astringent and may be used in cases of diarrhoea.
Young leaves may be eaten as greens, but water should be changed twice during cooking.
Contra-indications May cause dermatitis. Excessive doses produce nausea.
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