Yellow Dock Herbarium
Latin name: Rumex crispus
Family: Polygonaceae
Common Names: Curled dock, curly dock, yellow dock root
Descriptive Characteristics: Yellow dock, like many medicinal plants is considered a weed. It has a slender stem and grows 1-3 feet high. The leaves are light green and wavy. The flowers are pale green and the seed is a pointed kind of nut according to Heinerman, 1996, 482.
Part of the Plant Used: Root
Texture: It feels like gritty dirt. When I opened the sample to write this because I forgot when I did the others, my daughter insisted on smelling it. Apparently, she likes it!
Color: The sample is between shades of dark yellow and brown
Aroma: slight
Flavor: slightly bitter
Constituents: Mills and Bones (2010) state there are moderate levels of anthraquinone glycosides (chrysophanol, emodin, franqulin, and chrysophanein). Hoffman, 2003, says anthraquinone glycosides (nepodin, physcion, emodin); tannins and oxalates (p. 578).
Therapeutic Actions: mild laxative, cholagogue, depurative. Clark (2011) also states yellow dock is an astringent, good for diarrhea (65).Clark (2011) suggests using it as a decoction or tincture to treat digestive problems such as constipation and indigestion and skin problems (demulcent) such as eczema and psoriasis (58). Hoffman, 2003, says Alterative, laxative, hepatic, cholagogue, tonic.
Indications: Used on skin conditions to include psoriasis, jaundice and constipation (mild action).
Formulary:
From the class lesson
Acne, dermatitis, eczema, pimples, and psoriasis: Use the fluid extract, tincture, or decoction orally. The decoction or ointment can be applied topically.
Diarrhea and hemorrhage: Use a decoction of the root.
Gallbladder inflammation and rheumatism: Use infusion, extract, or tincture combined with dandelion Taraxacum officinale.
Anemia, blood cleanser, and constipation: Take the infusion regularly combined with other alterative herbs.
Inflammation and tumors: Apply a hot fomentation frequently.
Blood Cleanser: 1-t echinacea Echinacea angustifolia tincture or fluid extract, 1-t burdock Arctium lappa tincture or fluid extract, 1-t yellow dock Rumex crispus tincture or fluid extract, 1-t sarsaparilla Smilax ornata tincture or fluid extract, 1-t goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis tincture or fluid extract, Purified water. Mix all the ingredients and fill a 3-oz bottle. Top with purified water. Use ¼-½-t extract or ½-1-t tincture in 2-t water, three to four times a day, half an hour before or after meals.
Skin Support Formula I: 1-oz burdock Arctium lappa root, 1-oz yellow dock Rumex crispus root, 1-oz yarrow Achillea millefolium flowers, 1-oz marshmallow Althaea officinalis root, Water. Blend the herbs and store in a glass jar. As needed, use ½-oz of your herbal blend and ½-pt of water to prepare a standard decoction, but simmer until it reduces by approximately one third. Take one tablespoon three times a day between meals. Store for no more than 72 hours in the refrigerator. You can also apply this preparation topically.
Skin Support Formula II: 2-oz burdock Arctium lappa root fluid extract, 1-oz yellow dock Rumex crispus fluid extract, 1-oz red clover Trifolium pratense fluid extract. Mix extracts together and shake thoroughly. Bottle, label, and store in a cool dark place. Use ½-t in ¼-cup of water three times a day between meals.
Soothing Skin Ointment: This ointment is excellent for rough skin, eczema, skin inflammations, psoriasis, and dermatitis. 1-oz chickweed Stellaria media, 1-oz burdock Arctium lappa root, 1-oz yellow dock Rumex crispus root, 1-oz echinacea Echinacea spp root, 1-oz cleavers Galium aparine. Mix the herbs together and use the herb blend to prepare an ointment using the basic recipe.
Petersen (2018)
Ointment for glandular swellings (p. 136): 3 oz plantain leaves, 3 oz mullein flowers, 2 oz yellow dock root, 1 pound anhydrous lanolin, ½ oz beeswax. Place all ingredients in a stainless steal bowl over a simmering pot for 1 hour. Do not boil. Stir and strain. Grate beeswax and stir until it melts. Pour into sterile jars.
Dosage adult:
Mills and Bones (2010, p. 642)
Dried root or decoction: 6-12 g/day
1:1 liquid extract: 6-12 ml/day
1:2 extract or capsule form: 204.5 ml/day
1:5 tincture: 3-6 ml/day
Hoffman (2003, p. 579)
1:5 40% Tincture: 1-2ml 3/day
Decoction: 1-2t of dried root to 1 cup water. Simmer 10-15 minutes 3/day
BHP:
Dried herb: 2-4g
1:5 45% Tincture: 1-2ml 3/day
1:1 25% Fluid extract: 2-4ml 3/day
Safety, Precautions and Contraindications: There is potential for intestinal obstruction. Do not use when pregnant or lactating. Ulbricht (2010) also states there is potential for allergies; especially if there is a ragweed allergy already present. Clark (2011) mentions there may be issues with oxalates and not to consume this herb while suffer from kidney stones. Hoffman (2003) says this may cause vomiting and it may potentiate other laxatives (p. 579).
Lab and Notes:
One remedy for eczema that Clark (2011) mentions on page 86-87 requires equal parts dried burdock root, marshmallow, yarrow, and yellow dock. Add 1T of this mixture to a pot with 1 cup water and let simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Use as a cold compress or add to a bath.
On 26 March 2019, I used 1:5 40% on 6g of herb. My menstruum was 30ml. My yield was 15ml on 8 April.
Research:
Clark (2011) also indicated yellow dock can be consumed as an infusion for vitamin C and calcium.
References
Clark, D. (2011). Herbal Healing for Children: A Parent's Guide to Treatments for Common Childhood Illnesses. Healthy Living Publications.
Gladstar, R. (2012). Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. P. 163.
Heinerman, J. (1996). Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices. New York, New York: Penguin Group. P. 103-104.
Hoffman, David. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 16, 642-643.
Petersen, D. (2018). Herb 503: Advanced Herbal Materica Medica II. American College of Healthcare Sciences. p. 136.
Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-based Guide. Mosby, Inc. Elsevier, Inc. p. 775.
Family: Polygonaceae
Common Names: Curled dock, curly dock, yellow dock root
Descriptive Characteristics: Yellow dock, like many medicinal plants is considered a weed. It has a slender stem and grows 1-3 feet high. The leaves are light green and wavy. The flowers are pale green and the seed is a pointed kind of nut according to Heinerman, 1996, 482.
Part of the Plant Used: Root
Texture: It feels like gritty dirt. When I opened the sample to write this because I forgot when I did the others, my daughter insisted on smelling it. Apparently, she likes it!
Color: The sample is between shades of dark yellow and brown
Aroma: slight
Flavor: slightly bitter
Constituents: Mills and Bones (2010) state there are moderate levels of anthraquinone glycosides (chrysophanol, emodin, franqulin, and chrysophanein). Hoffman, 2003, says anthraquinone glycosides (nepodin, physcion, emodin); tannins and oxalates (p. 578).
Therapeutic Actions: mild laxative, cholagogue, depurative. Clark (2011) also states yellow dock is an astringent, good for diarrhea (65).Clark (2011) suggests using it as a decoction or tincture to treat digestive problems such as constipation and indigestion and skin problems (demulcent) such as eczema and psoriasis (58). Hoffman, 2003, says Alterative, laxative, hepatic, cholagogue, tonic.
Indications: Used on skin conditions to include psoriasis, jaundice and constipation (mild action).
Formulary:
From the class lesson
Acne, dermatitis, eczema, pimples, and psoriasis: Use the fluid extract, tincture, or decoction orally. The decoction or ointment can be applied topically.
Diarrhea and hemorrhage: Use a decoction of the root.
Gallbladder inflammation and rheumatism: Use infusion, extract, or tincture combined with dandelion Taraxacum officinale.
Anemia, blood cleanser, and constipation: Take the infusion regularly combined with other alterative herbs.
Inflammation and tumors: Apply a hot fomentation frequently.
Blood Cleanser: 1-t echinacea Echinacea angustifolia tincture or fluid extract, 1-t burdock Arctium lappa tincture or fluid extract, 1-t yellow dock Rumex crispus tincture or fluid extract, 1-t sarsaparilla Smilax ornata tincture or fluid extract, 1-t goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis tincture or fluid extract, Purified water. Mix all the ingredients and fill a 3-oz bottle. Top with purified water. Use ¼-½-t extract or ½-1-t tincture in 2-t water, three to four times a day, half an hour before or after meals.
Skin Support Formula I: 1-oz burdock Arctium lappa root, 1-oz yellow dock Rumex crispus root, 1-oz yarrow Achillea millefolium flowers, 1-oz marshmallow Althaea officinalis root, Water. Blend the herbs and store in a glass jar. As needed, use ½-oz of your herbal blend and ½-pt of water to prepare a standard decoction, but simmer until it reduces by approximately one third. Take one tablespoon three times a day between meals. Store for no more than 72 hours in the refrigerator. You can also apply this preparation topically.
Skin Support Formula II: 2-oz burdock Arctium lappa root fluid extract, 1-oz yellow dock Rumex crispus fluid extract, 1-oz red clover Trifolium pratense fluid extract. Mix extracts together and shake thoroughly. Bottle, label, and store in a cool dark place. Use ½-t in ¼-cup of water three times a day between meals.
Soothing Skin Ointment: This ointment is excellent for rough skin, eczema, skin inflammations, psoriasis, and dermatitis. 1-oz chickweed Stellaria media, 1-oz burdock Arctium lappa root, 1-oz yellow dock Rumex crispus root, 1-oz echinacea Echinacea spp root, 1-oz cleavers Galium aparine. Mix the herbs together and use the herb blend to prepare an ointment using the basic recipe.
Petersen (2018)
Ointment for glandular swellings (p. 136): 3 oz plantain leaves, 3 oz mullein flowers, 2 oz yellow dock root, 1 pound anhydrous lanolin, ½ oz beeswax. Place all ingredients in a stainless steal bowl over a simmering pot for 1 hour. Do not boil. Stir and strain. Grate beeswax and stir until it melts. Pour into sterile jars.
Dosage adult:
Mills and Bones (2010, p. 642)
Dried root or decoction: 6-12 g/day
1:1 liquid extract: 6-12 ml/day
1:2 extract or capsule form: 204.5 ml/day
1:5 tincture: 3-6 ml/day
Hoffman (2003, p. 579)
1:5 40% Tincture: 1-2ml 3/day
Decoction: 1-2t of dried root to 1 cup water. Simmer 10-15 minutes 3/day
BHP:
Dried herb: 2-4g
1:5 45% Tincture: 1-2ml 3/day
1:1 25% Fluid extract: 2-4ml 3/day
Safety, Precautions and Contraindications: There is potential for intestinal obstruction. Do not use when pregnant or lactating. Ulbricht (2010) also states there is potential for allergies; especially if there is a ragweed allergy already present. Clark (2011) mentions there may be issues with oxalates and not to consume this herb while suffer from kidney stones. Hoffman (2003) says this may cause vomiting and it may potentiate other laxatives (p. 579).
Lab and Notes:
One remedy for eczema that Clark (2011) mentions on page 86-87 requires equal parts dried burdock root, marshmallow, yarrow, and yellow dock. Add 1T of this mixture to a pot with 1 cup water and let simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Use as a cold compress or add to a bath.
On 26 March 2019, I used 1:5 40% on 6g of herb. My menstruum was 30ml. My yield was 15ml on 8 April.
Research:
Clark (2011) also indicated yellow dock can be consumed as an infusion for vitamin C and calcium.
References
Clark, D. (2011). Herbal Healing for Children: A Parent's Guide to Treatments for Common Childhood Illnesses. Healthy Living Publications.
Gladstar, R. (2012). Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. P. 163.
Heinerman, J. (1996). Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices. New York, New York: Penguin Group. P. 103-104.
Hoffman, David. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 16, 642-643.
Petersen, D. (2018). Herb 503: Advanced Herbal Materica Medica II. American College of Healthcare Sciences. p. 136.
Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-based Guide. Mosby, Inc. Elsevier, Inc. p. 775.
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