Food as Medicine Japanese Burdock Root

Burdock root has been consumed in Asia for centuries. The plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to clean the liver and improve blood quality, treat sore throat and colds and more. Preclinical data suggests burdock has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and liver protecting effects. We've included our recipe for stir fried Japanese Burdock root below! the burdock root itself can be found in most Asian grocery stores, plus, no special tools required, you can peel it using a peeler or the back of your kitchen knife!

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Stir Fry Burdock Root

Ingredients:

• 1 burdock root, peeled, cut into 2 inch pieces and julienned

• 1/2 carrot, peeled, cut into 2 inch pieces and julienned

• 1 cup of dashi stock

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seed oil

• 1 Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds

• 2 Tbsp sake

• 1 Tbsp mirin

• 1 Tbsp soy sauce

• 3 drops of any vinegar

• Sea salt and chili pepper powder to taste

• Optional: you can skip the dashi stock for chicken stock 

Directions:

1. Soak prepared burdock root in cold water with vinegar.

2. Rinse and change water 3 times, or until the water becomes clean. Leave burdock soaking in water until you're ready to stir fry.

3. In a hot frying pan, add olive oil and stir fry well-drained burdock for 3 minutes.

4. Add in carrots and continue to stir fry for 1 minute.

5. Add dashi, sake, mirin, soy sauce and simmer until liquid is almost gone.

6. Toss with sesame oil, sesame seeds, salt and chili pepper powder to taste.

7. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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References: Chan YS, Cheng LN, Wu JH, et al.  A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology. 2011 Oct;19(5):245-54.

Hirose M, Yamaguchi T, Lin C, et al. Effects of arctiin on PhIP-induced mammary, colon and pancreatic carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats and MeIQx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Cancer Lett. 2000 Jul 3;155(1):79-88.

Knott A, Reuschlein K, Mielke H, et al. Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008 Dec;7(4):281-9. Lin SC, et al. Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride. J Biomed Sci 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):401-9. Lu LC, Zhou W, Li ZH, et al. Effects of arctiin on streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy in Sprague-Dawley rats. Planta Med. 2012 Aug;78(12):1317-23. Maghsoumi-Norouzabad L, Alipoor B, Abed R, et al. Effects of Arctium lappa L. (Burdock) root tea on inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2016 Mar;19(3):255-61.

da Silva LM, Allemand A, Mendes DA, et al. Ethanolic extract of roots from Arctium lappa L. accelerates the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats: Involvement of the antioxidant system. Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Jan;51:179-87.

Wang HY, Chen YP. Clinical observation on treatment of diabetic nephropathy with compound fructus arctii mixture. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Jul;24(7):589-92.

Zhao F, Wang L, Liu K. In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of arctigenin, a lignan from Arctium lappa L., through inhibition on iNOS pathway. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Apr 21;122(3):457-62.

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This website provides general information only. Content does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for medical guidance.