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Herbs: Yellow Dock root - cut

Common Names: Yellow dock, curly dock
Latin Name: Rumex crispus
Origin: China

Excerpts from The How to Herb Book

• Blood cleanser, purifier, and builder; tones the entire system.
• High in vitamin C and iron compounds – one of the best blood builders.
• Good for all skin problems.
• Dissolves mucus and moves it through kidneys.
• Excellent cleanser of lymphatic system.
• Dissolves glandular and other tumors. Kills parasites, which contribute to cancer.
• Used for hepatitis.
• The plant is edible. The leaves are used for green drink and other eating.

Has been used in the following:

Excerpts from Practical Herbalism

Yellow Dock has been used extensively since ancient times in the treatment of “bad blood,” especially as related to chronic skin complaints such as psoriasis. The anthraquinones present have a markedly cathartic action on the bowel, but in this herb they act in a mild way, possibly tempered by the tannin content. Thus it makes a valuable remedy for constipation, working as it does in a much wider way than simply stimulating the intestinal muscles. It promotes the flow of bile, and its action on the gall-bladder has given it a role in the treatment of jaundice when this is due to congestion. Priest & Priest tell us that it is a general tonic alterative with special influence upon skin eruptions. They give the following specific indications: simple deficiency anemias, eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, prurigo, and itching hemorrhoids. Ellingwood considered that its alterative properties are underestimated, saying that, “It is a renal depurant and general alterative of much value when ulceration of mucous surfaces or disease of the skin resulting from impure blood. It acts directly in its restorative influence, purifying the blood, removing morbidic material and quickly cures the disease conditions.” In addition, he recommends it for the following pathologies: ulcerative stomatitis, nursing sore mouth, syphilis, scrofula, cancer and tuberculosis. King’s American Dispensatory describes its specific indications as being, “bad blood with chronic skin disease; bubonic swellings; low deposits in glands and cellular tissues, and tendency to indolent ulcers; feeble recuperative power; irritative, dry laryngo-tracheal cough; stubborn, dry, summer cough; chronic sore throat, with glandular enlargements and hypersecretion; nervous dyspepsia, with epigastric fullness and pain extending through left half of chest; and cough, with dyspnea.” The root is highly prized by modern herbalists as one of the richest sources of iron, and is used in most “blood cleansing” formulas.

Indicated Usages – Internal:

Indicated Usages - External:

Special Consideration:

The Docks, like Rhubarb, harbor high levels of toxic oxalates in the leaves, and that part of the plant is seldom consumed. The root also contains some oxalates, and should not be consumed in large quantities, or for very long periods. Black tea or coffee should not be consumed while taking Yellow Dock, or other strong iron tonics.

Notes:

Yellow Dock is a “combination friendly” herb that is synergistic with many other plants. It is particularly good as a “blood cleanser” when combined with Red Clover, Burdock, Cleavers, and Barberry.

Excerpts from Nutritional Herbology

Yellow dock comes from a group of related docks and sorrels and is distinguished from related species by its yellow carrot-shaped root. The root possesses astringent qualities united with a cathartic principle and has been used as a substitute for rhubarb. It was used in medieval times to cure boils and as a poultice to remedy burns, scalds, blisters, syphylitic lesions. It was also used to take the itch out of cutaneous eruptions like psoriasis and the rashes caused by stinging nettle.

The powdered root was formerly recommended as a dentrifice especially when the gums were spongy.

During the 19th century, it gained popularity as a remedy for jaundice and as a tonic for the liver and gall bladder and has since been included in nearly all herbal liver remedies.

The action of yellow dock has been compared to that of various rhubarb species used as laxatives. The active principles in yellow dock are the astringent tannins and purgative anthraquinone glycosides based on emodin and chrysophenic acid. The primary use of this herb is in purgative therapies.

The tannins and the antimicrobial properties of the anthraquinones combine to make decoctions of the plant useful in scrofulous diseases of the skin, including psoriasis and eczema, and help explain the traditional use of yellow dock in treating skin rashes obtained from stinging nettles and syphylitic lesions.

Yellow dock has accumulated through the Doctrine of Signatures and from folk tradition the reputation of being a liver tonic, gall bladder tonic, and the best organic source of iron available. One nutritional therapist recently claimed the yellow dock is 50 percent iron by weight.

Though yellow dock contains above average quantities of iron, it does not come close to its legendary esteem in this regard, but is useful as a nutritive tonic supplying many trace minerals. Its action on the liver and gall bladder may have some yet unproven efficacy, since most laxatives do stimulate bile production and the secretion of gastric fluids.

Contains bitter compounds that laxative, increase the production of digestive fluids and enzymes, especially bile, and increase the flow of urine. It also contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues. Yellow dock is an excellent herbal source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and selenium. It has been used to treat liver congestion, constipation, arthritis, rheumatism, inflammatory bowel disorders, and inflammatory skin conditions.

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