Continuing the series started with Colt’s Foot, we move on to the Burdock (arctium lappa) plant:

This is another plant that is native to Europe and, because the seeds have hooks on them that grab onto nearly anything, it makes me wonder if the plant was introduced via animals brought from Europe by the Scots-Irish who settled this part of Virginia over 200 years ago.

Burdock has a long history of use in folk medicine, according to numerous sites, including Botanical.com and the University of Maryland Medical Center. It has traditionally been used as a blood purifier to clean the system of toxins and it is also a diuretic and a topical remedy for eczema, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, it is used as a vegetable by many people.