Yellow Dock - A native american super herb

Yellow dock Monograph

botanical name: Rumex Crispus

Common Name

Yellow dock, dock, curly dock, narrow-leaf dock, sour dock

Family

Polygonaceae

Parts Used

Root, seeds and young leafs

Native To

Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa

Harvesting Guidelines

Roots:The roots of yellow dock should be harvested in autumn, after the entire plant has turned reddish-brown. This is the time when the root contains the most medicinal properties.
Leaves:Fresh, young leaves can be gathered in early spring, as soon as they have unfurled. These are often used for their mild detoxifying properties and for their nutritional value.

Origin and History:

Yellow Dock, also known as Rumex crispus, is a common herbaceous plant found in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, fields, and waste places. Although it is often regarded as a weed, yellow dock has a rich history in herbal medicine and has been used for centuries for various medicinal purposes, particularly for digestive health. Known for its bitter taste, the plant’s root is especially valued in traditional medicine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and other Indigenous traditions, the connection between our emotions and physical health has long been recognized. The lungs are believed to hold onto our grief, which can be released through both breathing and bowel movements. Yellow Dock, a natural laxative, is considered a helpful ally in releasing emotional burdens and allowing for a fresh start with each breath. As a "grief worker" in the plant world, Yellow Dock can aid in the process of letting go and moving forward.

Yellow dock has long been considered a powerful herb in folk magic. In various traditions, it is associated with cleansing, protection, and emotional healing. It was believed to possess the ability to clear emotional blockages and purge negative energy, especially related to grief.

Emotional Release: In many folk traditions, yellow dock is seen as a plant that helps with emotional release, particularly linked to the emotional weight of grief. The connection between the lungs (associated with grief) and bowel movements is a key reason why this plant is seen as a purging force, allowing one to move forward emotionally.
Protection and Purification: Yellow dock was also considered a protective herb, and it was often used to purify spaces or individuals. Some traditions involve placing yellow dock in doorways or windows to ward off negative spirits.
Psychic Development: In magical practices, yellow dock is sometimes used to aid in psychic development and intuition. The belief is that by cleansing the physical body, one can better attune to their spiritual and emotional selves, making it easier to receive guidance from the inner realms.

Yellow dock has been used in Ayurveda to balance excess pitta, particularly when it results in an overproduction of bile. In this ancient tradition, high pitta is associated with feelings of anger, while bile has long been linked in Western medicine with irritability, tension, and anger. The digestive system is closely connected to our emotions and intuition, and yellow dock can help restore balance in this area. By releasing blockages and negative influences, yellow dock can help us move forward and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.(4)

Medicinal Uses and Benefits

Yellow dock is primarily valued for its digestive and liver-supportive properties. The root of the plant is particularly noted for its ability to support bowel movements without the harshness of other laxatives.

1. Digestive Health and Bowel RegulationYellow dock works gently as a laxative, promoting peristalsis and supporting liver function by stimulating bile production. It is also beneficial in treating constipation and digestive sluggishness.

2. Emotional Healing:Yellow dock is also believed to aid in emotional healing, particularly in connection with grief. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lungs are thought to hold on to emotional burdens, and yellow dock is seen as a tool for releasing these emotions by aiding in the purification process through the digestive system.

3. Respiratory HealthHistorically, indigenous American cultures such as the Cheyenne and Iroquois used yellow dock for coughs, throat issues, and lung hemorrhages. The herb was thought to support the lungs and digestive system in tandem.

4. Ayurvedic UsesIn Ayurveda, yellow dock is used to balance excess pitta, particularly when associated with digestive issues like overproduction of bile. Since pitta is also related to emotions such as anger, yellow dock is seen as a useful plant for addressing both physical and emotional imbalances.

Scientific Studies on Yellow Dock

1. Anti-Cancer Properties:Recent research has demonstrated that yellow dock may have potential anticancer properties. One study found that methanol extracts from yellow dock’s roots exhibited significant anticancer and antioxidant activities in laboratory tests. These findings suggest that the plant may have therapeutic potential in treating various forms of cancer (5).

2. Chrysophanic Acid and Cancer Cells:Research conducted by Lee et al. (2011) highlighted that chrysophanic acid, a compound found in yellow dock, has the potential to block the proliferation of colon cancer cells by inhibiting the EGFR/mTOR pathway, further reinforcing yellow dock’s possible role in cancer treatment (7).

Adult Dose

Decoction (Dried Root):

6-12 grams of dried root per day, divided into 1-3 doses.

Energetics:

Cooling, Drying

Actions:

Alterative, Antibacterial, Anticancer,Anti-Fungal,Antioxidant,Astringent,Cholagogue,Laxative, Blood tonic

Safety:

While yellow dock is generally safe, caution is needed due to its potential for digestive upset when used in large amounts, especially the fresh root. To avoid adverse effects, it should be used in moderation and for short durations, generally not exceeding 2-3 weeks.

References

Masé, G. (2013). The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter, and Tonic Plants. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Edge Effects (2021). "Yellow Dock: The Herb of Healing and Transition." Retrieved from https://edgeeffects.net/yellow-dock/
Moerman, D. (2009). Native American Medicinal Plants. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
Frawley, D., & Lad, V. (1986). The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press.
Shiwani, S., Singh, N.K., & Wang, M.H. (2012). Carbohydrase inhibition and anti-cancerous and free radical scavenging properties along with DNA and protein protection ability of methanolic root extracts of Rumex crispus. Nutrition Research and Practice, 6(5), 389-395. DOI:10.4162/nrp.2012.6.5.389
Bhandari, M., & Clark, B. (2015). Extraction of anti-cancer water-soluble compounds from Rumex crispus. The FASEB Journal, 29.
Lee, M.S., Cha, E.Y., Sul, J.Y., Song, I.S., & Kim, J.Y. (2011). Chrysophanic acid blocks proliferation of colon cancer cells by inhibiting EGFR/mTOR pathway. Phytotherapy Research, 25(6), 833-837. DOI:10.1002/ptr.3323
Hoffman, D. (1995). Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press.

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