The Medicinal Uses of Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)

Polygonaceae family

Dock family herbs are common throughout most of the world and most exert similar medicinal effects.  Yellow dock (also, yellowdock) is the gold standard.  Desert dock (Rumex hymenosepalus, Desert or Wild rhubarb) is only for external use due to the high tannin content.  Yellow dock grows just about everywhere from foothills to about 9,000 feet, in moist or formerly moist open space.[1]  It’s found in fields and meadows, near creeks and the side of the road.[2]  Super power:  Excellent source of iron. [3]

HARVEST

The plants are easily identified in late summer and fall when the tall flower spikes turn a dark red-brown; the roots should only be harvested in the fall.[4]   Do not harvest from plants growing in water, as they are not potent.[5]  Seek plants in dry spring meadows, along stream embankments, and in open areas.  The thick roots should be yellow or orange inside with a dark bark.[6]  If the root is pale, it will be less potent.[7]

Clean the roots and then chop into ¼” pieces.  Air dry or use a dehydrator. [8]

NUTRITIONAL VALUE

Yellow dock leaves are a rich source of protein, calcium, iron (as noted already), potassium, vitamin A (more than carrots), and vitamin C (more than oranges).[9]  It also enhances the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. [10]

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

• Alterative (blood purifier)[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
• Aperient[16]
• Astringent[17]
• Cholagogue[18] [19]
• Laxative, mild[20] [21] [22] [23] [24]
• Tonic[25]

PREPARATIONS

• Capsule.  100 mg, 3x per day, less for those with loose stools[26]
• Decoction.  2-4 ounces, 2x per day.[27]  Moore suggests a teaspoon boiled for 15 minutes in 1 ½ cups of water, up to 2x per day.[28]  Kane advises 4-6 ounces, 2-3x per day.[29] Lust recommends boiling 1 teaspoon of root in 1 cup of water, taking 1-2 cups per day.[30]
• Plaster.  For healing sores and reducing itching.[31]
• Powder.  1 teaspoon, 3x per day.  Added to salves for healing or reducing itching.[32]
• Tincture:  Fresh root, 1:2 ratio in 95% alcohol; dried root (1:5, in 60% alcohol), 10 drops to 2 ml, 3x per day[33].  Buhner indicates to tincture the dried root, 1:5, in 50% alcohol; Moore says the fresh and dried root are both tinctured in 50% alcohol, as does Kane.[34]  [35] (So do what works for you!) Dosage is 30-75 drops, up to 3x per day.[36] [37]  Kane advises an upper limit of 60 drops. [38]

USAGE

• Cardiovascular
• Anemia[39] [40]
• Blood disorders[41]
• Dental/oral
• Mouth sores[42]
• Infusion, leaf
• Gargle[43]
• Gastrointestinal
• Constipation[44]
• Esp. when accompanied by increased fiber in the diet[45]
• Infusion[46]
• Diarrhea[47]
• Digestive complaints, indigestion[48] [49]
• Root tea[50]
• Diverticulitis
• Infusion[51]
• Dysentery[52]
• Hemorrhoids
• Infusion[53]
• Stomach ache
• Tea[54]
• Hepatic
• General problems[55] [56]
• Gallbladder[57]
• Jaundice[58]
• Infusion, boil 1 tablespoon of the root in water and sip throughout the day, 3-4 days[59][60]
• Liver congestion
• Decoction[61]
• Poor digestion of fatty foods, esp. meat and dairy
• Decoction[62]
• Post-hepatitis flare-ups
• Infusion, boil 1 tablespoon of the root in water and sip throughout the day, 3-4 days[63] [64]
• Immune
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Infusion[65]
• Musculoskeletal
• Arthritis[66]
• Muscle strains and pain[67]
• Rheumatism[68] [69] [70]
• Respiratory
• Sore throat[71]
• Gargle with root tea[72] [73]
• Skin[74]
• Acne[75] [76] [77] [78]
• Infusion, using ½ teaspoon root, consumed 3 or more times per day, 4-7 days[79]
• Especially for oily skin of the neck and back or acne related to the menstrual cycle, and combined with echinacea, sarsaparilla, or burdock[80]
• Athlete’s foot[81]
• Boils[82] [83]
• Crushed leaves, topically[84]
• Tea, green dock, internally and topically[85]
• Bruises[86]
• Burns[87]
• Contact dermatitis[88]
• Decoction, ¼ cup of root boiled in a quart of water and added to lukewarm bathwater[89]
• Eczema[90] [91]
• Impetigo[92]
• Wash[93]
• Infections
• Poultice[94]
• Itching[95]
• Ointment[96]
• Lacerations[97]
• Pulverized roots, topically[98]
• Mosquito bites
• Decoction, ¼ cup of root boiled in a quart of water and added to lukewarm bathwater[99]
• Nettle stings
• Dock leaves rubbed on stings to relieve the burning[100]
• Rashes[101]
• Scabies[102]
• Sores[103]
• Ulcers[104] [105]
• Warts
• Infusion[106]
• Wounds[107]
• Poultice, crushed roots[108]
• Powder applied topically
• Dried roots[109]
• Other
• Food
• Young leaves can be added to salads[110]
• Cooked leaves taste like beet greens, though may need 1-2 changes of water[111]
• The fruit/seeds can be boiled into mush or ground into flour.  Leaching is recommended. [112]
• Saddle sores on horses[113]

Gentle Laxative

2 teaspoons chopped dandelion root

2 teaspoons chopped licorice root

1-2 teaspoons chopped yellow dock root

For mild or occasional constipation.  Place the roots in a small saucepan and add three cups of water.  Simmer for 30-45 minutes.  Drink a cup or two as needed.[114]

Caution.  Overuse as a laxative may become habit-forming.[115] [116]  The pollen may cause hay fever and asthma. [117]  Large amounts used fresh may damage the kidneys.  Cooking greatly negates the toxicity.[118]  Not for use in pregnant women; Kane indicates only that large doses should not be used.[119] [120] [121]  Should be avoided by lactating women.[122]  Not for use in those susceptible to kidney stones.[123] [124]  It should also be avoided by those with gout.[125] It’s not very pretty, so it probably shouldn’t be planted in the garden.

Links to related posts:

The Medicinal Uses of Echinacea

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[1] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 270.

[2] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 35.

[3] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 35.

[4] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[5] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[6] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 270.

[7] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[8] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[9] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[10] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[11] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[12] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[13] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[14] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[15] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[16] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[17] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[18] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[19] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[20] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[21] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[22] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[23] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[24] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[25] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[26] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[27] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[28] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[29] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[30] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[31] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[32] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[33] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[34] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[35] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[36] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 377.

[37] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[38] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[39] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[40] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[41] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[42] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[43] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[44] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[45] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[46] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[47] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[48] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[49] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[50] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[51] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[52] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[53] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[54] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[55] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[56] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[57] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[58] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[59] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[60] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[61] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[62] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[63] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[64] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[65] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[66] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[67] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[68] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[69] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[70] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[71] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[72] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[73] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[74] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[75] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[76] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[77] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[78] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[79] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[80] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[81] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[82] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 326-27.

[83] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[84] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[85] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[86] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[87] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[88] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[89] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[90] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[91] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[92] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[93] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[94] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[95] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[96] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[97] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[98] John Lust, The Herb Book, 2009, 400.

[99] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[100] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[101] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[102] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[103] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[104] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[105] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[106] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[107] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[108] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[109] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[110] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[111] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[112] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[113] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[114] Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs, 2012, 163.

[115] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[116] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[117] Linda Kershaw, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains, 2000, 210.

[118] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 36.

[119] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 271.

[120] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 122.

[121] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[122] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[123] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 237.

[124] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.

[125] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 273.