Yes, you heard that right, and if you’ve never heard of the name before, then you are certainly not the only one. For centuries, people have used yellow dock as a herbal remedy. Yellow dock is a perennial plant in the buckwheat family, which grows throughout much of North America and Europe.
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It sports clusters of pale yellow flowers and has reddish-purple leaves. Its root is thought to be the edible part of the plant that can be used for medicinal purposes.
If you’ve been wondering what yellow dock is, its uses, health benefits, and its overall safety, then this article is the one for you. Here, we’ll cover everything you ought to know about the yellow dock and its use for a healthy body. So, without further ado, let’s get right to it!
So, what is this yellow dock?
Yellow dock is a tall-growing perennial herb with a deep yellow root that is used medicinally. It is known as a tall-growing perennial herb with a deep yellow root that is used medicinally. This herb has been used as a medicine for hundreds of years and is still prescribed to this very day! The leaves are also edible and can be added to salads or cooked as greens (a bonus feature for all the kitchen enthusiasts out there).
Yellow dock contains oxalic acid, which can cause kidney stones in people with known oxalate kidney stones, but it can safely be eaten by those who do not have this condition because it is absorbed into the body at very low levels when digested by healthy people.
Yellow dock has been used as a medicine for hundreds of years
Yellow Dock has been used as a medicine for hundreds of years. It is also known as Rumex Crispus, curly dock, sour dock, and narrow dock. Yellow dock roots are rich in iron and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are high in vitamin A and C.
Yellow Dock has many traditional uses, including:
- Treating diarrhoea
- Reducing inflammation due to arthritis or gout
Variations of the yellow dock
Yellow dock is also known as Rumex Crispus, curly dock, sour dock, and narrow dock.
To be exact, it is a perennial herb in the family Polygonaceae. It grows to 1-2 meters tall and has hairy leaves with a deep triangular shape. Yellow dock blooms between April and May, producing small white flowers. The plant can be found growing wild in meadows, on riverbanks, and in other damp areas.
The leaves of yellow dock are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as iron which helps to build blood cells while also helping our bodies absorb calcium more efficiently. Yellow dock has been used for centuries to treat digestive problems such as indigestion, constipation, or diarrhoea by stimulating secretions from the liver, which improves digestion and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent helping symptoms such as swelling in the gut area (flatulence).
Uses of yellow dock
Yellow dock roots are rich in iron, leaves are high in vitamin A.
Yellow dock roots are rich in iron and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are high in vitamin A, which helps prevent night blindness, among other things. The roots make a delicious tea with a delicate flavour reminiscent of parsley or celery.
Yellow dock is also known as Curly Dock, Yellow Parsley, and Pennsylvania Smartweed—a name that reflects its traditional use by settlers to cure diarrhoea during the winter months when other herbs were scarce.
Promotes healthy appetite and overall digestion
Yellow dock’s bitter taste stimulates the appetite and helps the body digest food more efficiently. It also can help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and increase bile flow, which helps the body break down dietary fats.
Yellow dock is a bitter herb, meaning it has a strong taste. Its bitter flavour helps stimulate the appetite and promotes healthy and proper digestion. Yellow dock also stimulates bile flow, which helps break down fats in the diet and increase their absorption into the body.
In addition, the leaves of yellow dock are used to make a tea that can be taken to get rid of intestinal parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, and whipworms. They also help cure diarrhoea and dysentery, reduce inflammation of the intestinal tract, and reduce pain caused by ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome.
It helps treat eczema, acne, and psoriasis
Yellow dock has long been used to treat eczema, acne, and psoriasis, as well as constipation and diarrhoea. The roots are used topically to treat skin conditions, while the leaves can be taken internally.
This herb contains saponins that bind with toxins in the body, such as heavy metals like mercury or lead. Saponins also stimulate the lymphatic system to help detoxify your body even more effectively than other herbs do.
Helps treat haemorrhoids
Yellow dock contains tannins that can help shrink swollen veins when applied topically. Studies have shown that using this herb topically may also reduce itching and burning sensations associated with haemorrhoids. However, not all studies have found this effect, so more research is still needed before determining whether yellow dock helps treat haemorrhoids effectively.
Considerations to take before consuming yellow dock
May cause the formation of kidney stones
Rumex Crispus contains oxalic acid, so people with known oxalate kidney stones may want to avoid using this plant medicinally (but can still eat the greens) since studies have shown that oxalic acid can cause the formation of kidney stones.
Oxalic acid is found in many plants and is also a byproduct of metabolism. It can cause kidney stones, so people with known oxalate kidney stones may want to avoid using this plant medicinally (but can still eat the greens) since studies have shown that oxalic acid can cause the formation of kidney stones. Oxalic acid has been known to be toxic in large doses, as well as harmful to the nervous system and stomach upset.
With that being said, we highly recommend you consult your local healthcare provider for professional advice to determine whether or not yellow dock is a safe herb to consume or not, with your health condition in mind.
May cause other unpleasant side effects
Yellow dock is considered safe when taken by mouth in food amounts and should not cause side effects except for those who are allergic to it but taking medicinal amounts of the yellow dock by mouth longer than one month is not recommended.
You may not be aware of it, but the yellow dock is used to treat a number of conditions. It’s an ingredient in many products on the market, including supplements for hair growth and high blood pressure.
However, its side effects include nausea and vomiting as well as allergic reactions such as itching or swelling in your mouth or throat.
It may not be suitable for people with anaemia
People with anaemia should consult their health care provider before taking yellow dock because it increases the absorption of iron into their blood levels.
If you have anaemia, it’s essential to know that yellow dock may increase your absorption of iron. This could help some people with anaemia, but others might experience a worsening of their symptoms. Seek advice from your health care provider about taking yellow dock if you are concerned about this effect.
If you decide to try yellow dock and experience any side effects, stop using it immediately and contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Tips for consuming yellow dock
When taking yellow dock supplements, follow the manufacturer’s directions on the package label. Don’t take more than the recommended dose or take it for longer than directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
Don’t give yellow dock supplements to children younger than 6 years old without first talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
Don’t take yellow dock supplements if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding unless your doctor says it’s OK. Yellow dock may cause miscarriage or birth defects when taken by pregnant women, so don’t take this supplement unless your doctor approves it.
Don’t give yellow dock supplements to children younger than 6 years old without first talking with your doctor or pharmacist because there isn’t enough information about how this herb affects children that young.
The bottom line
We hope you have learned a ton about yellow dock through this post, and that you feel ready to take advantage of all that it has to offer. If you’re considering trying this plant as part of your healing journey, we recommend starting with the tea method. You can then experiment with other methods if you like, such as tinctures or poultices.
Remember to do plenty of research before embarking on any healing journey, and always consult a doctor if you’re not sure if something is right for you. In addition to going over the benefits of the yellow dock in this article, we also discussed how it should not be taken in high doses and should never be used by pregnant women or children under five years old. We hope that now after reading our post, you feel confident about using the yellow dock.