Information on Yellow Dock
| Latin Name | Rumex crispus | |
| Part Used | Root | |
| Herb Forms | Tincture, capsule, bulk herb. | |
| Affects | Blood, Digestive system | |
| Cautions | Contains oxalates. Use this herb cautiously if you have a history of kidney stones. | |
| Botanical Info | A member of the Buckwheat family with long lance-shaped leaves and a tall spike of greenish flowers turning to rust-colored seeds. | |
| Description | Yellow dock is a bitter bowel tonic that can remove excess heat associated with over-indulgence in heating foods (such as sugar, stimulants, red meat, and alcoholic drinks). It is also a very mild laxative, which because of its astringent properties, can also help stop chronic diarrhea, accompanied by heat, not deficiency conditions with fatigue. Because of its mild astringent action, the overall effect is one of normalizing the bowel movements and clearing heat. The herb is often recommended as a blood-cleansing remedy used for acne or psoriasis, perhaps in conjunction with Oregon grape root. It promotes the flow of bile and is used for jaundice, hepatitis, and swollen lymph. Yellow dock is often used by pregnant women to raise the blood iron levels and prevent iron deficiency. The root is not rich in iron itself, but it probably helps the body assimilate iron, so the tincture of yellow dock should be taken with a good herbal iron supplement, such as one rich in sea vegetables like nori, or nettle herb. It is also a good idea to add at least 1 serving of green leafy vegetables daily, such as collard greens, to the diet. Yellow Dock has a taste of BITTER, ASTRINGENT and a temperature of COOL. | |
Dosages
| Type | Dosage |
| Powder | 1-2 capsules 2-3 x daily |
| Decoction | 1/2-1 cup 2-3 x daily |
| Tincture | 2-4 droppersful 2-3 x daily |
Ailments Treated by Yellow Dock
| Ailment | Treatment Support | Application |
| Acne | heat remover | tincture, tea, capsules, tablets |
| Anemia | digestive stimulant, aids iron assimilation | tincture, capsule, tea |
| Constipation | bowel toner | tincture, tea |
| Hyperactivity | heat-clearing | tincture, capsule |
| Impetigo | heat clearing | tincture, capsule, tea |
| Intestinal obstruction | bowel tonic, liver cooler | capsules, tablets, tincture |
| Intestine, knotted | bowel tonic | tincture, capsules, tablets |
| Jaundice | liver cooler | tea, capsules, tablets |
| Pimples | heat remover | tincture, tea, capsules, tablets |
| Menstruation, deficient | blood cleanser and builder | tincture, capsule, tea |
| Obesity | elimination enhancer | tincture (short-term) |
| Orchitis | clears heat | tincture, capsule |
| Poisoning | bowel cleanser, blood cleanser | tincture, tea, capsule |
| Shingles | heat clearing | tincture, capsule |
| Sinusitis | heat-clearing | tincture, tea, capsule |
| Gallbladder problems | cholagogue, liver cleanser, bowel cooler | tea, tincture, capsules, tablets |
References
| Newall, C. et al.. 1996. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press. |
| McGuffin, M. et al. 1997. Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press. |
| Felter, H.W. and J.U. Lloyd. 1983. (1898). King's Dispensatory. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications. |
| Wren, R.C. 1988. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs. Essex: C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd. |