Alternative Names: Rumex,Narrow dock,curled dock, Narrow-leafed dock, Garden patience & Sour dock
Yellow dock is a small perennial that prefers full sun and average soil , growing up to about 4 feet in height.This leafy plant found in North America and Europe has a history of valuable properties on both sides of the Atlantic. Yellow dock belongs to the Polygonaceae family.It flowers in June to August & fruit are in the shape of small triangular nuts.The lender leaves characterized by wavy-curled margins are 15-25 cm long in size . Its leaves are taken for food while both roots & leaves are used as herbal medicine.Its branched stem is 0.3-0.9 m high . The root
reaches to 20 to 30 cm long & about 1.27 cm thick fleshy, and generally not forked.Its root has yellowish-brown color, which accounts for its general name.
Yellow dock has been used since ancient periods for many of its medicinal actions.It has a long history of use as an
Alterative.The Native Americans used the vast medicinal benefits of yellow dock very highly.It has nonspecific benefits on the
Gastrointestinal tract and the
Liver. Due to this , they are thought to cure
Skin conditions attributed to toxic metabolites from poor
Liver function & poor
Digestion .American herbalists enjoyed the various uses of this general plant during the 19th Century.In present times yellow dock tea is recommend as a treatment for the
Liver and gall
Bladder. Virtually there is no scientific report available to support the benefit of yellow dock as an effective remedy for
Psoriasis or
Acne.
Properties:
Alterative. Gentle
Purgative.
Cholagogue. Mild
Laxative. Mild
Astringent Tonic.
Yellow dock has high iron amount makes it efficacious for correcting anaemia.It is strongly recommended for the blood disorders, spring eruption, scrofula ,chronic
Skin diseases & scurvy. It can be taken as a
Tonic and
Laxative in
Rheumatism, as an
Astringent in piles,bilious complaints
Bleedings of the
Lungs.As it roots has
Laxative,
Alterative & mildly
Tonic property. The ointment is helpful for itching,
Sores,
Swellings and scabby eruptions
Yellow Dock is used as a
Blood Purifier, improving the flow of bile, improves the function of the
Liver,
Kidneys,
Lymph Glands, and
Intestines .It is used externally as an anti
Septic and an
Astringent.It is valuable in
Jaundice and as a
Tonic to the
Stomach and the system generally.
Yellow dock has been used externally to treat the followings:
Skin cuts.
Swelling.
Rashes.
Boils.
Burns.
Bleeding Hemorrhoids. Dog
Bites.
Wounds.
Insect Bites.
Yellow dock is also recommended in the following pathologies:
Syphilis. Scrofula.
Cancer.
Tuberculosis.
Side Effects: Long use of yellow dock can lead to a blood disorder called metabolic
Acidosis & may cause intestinal atrophy or low potassium in the body.It may cause mild
Diarrhea in some people. Call your doctor if you feel
Nausea,seizures, abdominal
Pain,
Diarrhea,
Vomiting
,
fatigue, confusion,
Muscle Spasms, and numbness around the mouth.Yellow dock should not be used to a person with a history of
Kidney Stones ,
Liver disease,or an electrolyte abnormality,since the oxalates & tannins content in it may aggravate that condition. Drugs that decrease blood calcium, such as
Diuretics, Dilantin, Miacalcin, Mithracin. should not be used by the people taking Yellow dock in the same time.Yellow dock is not recommended for
Pregnant or nursing women.