Yellow Dock

Yellow dock, rumex crispus, is a flowing plant in the Polygonaceae family and is native to East Africa and parts of West Asia. The leaf and stalks can be used as salads and the root and fruits are used as medicine. It has mainly been used to treat poor absorption of nutrients, liver health, aid iron deficiency and overall as a tonic herb. Before the use of antibiotics, yellow dock was used for a number of ailments due to its blood cleansing ability. Yellow Dock Root is particularly rich in glycosides, plant compounds that are known for their hepatoprotective effects (protecting the liver). These phytochemicals help to stimulate the liver, which in turn helps heal poor absorption of nutrients and increase bile production. Also high in anti-oxidants, yellow dock works to eliminate oxidative damage and stress caused by free radicals, including within the liver tissue. Yellow Dock is classed as a bitter herb – bitters stimulate the production of saliva, digestive enzymes and bile in readiness to digest and absorb the food we consume. Yellow Dock is one of the best sources of plant based (non-heme) iron - it concentrates iron from the earth and combines it with the vitamins and minerals needed to absorb this valuable mineral. This makes Yellow Dock an excellent herb for treating mild cases of anaemia caused by iron deficiency. It also has natural chemicals known as bio-flavonoids that strengthen capillaries which in turn will boost blood circulation. Yellow dock contains chemicals called anthraquinones, which work as stimulant laxatives. Yellow dock also contains other chemicals that might kill parasites, bacteria, and fungus. Yellow dock is particularly high in Vitamin C which boosts the immune system. In fact, it is so high in vitamin C, it was used to treat scurvy, a disease that plagued European sailors. A natural astringent, Yellow Dock can also be applied topically to alleviate swelling, bruising, eczema and other skin related illneses. All these properties of the yellow dock herb make it a formidable herb that should always be present in your collection.