Burdock Root

There is currently no high-quality clinical evidence that burdock root (Arctium lappa) cures or is an established treatment for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS / idiopathic environmental intolerance). Some people and herbal traditions recommend burdock because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and “detoxifying” properties — mechanisms that might theoretically help symptoms — but that idea hasn’t been tested in clinical trials of people with MCS. BMJ Open MDPI

• Antioxidant / anti-inflammatory activity. Burdock contains polyphenols, flavonoids and other bioactive compounds that show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in lab and animal studies and in some small human trials for other conditions (for example, markers of oxidative stress and inflammation improved in a small osteoarthritis trial). These activities are the usual rationale for using burdock when symptoms are thought to be driven by oxidative stress or inflammation. SpringerLink Europe PMC
• ‘Detoxifying’ / hepatic support in herbal tradition. Traditional herbal systems have long used burdock as an “alterative” or blood/liver-support herb (promoted to support elimination and metabolic detox pathways). Modern phytochemistry shows burdock contains inulin (prebiotic fibre) and phenolic acids that could plausibly support gut and liver health, which is why herbalists include it in “detox” formulas. That is mechanistic plausibility, not proof of efficacy for MCS. DIVA Portal ScienceDirect
• Active molecules under study. Compounds from burdock (for example, arctigenin) are being researched for anti-inflammatory and other biologic effects; early human safety/bioavailability work exists for arctigenin but not clinical efficacy for MCS. ICHGCP

Important clinical reality: MCS is a complex, contested diagnosis with no universally accepted single pathophysiology or proven specific pharmacologic therapy; reviews repeatedly conclude there is insufficient evidence for most proposed biomedical “cures.” That means a plausible mechanism for burdock does not equal proven clinical benefit in MCS. BMJ Open ScienceDirect

Because there are no standardized, evidence-based MCS protocols using burdock, what follows are traditional / commonly used forms and typical community dosages (not MCS-specific clinical regimens). If you decide to try it, treat these as approximate and discuss with your clinician:

Forms:

• Tea / decoction (root): commonly made from dried root (tea bags or loose root) — community sources commonly recommend 1–3 cups daily (often 1–3 g dried root per cup; some trials used three cups/day). starwest-botanicals.com Europe PMC
• Tincture / fluid extract: traditional herbalists often report 2–4 mL per day of a standard tincture (concentrations vary by product). Herbal Legacy
• Capsules / powder / standardized extracts: many supplements provide 1–2 g powdered root daily (dosage varies widely — follow label and a clinician’s advice). Dr. Axe community.bulksupplements.com

How to prepare (examples / references):

• Make a hot infusion or decoction from dried root (steep or simmer as the recipe directs). Many suppliers recommend steeping 1–2 g in 200–250 mL of water and drinking 1–3 cups per day. Tinctures are taken by dropper as directed on the label. Tea Joy The Lost Herbs

Practical note: Because MCS sufferers can react to very small exposures, be cautious with commercial preparations that contain other herbs, additives, solvents or aromatic carriers (essential oils) — check ingredient lists and prefer single-ingredient, third-party-tested products if you’re sensitive.

There are some clinical trials of burdock or burdock-containing preparations for other conditions:

• Knee osteoarthritis trial (Int. J. Rheum. Dis., 2016): small randomized trial where 3 cups/day of burdock root tea for several weeks improved some inflammatory markers in patients with knee OA. That shows anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects in that context — but it is not evidence for MCS. Europe PMC ResearchGate
• Arctigenin safety/bioavailability study (phase I): early human work looked at safety and blood levels of arctigenin (a burdock compound). Again, not evidence of efficacy for MCS. ICHGCP

If your goal is an evidence-based treatment for MCS, the published literature and recent reviews show no validated herb or medicine with proven efficacy, and high-quality treatment trials are lacking. BMJ Open MDPI