History Of The Yellow Dock Plant

Other Common Names: Chin Ch'Iao Mai, Curled Dock, Curly Dock, Hualtata, Hummaidh, Kivircik Labada, Niu She T'Ou, Oseille Marron, Oseille Sauvage, Surale Di Bierdji, Rumex crispus

Range: Belgium; Brazil; Chile; China; Europe; Haiti; Iraq; Turkey; USA

Habitat: Growing almost anywhere, it is found especially in grassy places, waste ground, roadsides and near sand dunes and is a serious weed of agriculture. Succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position.

Composition: Leaves (Fresh weight) - Water: 92.6 Calories: 21 Protein: 1.5 Fat: 0.3 Carbohydrate: 4.1 Fiber: 0.9 Ash: 1.5 Calcium: 74 Phosphorus: 56 Iron: 5.6 Vitamin A: 1.38 Thiamine: 0.06 Riboflavin: 0.08 Niacin: 0.4 Vitamin C: 30

Note: The figure for vitamin A is in milligrammes.

The name Dock is applied to a widespread tribe of broad-leaved wayside weeds, having roots possessing astringent qualities united in some with a cathartic principle, rendering them valuable as substitutes for Rhubarb, a plant of the same family.

Although now, in common with the Sorrels, assigned to the genus Rumex, the Docks were formerly ranked as members of the genus Lapathum, this name being derived from the Greek word, lapazein (to cleanse), an allusion to the medicinal virtues of these plants as purgatives, the word still surviving in the name of one of the species, Rumex Hydrolapathum.

Yellow dock has a long history of domestic herbal use. It is a gentle and safe laxative, less powerful than rhubarb in its action so it is particularly useful in the treatment of mild constipation. The plant has valuable cleansing properties and is useful for treating a wide range of skin problems. All parts of the plant can be used, though the root is most active medicinally.

The root is alterative, antiscorbutic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, laxative and mildly tonic. It used to be sold as a tonic and laxative. It can cause or relieve diarrhea according to the dose, harvest time and relative concentrations of tannin (astringent) and anthraquinones (laxative) that are present. It is used internally in the treatment of constiation, diarrhea, piles, bleeding of the lungs, various blood complaints and also chronic skin diseases. Externally, the root can be mashed and used as a poultice and salve, or dried and used as a dusting powder, on sores, ulcers, wounds and various other skin problems.

The root has been used with positive effect to restrain the inroads made by cancer, being used as an alterative and tonic. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use. Some caution is advised in its use since excess doses can cause gastric disturbance, nausea and dermatitis.

The seed is used in the treatment of diarrhea.

A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root, harvested in the autumn before frost has touched the plant. It is only used in the treatment of a specific type of cough.

Leaves - raw or cooked. They can also be dried for later use. The leaves can be added to salads, cooked as a potherb or added to soups. Only the very young leaves should be used, preferably before the stems have developed, and even these are likely to be bitter. If used in early spring and in the autumn they can often be fairly pleasant tasting. The leaves are very rich in vitamins and minerals, especially iron and the vitamins A and C. A nutritional analysis is available.

Known Hazards: Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavor. Perfectly allright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take special caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

  • Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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