Yellow Dock, Poimuhierakka, Rumux crispus… A bitter, cooling, classic herb for Building Blood & Clearing Heat. Yellow Dock is nutritive, her roots attract iron & minerals from the soil and she helps your body to better absorb iron & nutrients from your food. She is an ally for those with anemia. But unlike iron pills which cause constipation, Yellow Dock is mildly laxative and treats constipation. Her laxative effect is partly due to the small amounts of anthriquinone glycosides that she contains. And unlike other herbs used for constipation (such as Senna or Cascara Sagrada), she will not cause cramping or dependency. She cools the intestines & helps clear out heat and inflammation that accumulates in the intestines. She is an effective ally for SIBO, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Yellow Dock also treats chronic constipation & bloating by toning & strengthening intestines that are tired & weak. Do not use if pregnant, unless Dr says its ok. Also, use cautiously if you have a history of oxalate kidney stones because Yellow Dock does contain small amounts of oxalic acid.
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Yellow Dock is also beneficial for Clearing Heat from the Blood that manifests as chronic hot dry skin disorders. Heat in the Blood can cause your skin to be dry, itchy, red or form boils, skin cysts, acne, shingles.
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Yellow Dock is an Alterative. Alteratives assist organs of elimination (kidneys, bowels, liver, gallbladder, lungs, skin) to eliminate more efficiently so that you can absorb nutrients better.
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Yellow Dock helps you to literally release & let go of waste, so that you are better able to receive nourishment. She works deeply at the Blood level. She clears out toxic heat, she is Cool like that. She is a common weed, over-looked, and under appreciated. She is an Amazing Ally.
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Her roots and seeds are collected in the Autumn. Yellow Dock Root tea is my favorite way to give her. 1-2 teaspoons root per cup of water. You can decoct (boil) or simply steep for 15 minutes or longer. Tincture works ok, but tea works better. 1 or 2 cups of tea per day. Feel free to sweeten your Yellow Dock Root Tea with blackstrap molasses for an added boost of iron.
Yellow Dock seeds can be made into vinegar. The seeds have a similar yet much more mild effect as the root. Fill a jar 3/4 full with brown seeds, chaff & all. Fill jar with apple cider vinegar. Cap the jar with a glass or plastic lid. If your lid is metal then put a piece of plastic wrap in between the lid and jar. (Vinegar will cause metal lids to rust.) Store in a dark cabinet. Shake periodically. Wait 6 weeks, strain into a lovely glass bottle. Enjoy on cooked veggies, salads, or take a teaspoon a few times a day as a nutritional blood-building supplement. Tastes Delicious!
