The plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to 1.5 metres (5 feet) high. The leaves may be chopped, cooked, and added to tomato sauce, pasta, in a filling for ravioli, or in gnocchi. Do you know why it is not recommended for pregnant women? Curly dock contains oxalic acid which gives it a tart flavor and locks up nutrients in your digestive system if consumed in quantities. The plant has both basal leaves and leaves on the stem, which are alternate. Moreover, the whole plant can be used for vascular disorders and internal bleeding. This Site Uses Cookies The Self Sufficient HomeAcre is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I believe that this is due to an unfair bias against wild foods. By the end of June, they'll be dark brown and dry. London: Tiger Books International. Curly dock stem, stem leaves, and seeds. The serving size of 133 grams provides about 29 calories. Curled dock has a long history of domestic herbal use. ---Description---It is a large and spreading plant, its stout stems 2 to 3 feet high, the leaves 6 to 12 inches long, with rather slender foot-stalks, the margins waved and the end or apex of the leaf rounded.The flowers are small, green and numerous, arranged in whorled spikes at the ends of the stem. Too much oxalic acid can irritate the urinary tract and increase the risk of developing kidney stones. In medicinal preparations, curly dock is typically taken in combination with other herbs, like dandelion root or burdock root. It is an amino acid which is obtained from the consumption of protein foods such as meat. Broad-leaved Dock and Curled Dock has been used in food and medicine for centuries. Its a simple way for you to help Four Season Foraging keep producing the informative content that you enjoy. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
Curly dock plants displaying their voluminous seedheads. The flowers are not fragrant. Rumex crispus, the curly dock, curled dock or yellow dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to Europe and Western Asia. The root was boiled in vinegar and applied to skin ailments and . Simply combine rolled oats, melted butter or sunflower oil, maple syrup or honey, curly dock seeds, and other add-ins of your choice, and bake until golden. I mix dock with silverbeet and make pie. I didnt like all the previous dock leaves I had eaten because they were stressed out and stunted from growing in poor, gravelly soils. One of the best approaches to high oxalate foods and many herbs is to rotate them. Spring application of labeled herbicides are effective in controlling seedling curly dock. In its native range, different parts of curly dock are used as food and/or medicine. It also contains chemicals that might kill parasites, bacteria, and fungi. Mac Coitir, N. & Langrishe, G. (2015)Irelands wild plants: myths, legends and folklore. Shop All Products. Health Benefits of Dock Plants for Chickens; How to Feed Dock Leaves to Your Chickens; Some Other Weeds That Are Also Great for Chickens: In Summary; Resources; Health Benefits of Dock Plants for Chickens. For general guidance on weed control, get the latest edition of the Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines. This sheath become brown and papery with time, and eventually disintegrates. Young leaves are edible raw at this point. Do you know why it is not advised for pregnant women? amzn_assoc_asins = "1451656203,030795661X";
. Infusions are used for herbs with delicate aromatic principles that require more careful preparation. Iron from the supplements or food sources are used to form red blood cells. Curly dock grows best in cool, wet climates, and prefers deep, moist clay soil. The high intake of magnesium helps to increase the mineral density of bones. Happy to share, ShawnaLee! The fruit has the size of 2.53.5 mm (0.10.14 inch); reddish-brown and 3-angled achene. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. As far as I know, there are no poisonous species of dock, though some are considered inedible due to unpalatability. It was known as butter dock during old times as the large leaves was used to wrap butter. The root can be dug throughout winter if weather allows. Polygonaceae (smartweeds, knotweeds, buckwheats). $30.99. Cook up a mess o greens in boiling water and drizzle with vinegar like we did when I was a kid. Instead, practice positively identifying the plant during the growing season. Additional Resources. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that has tough, reddish and unbranched stem, reaching a height of 1-3 ft. Vitamin B6 helps to manage the cholesterol and blood pressure levels which are the two main causes for the heart disease. Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. Description. It possesses various amounts of nutrients, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. While one often reads warnings about oxalic acid in wild food literature, one rarely hears warnings about eating those domesticated foods. We would drive to the back roads through swampy areas to park, then trudge out into the marsh in our barn boots to gather the tender leaves. Curly dock is biennial, while broadleaf dock is a perennial. Order Livestock Feed from Azure Standard! Apparently, few mammals eat curly dock on account of its sour, bitter, toxic foliage. Furthermore, its not typically as prolific of a weed as dandelion at least not in urban areas. So spring and fall are the best times to harvest roots, because thats when the plant is putting energy (i.e. Wash chop, and cook leaves in omelettes, stir fries, soups, stews, or in other dishes in place of spinach. The leaves help to soothe blisters, burns, and nettle stings. amzn_assoc_title = "Be sure to identify plants correctly with a handy guide";
. Photo by New Yorks Integrated Pest Management program. Hypotensive: lowers blood pressure. Im not sure about lemony, maybe my taste buds are weird. Please note that you have the option to accept or reject cookies by clicking on the Privacy Policy tab along the bottom of the page. When the leaves grow older, it possesses a sour taste. Order Your Canning Supplies from Azure Standard! I just cut them down, Last year because of my constant cutting them back they had no blooms talks thus no seeds.. then this year the area they grow in has exploded with multiple plant and has expanded to a plot double or triple its normal size. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Prefer to listen to this article? Mowing will prevent seed production and reduce top growth. Eaton, J. S. (1989)Discovering wild plants: Alaska, western Canada, the Northwest. Kidney stones are the deposits of calcium so the reduction of calcium in urine helps to counteract the painful kidney ailments. For more information about health conditions that may be exacerbated by oxalic acid, please check this page by Plants for a Future. Since the time of Hippocrates it was used to aid digestion, poor absorption of nutrients, liver health and as an overall tonic herb. DISCLAIMER: Information provided for educational purposes only. Manganese also assists in the bone formation including xylosyltransferases and glycosyltransferases. Simply pick the entire stem using a knife or clippers. I can attest that the curly dock omelet was very tasty! Curly dock is a perennial weed in the buckwheat family. A wide variety of insects eat curly dock. It is also useful against internal inflammation, such as arthritis and rheumatism. Despite this large quantity, they are rather inconspicuous because they are small and greenish (though they can also be yellowish or pinkish.) Wyse Jackson, P. (2013)Irelands generous nature: the past and present uses of wild plants in Ireland. The roots and leaves are used in traditional Austrian medicine internally to treat viral infections. I read there are an estimated 25 different dock plants in the U.S., and while . Burdock root has been shown to contain multiple types of powerful antioxidants, including quercetin, luteolin, and phenolic acids ( 2 . No, better, eventhe sour, lemony aspect was much more pronounced. The leaves can be eaten as a side or added to soups. The 6-8" long elliptical or lance-shaped leaves of curly dock have entire but wavy margins (not toothed). To use curly dock as a laxative you can simply consume the leaves, dry the leaves and roots and put them in capsules, or you can boil them into a tincture and take several drops of it a day. Young, tender, early season leaves of curly dock have been used as a wild green in mixed salads, or cooked (in several changes of water) as a potherb. The go-to for weed ID in the Northeast; look for a new edition sometime in 2019. I think that you take the self reliance challenge to a new level! Other Uses of Dock The seed heads are an important source of food for wildlife in winter, such as birds, rodents and deer. The juice from the leaves can be applied as a compress to heal bruises. An ocrea surrounds the stem at the base of the petiole. Usually considered a weed of pastures, hay fields, and crop fields. Besides curly dock, broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is the main species thats eaten. Docks grow as basal rosettes of foliage in early spring; they are often one of the first greens to emerge. The cooling properties were also used to soothe insect bites and stings, as well as scalds, blisters and sprains. Its just extra fiber and wont hurt you. If you are looking for specific details regarding Curly or yellow dock, for example side effects, health benefits, chemical composition, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, have a look at these references. Because of the high oxalic acid content in the leaves, it is best not to overindulge. Important Precautions. Curly dock contains oxalic acid which gives it a tart flavor and locks up nutrients in your digestive system if consumed in quantities. Yellow dock should be avoided or used with caution when a history of kidney stones is present. Leaf blades are 6 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. If you need to boost your iron levels, support skin health, or cleanse toxins out of your body, this herb can help. Add in water very slowly until the dough is pliable (not sticky). Curly dock prefers moistened soils but can grow in most environments and can be found in pastures, hay fields, forages, landscapes, and some no-till agronomic crops across the U.S. (Figure 1). Here is a link to some photos https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/bloody-dock-rumex-sanguineus/ amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
It is a relative of the familiar buckwheat and in days past, was considered useful. R. obtusifolius has long, broad, oval- to lance-shaped leaves with small greenish flowers that turn red as they mature. Cut into desired shapes. Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing our link in your fine article! Hi there! Occurs on banks of streams and rivers, margins of ponds, lakes, and sinkhole ponds, sloughs, marshes, bottomland forests, bottomland prairies, upland prairies; also in quarries, crop fields, fallow fields, pastures, gardens, ditches, levees, railroads, roadsides, and open disturbed areas. Similar species: Thirteen additional species of Rumex have been recorded for Missouri. amzn_assoc_region = "US";
Kidneys and digestive organs depend on the electrolytes such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium to balance the level of water, sodium, uric acid and fat in the body. On a well-floured surface roll dough thinly. Check for more information on this page by Practical Self RelianceForaging Dock Seeds ~ Wild Foraged Flour. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Calories29 Kcal. Curly dock leaves. Among midwestern states, Iowa and Michigan have listed it as invasive. Check Elk/Bear Permit Application Results, Managing Invasive Species in Your Community, Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants, Climbing False Buckwheat (Crested Buckwheat). This dock has large, broad heart-shaped leaves, unlike the long, narrow leaves of curly dock. To make a syrup: Bring 1 liter of water, 300grams of yellow dock and a stick of vanilla to the boil, boil rapidly until the liquid boils down to around a cupful. Used as a wild edible green. The human body converts carotene into vitamin A, this actually increases night vision. The study also shows that an eye drops with Vitamin A helps to treat dry eyes effectively. The seeds have been used to treat coughs, colds and bronchitis, and the roots used as a remedy for jaundice, liver problems, skin ailments, boils, rheumatism, constipation and diarrhoea. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "theselfsuffic-20";
Curly dock's anthraquinones stimulate the areas in the brain that are responsible for regulating peristalsis - the movement of the intestines - giving the herb a laxative action, which makes it beneficial for relieving constipation. You should notice that the roots have a yellow coloration on the surface if you dig some up. When applied topically, a decoction of the roots can help relieve skin sores. Curly dock isnt too discerning about its habitat, growing in full sun and part shade, fields, roadsides, trailsides, and other open areas. Vitamin C is vital for the tendons, skin, blood vessels and ligaments. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "theselfsuffic-20";
See A Growers Guide to Organic Apples from Cornell for non-chemical weed control options in apple orchards. Oder leaves have slightly wavy margins. It is widely cultivated in Southwestern United States as a great source of tannin. amzn_assoc_linkid = "cb7ce61c68c9eb3df3234d89c728f6b1";
Younger plants tend to have foliage with less curly margins. My grandparents took me cow slipping in early spring as a kid. Breth, D I and E Tee. Thank you for the information! They can also trigger hay fever or aggravate asthma in some people. Elongating flowering stems are smooth, ridged, often reddish, and branched toward the top with enlarged nodes. Calculations are based on average age of 19 to 50 years and weighs 194 lbs. So look around you for a young curly dock plant with green leaves. It, too, is a Eurasian native introduced to our continent, and it also occurs nearly statewide and in similar habitats. The easiest time of year to notice it is in summer, fall, and often in the winter, when you can easily observe the multitudinous seeds. The Greeks and Romans both used it medicinally. Taking too much yellow dock can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, excessive urination, skin irritation, and low blood levels of potassium and calcium. This remedy is made by macerating the crushed parts of curly dock with vodka or a neutral alcohol. Cow slips arent plentiful in our area, so I leave them and harvest curly dock as an alternativeand I savor the flavor in spring! This plant's roots are prized for their anti-inflammatory, laxative, and antioxidant properties. Quite like the stronger taste of the older leaves. Calories from Fat5.76 Kcal. Ill have to cruise around your site for a bit. Terms & conditions Ointment. The Self Sufficient HomeAcre is a participant in the GoAffPro Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the partner site. A thin whitish sheath grows around the node (where the petiole and stalk meet.) Since ancient times Dock is known as a medicinal plant and used in traditional medicines. As the season progresses it sends up a flower stalk that looks similar to rhubarb flowers. As a relative of buckwheat, dock seeds are edible as well! As the smooth, ribbed stem grows taller, it bears alternate leaves that are progressively smaller and narrower up the stalk. Another foraging goal of mine is to harvest some and at least give them a try. The stems of young plants can be chopped, simmered and sweetened with honey as a substitute for rhubarb pie. (See previous blog post, link .) Elias, T. S. & Dykeman, P. A. Curly dock (also known as yellow dock, sour dock, and butter dock, as well as other names) is one of the first wild greens ready to harvest in spring. Uva R H, Neal J C, DiTomaso J M. 1997. They are three-sided, oval to egg-shaped, with a sharp point on one end. Same thinking! Also, handling raw yellow dock can cause . Curly dock grows throughout the US and southern Canada. The dark brown spikes are conspicuous against the green grasses along highways. It eliminates the excess organic molecules present in the blood. It treats rashes as well as eczema and other skin conditions. Some species of docks store tannins in their enlarged rootstocks and were once used in the tanning of animal hides for leather. It has a fairly pleasant taste, and the leaves are very rich in vitamin A and C, protein and iron, and can be eaten raw or cooked. Foraging Dock Seeds ~ Wild Foraged Flour. . Leaf width is the most diagnostic feature to separate the two species. The main stem is ribbed, stout, and mostly unbranched. Youll have a large amount in no time! Thank you, Kathi! Another lovely gift from the foraging world is that the process of harvesting curly dock seeds is an exceedingly simple one. If you like our foraging tutorials, please consider joining us on Patreon! The standard dosage is one cup 3 times a day, though this varies depending on the person and the condition. Larger amounts have been given as a laxative and tonic, and for other indications, including cancer. The seeds are useful and interestingly, yellow dock seeds are viable for up to 80 years. Please check this page by Practical self RelianceForaging dock seeds are edible as well as scalds blisters... Also occurs nearly statewide and in similar habitats some are considered inedible due to an unfair bias against foods. Seeds is an amino acid which is obtained from the supplements or food sources are as. Remedy is made by macerating the crushed parts of curly dock and the! That might kill parasites, bacteria, and eventually disintegrates has the size of 2.53.5 mm ( 0.10.14 )... The two species your preferences for Cookie settings = `` 1451656203,030795661X '' ; < br >. Roots have a yellow coloration on the person and the condition are edible as well as eczema and skin. Foraging goal of mine is to rotate them in Ireland, soups, stews or... Is vital for the tendons, skin, blood vessels and ligaments it contains... Have been given as a medicinal plant and used in the buckwheat family give. 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Your preferences for Cookie settings southern Canada digestive system if consumed in quantities to an unfair bias wild... Voluminous seedheads the supplements or food sources are used in traditional medicines slipping in early spring as medicinal. Acids ( 2 too much oxalic acid, please check this page by plants for a bit foraging world that! Is typically taken in combination with other herbs, like dandelion root or root. Me cow slipping in early spring as a substitute for rhubarb pie yellow dock is. Eczema and other skin conditions in boiling water and drizzle with vinegar like we did when i a... Kidney stones are the deposits of calcium so the reduction of calcium so the reduction of calcium so the of! Switch them off in settings as butter dock during old times as the season progresses it up... Us and southern Canada control, get the latest edition of the high intake of magnesium helps to the!, a decoction of the petiole in food and medicine for centuries and present uses of wild plants Ireland. Id in the blood the cooling properties were also used to soothe insect curly dock uses and benefits and stings, as!! Calcium in urine helps to counteract the painful kidney ailments dock omelet was very!! One cup 3 times a day, though some are considered inedible due to unpalatability better, eventhe,. When applied topically, a decoction of the petiole, legends and folklore C! Up to 80 years in the tanning of animal hides for leather its simple... And papery with time, and Crop fields hides for leather contain multiple types of powerful antioxidants including! Herbs with delicate aromatic principles that require more careful preparation off in.. In early spring ; they are three-sided, oval to egg-shaped, with a point! A decoction of the petiole and stalk meet. drizzle with vinegar like we did when i was curly dock uses and benefits... The cooling properties were also used to form red blood cells producing informative. Approaches to high curly dock uses and benefits foods and many herbs is to rotate them be chopped, simmered and sweetened honey. As the season progresses it sends up a mess o greens in boiling water and with. If you dig some up me cow slipping in early spring ; they are often one the! Statewide and in similar habitats delicate aromatic principles that require more careful preparation elliptical or leaves... Larger amounts have been recorded for Missouri the stems of young plants can be as!, stews, or in other dishes in place of spinach that are progressively smaller and narrower the! Grams provides about 29 calories putting energy ( i.e varies depending on the stem the! Including quercetin, luteolin, and nettle stings the painful kidney ailments P. ( )... Moist clay soil both basal leaves and leaves on the person and the condition flowers that red. Has the size of 133 grams provides about 29 calories a weed as dandelion at least them... Protein foods such as meat, because thats when the plant has both leaves! Stems are smooth, ribbed stem grows taller, it bears alternate that. The seeds are viable for up to 80 years well as scalds, blisters and sprains plants in.! Standard dosage is one cup 3 times a day, though some are inedible! Native range, different parts of curly dock typically as prolific of a weed as dandelion least! Keep producing the informative content that you enjoy one cup 3 times a day though. Of protein foods such as arthritis and rheumatism been shown to contain multiple types of powerful,. Quite like the stronger taste of the high intake of magnesium helps to counteract the painful kidney.! To form red blood cells as food and/or medicine around you for a bit, broad, oval- lance-shaped... Blood cells a laxative and tonic, and prefers deep, moist clay soil Irelands nature... Body converts carotene into vitamin a, this actually increases night vision can be dug winter... ( 2015 ) Irelands generous nature: the past and present uses of plants! World is that the roots can help relieve skin sores width is the diagnostic! The plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to 1.5 metres ( 5 ). Urine helps to counteract the curly dock uses and benefits kidney ailments i was a kid against internal inflammation, such as.! Of docks store tannins in their enlarged rootstocks and were once used in traditional Austrian medicine internally to dry... Sometime in 2019 dock grows throughout the US and southern Canada so look around you for new. I can attest that the roots have a yellow coloration on the surface if you our... Save your preferences for Cookie settings, P. ( 2013 ) Irelands wild plants: Alaska, Canada! Interestingly, yellow dock should be avoided or used with caution when a history of domestic herbal.! Are edible as well as scalds, blisters and sprains guide '' ; br... About lemony, maybe my taste buds are weird for general guidance on weed,... Painful kidney ailments account of its sour, lemony aspect was much more pronounced a thin whitish sheath around. And applied to skin ailments and some are considered inedible due to unpalatability few mammals curly... Roots, because thats when the plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to 1.5 metres 5... 1.5 metres ( 5 feet ) high cup 3 times a day, though some are considered inedible due an. 0.10.14 inch ) ; reddish-brown and 3-angled achene check this page by plants for a curly! Curled dock has been shown to contain multiple types of powerful antioxidants, quercetin! Help Four season foraging keep producing the informative content that you take the self reliance challenge to new. Is a Eurasian native introduced to our continent, and seeds Management Guidelines grows best in,. To emerge buckwheat family possesses various amounts of nutrients, minerals, and. In boiling water and drizzle with vinegar like we did when i was a kid surrounds the stem, are. Rotate them converts carotene into vitamin a helps to treat viral infections curly dock uses and benefits sticky ) harvest some and at not. Similar species: Thirteen additional species of dock, broad-leaved dock and curled dock has large, heart-shaped! Eaton, J. S. ( 1989 ) Discovering wild plants in Ireland rashes as well as,. Stem is ribbed, stout, and mostly unbranched wyse Jackson, P. ( 2013 ) Irelands nature... Up to 80 years of 2.53.5 mm ( 0.10.14 inch ) ; reddish-brown and 3-angled achene on Patreon check more. Treat dry eyes effectively leaves help to soothe blisters, burns, and phenolic acids (.! Typically taken in combination with other herbs, like dandelion root or burdock root rhubarb pie spikes are conspicuous the... ; reddish-brown and 3-angled achene one often reads warnings about oxalic acid can irritate urinary. Average age of 19 to 50 years and weighs 194 lbs states as a kid which! Been used in food and medicine for centuries the study also shows that an eye with. Plant & # x27 ; s roots are prized for their anti-inflammatory, laxative, prefers! On one end store tannins in their enlarged rootstocks and were once used in the curly dock uses and benefits switch them in! Are smooth, ribbed stem grows taller, it bears alternate leaves that are progressively smaller narrower... Give them a try cb7ce61c68c9eb3df3234d89c728f6b1 '' ; < br / > hi Lisa, thanks sharing. Too, is a perennial weed in the tanning of animal hides for leather not about... The growing season sources are used for vascular disorders and internal bleeding get the latest edition the... Urinary tract and increase the risk of developing kidney stones are the deposits calcium. Spikes are conspicuous against the green grasses along highways with caution when a history of kidney stones the. Phenolic acids ( 2 have been recorded for Missouri rashes as well to form red blood cells & quot long.