Yellow Dock

Rumex crispus

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Polygonaceae, or buckwheat family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Yellow dock grows in a wide variety of habitats, including disturbed soil, waste areas, roadsides, fields/meadows, shorelines, and forest edges. It is widely naturalized throughout the temperate world and has become a serious invasive species in many areas, including throughout North America, southern South America, New Zealand and parts of Australia. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Root ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Iron-building
• Alterative
• Astringent
• Mild laxative
• Cholagogue
• Depurative
• Tonic ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Anemia
• Eczema
• Urticaria
• Pruritis
• Psoriasis
• Constipation
• Cholestasis
• Jaundice ^[2]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, oxalates ^[2]
7. System Affinities:
• Integumentary, digestive, hepatic, circulatory ^[3]  
8. Energetics:
• Bitter, dry, cooling ^[3]
9. Safety:
• Fresh yellow dock may cause vomiting. ^[2]
10. Interactions:
• May potentiate the activity of stimulant laxatives. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The dried root I purchased from the Herbalist is a mix of dark and light brown, with a yellow undertone. It smells very nice! Earthy, like beets, and slightly sweet.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: 1 – 2 ml 3x/day (1:5 in 40%)
• Decoction: 1 – 2 tsp of root in 1 cup water, bring to a boil, simmer gently for 10 – 15 mins. Drink 3x/day.
• Syrup Formulation for Iron-Deficiency Anemia:
1. 1/2 ounce (14 g) Rumex crispus
2. 1/2 ounce (14 g) Taraxacum officinale
3. Decoct both herbs (1 oz, or 28 g in total) in 4 cups water, uncovered, until the liquid has been reduced to 1 cup. Strain the liquid and discard the herb material. Add ½ cup blackstrap molasses and mix until well blended. Cool to room temp. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Take 1 - 2 tbsp, up to 2x/day (depending on severity of anemia). ^[1]
3. Usage Notes:
• Decoction: This was a horribly bitter tea. It smelled sort of nice when it was reducing down, but the taste is not good. I would not be able to comply with drinking this for anemia.
• Syrup: This was pretty easy to make. I was worried the molasses and water decoction would separate in the fridge but it didn’t! The yellow dock adds its characteristically strong bitter taste to the molasses. The sweetness of the molasses barely covers it. I think this would be difficult for a client to take regularly, but might be doable mixed in a smoothie with other flavorful ingredients?

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 8 Study Questions. Bastyr University: SP-18_MW5123-A Botanicals 3: Pregnancy.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.