Yellow dock (a.k.a. Curly Dock) is a perennial plant that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a member of the Polygonaceae family, which also includes rhubarb and knotweed. Yellow dock grows to be about 2-4 feet tall and has large, oval leaves with toothed edges. The flowers are pink or white and bloom in the summer. The fruit is a small, round seed pod.
You can harvest the seeds and grind them up into a flour. I’ve added this to banana bread with excellent success! Tasty, nutty, and full of minerals.
Yellow dock root is rich in anthraquinones, which are compounds that act as laxatives. Yellow dock is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and iron.
The leaves of yellow dock can be eaten raw or cooked (don’t eat too many though!) They are sweet in the early spring but later in the year have a sour, bitter taste. The roots can be cooked or dried and then made into a decoction.
Yellow dock is a safe and effective laxative. It can be combined in a decoction with Turkey Tail mushroom to help rebalance your gut flora, or added to herbal formulas to help push the rest of the herbs along in your system. It is bitter and unpleasant to taste, but it definitely works.
Here are some of the benefits of using yellow dock:
- Laxative. Yellow dock is a natural laxative that can help to relieve constipation.
- Digestive tonic. Yellow dock is a digestive tonic that can help to improve digestion and reduce inflammation.
- Vitamin and mineral source. Yellow dock is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and iron.
Here are some things to keep in mind when using yellow dock:
- Dosage. The recommended dosage of yellow dock is 1-2 grams of root per day.
- Side effects. Yellow dock can cause side effects, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, and gas. If you experience any of these side effects, stop using yellow dock and consult with a doctor.
- Interactions. Yellow dock may interact with certain medications, including digoxin, diuretics, and iron supplements. Be sure to talk to your doctor before using yellow dock if you are taking any medications.
I personally harvest yellow dock roots to dry in the fall and I generally grind up and add them to encapsulated formulas both for their liver supporting abilities and their ability to make sure the other herbs in the formula are actively making it to the correct parts of your body. I also harvest them in early spring during garden cleanup… why waste such a valuable resource?
In order to work with yellow dock as an iron supplement, you have to follow a careful protocol that involves an unpleasant tasting decoction and some blackstrap molasses.
Yellow dock can help support your liver as well, along with its sister plants burdock and the totally gross-tasting Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius.)
I accidentally harvested and tinctured bitter dock the first year I lived here, thinking it was burdock. The tincture was terrible, but it worked just like taking Ibuprofen, without the unpleasant stomach-hurting side effects.
Have you ever tried dock before?