What is Yellow Dock?

Yellow dock, sometimes called curled dock or curly dock, is a perennial herb belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Yellow dock typically grows between 15 and 47 inches, but some plants are over 60 inches. This plant can be identified by its bluish-green, curly/wavy leaves with a pointed tip and narrow base attached to a stem shorter than the leaf.

Mainstream sources often caution against yellow dock due to one of its small active components (anthraquinone glycoside). This component has a laxative and a diuretic effect – but only in large doses. However, the yellow dock has been used safely and traditionally for years. It is important that it is not used uncooked or raw.

Health Benefits of Yellow Dock

• Supports Kidney and Blood Health
• Supports Liver Health
• Antioxidant
• Antimicrobial
• Antiparasitic
• Digestive Support
• Nutritional: especially in iron

Because of Yellow Dock’s affinity for supporting urinating and bowel movement it is often used to support detoxing efforts. It also is well known for its affects on more cellular levels with its antioxidant effects against free radicals.

How to Use Yellow Dock

You can find yellow dock in dried bulk, pills, powders, extracts, or tinctures. Tinctures always contain the most concentrated amount of herbs. Teas and soups are also options, especially when following Ayurvedic medicine recipes.

Safety Concerns

Mainstream sources claim there isn’t enough reliable information to know if yellow dock root is safe when used as a supplement (that means more than the typical amount consumed in the average diet). They also claim taking yellow dock orally is possibly unsafe while pregnant or breastfeeding because of the laxative effects.

Also, the chemicals that cause the laxative effects can be transferred to a nursing infant through breast milk.

They also caution raw or uncooked yellow dock is possibly unsafe because it can cause serious side effects, including vomiting, heart problems, breathing difficulty, and even death.

Contrarily trusted herbalist Richard Whelan considers yellow dock one of the safest herbs to use when the liver and bowel need stimulation. Richard Whelan doesn’t consider yellow dock harmful while pregnant or breastfeeding. However, he does mention that small amounts of the anthraquinones may be passed into the breast milk, stimulating more bowel activity in the infant. He also notes that the American Academy of Paediatrics considers Senna compatible with breastfeeding and that Senna contains far more anthraquinones than yellow dock.

Further reading

Antioxidant, Xanthine Oxidase, α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Bioactive Compounds from Rumex crispus L. Root

This study showed the many benefits of Yellow Dock including its antioxidant properties.

3 Supportive Roots to Harvest in Fall: Dandelion, Burdock and Yellow Dock

The Herbal Academy teaches why and how to use Yellow Dock including its use in midwifery.

In Vitro Antioxidant, Antiinflammation, and Anticancer Activities and Anthraquinone Content from Rumex crispus Root Extract and Fractions

This study looked at the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Yellow Dock, and it found it to be an alternative to synthetic anti-inflammatories and antioxidants.