Dipsacus fullonum...fullers teasel...common teasel...roots for tincture, leaves as infusion

I've used the beautiful seed heads for fulling my handspun woven wool pieces years ago.

Now, I would like to tincture teasel roots and can't seem to find anything definitive about using 'common' teasel roots for this?

I'm happy to let it run rampent just because I like it but also I remember how well teasel tincture worked for rocky mt tick fever so would like to have a tincture made up for a recurrance.

Judith Browning wrote:I've used the beautiful seed heads for fulling my handspun woven wool pieces years ago.

Now, I would like to tincture teasel roots and can't seem to find anything definitive about using 'common' teasel roots for this?

I'm happy to let it run rampent just because I like it but also I remember how well teasel tincture worked for rocky mt tick fever so would like to have a tincture made up for a recurrance.

Check in with Homegrown Herbalist. I get my teasel tincture from them. Maybe email them and see if they can help you with that.

I've been collecting some information...this is from Mountain Rose Herbs...

Dipsacus fullonum is an herbaceous biennial native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. Often considered a noxious weed in countries where the plant has been introduced, teasel actually has a history of use in traditional European herbalism for its healthful properties. Teasel is usually identified by its prickly stems and cone-shaped flower heads, which were once used by cloth-makers in raising the nap on fabrics, especially wool. Teasel root can be prepared as an extract, decoction, or in topical applications.

Teasel is readily recognized by its prickly leaves and stem, along with its pinkish or purplish flowers that form on a large head. In centuries past, dried teasel heads were used in the process of fulling cloth, to raise the nap on fabrics. In fact, according to Brigitte Mars, "the common name teasel derives from the Old English tcesan, "to tease," in reference to the use of the tops in carding wool." Traditionally, the dried roots are used for a variety of purposes.

Native to Europe, teasel was introduced to the United States possibly as early as the 1700s. Some bird species, including the European Goldfinch, use teasel as a winter food source; hence teasel is grown in some gardens and nature preserves to attract them. However, in much of the Unites States, teasel is regarded as an invasive species. The teasel root offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is responsibly gathered by local wildcrafters. A biennial plant, teasel is fairly low to the ground in its first year but sends up tall flower spikes in its second year, along with pairs of leaves positioned along the stem which collect water and prevent insects from climbing the stalks. Teasel belongs to the Dipsacaceae family and also goes various common names including card teasel, common teasel, Fuller’s teasel, Fuller’s thistle, and wild teasel.

Not sure where I saved these bits of info from...

Teasel roots have a fibrous secondary root system attached to the Stout taproot. The roots measure over 2 feet (0.6 m) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. The roots are dug up in the summer and dried in the sun’s heat after being cut into slices. When teasel roots are properly dehydrated, they are used as a medicine to heal many health problems.

Dipsacus fullonum

Teasel roots are the dried roots of the Asian teasel species Dipsacus asper (Dipsacus asperoides) and Dipsacus japonica. These roots are called Teasel, Dipsacus sylvestris, Sichuan teasel roots, Himalayan teasel roots, Dipsacus fullonum, Wild Teasel, Fuller's Teasel, and Xu Duan.

Teasel root is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a kidney and liver tonic. It's usually used in a decoction of dried roots along with other herbs to support the body. I don't know if a tincture would behave differently than the decoction.

The properties of the root are listed as sweet, pungent, and slightly warm. The actions are: tonify liver and kidney, strengthen bones and tendons, and promote blood circulation. It's good for weakness and pain in the lower back and legs.

One NIH study showed that radix dipsaci markedly increased bone density in rats and may be a very effective treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

It's a good weed to have around.

Thank you Robin!

I'm am looking forward to harvesting the root in the spring for a tincture and will still have plenty of roots to dry for decoctions so am happy to hear more uses for it.

Hi Judith,
I have read often about it being used for lyme disease.  I made the tincture a few years ago and have taken it.  I don't remember why I made it, but it wasn't for lyme disease.  It did seem to help many things.

I find teasel extremely useful for making mason bee homes. They are the native bee that pollinates fruit and berries so well.  A big teasel plant is in segments, so it's naturally closed at one end, and often has segments about 6" long, which is perfect for mason bees.  

John S
PDX OR

Hi John!
I'm glad to know your tincture was effective.  The one we were given years ago, when we both had tick fever and suspected lyme also, also had japanese knotweed.  It was noticable that it did the job better than the round of antibiotics we were given first.

Good to know about using it for mason bee homes...I'm needing to remove some of the dead long seed stalks as they have fallen on our path.  Do you have a simple method for making them? Length and how many in the bundle?

Thanks!

I also make medicine out of Japanese Knotweed, but that's a different story.  It is the main commercial source of resveratrol.

I use a hacksaw to cut them to 6" because they are somewhat delicate.  I measure from the natural closed end. Sometimes I need to put glue on the closed end if it's not completely closed (like many people's minds today).  The preferred diameter of a mason bee tube is 5/16", so I will use a long drill bit of that size to check and bore it out.  I will often hang them at about 6' off the ground,  near some of my fruit trees and sometimes, I hang them in my fruit trees.  I usually put them in something like a tall coffee can.  I bundle them with a bungee, and tie them into the can, because eventually, squirrels will pull the tubes out individually to eat the larvae.    They are an amazingly effective way to improve fruit set. We break branches every year on something. I don't usually notice until about now.  

John S
PDX OR

Thank you John...I had to go out and cut a few to see how things work.
Good instructions!
We don't have a 5/16" long bit...will have time to find one before late winter when I assume they are placed in the trees?

A regular pencil is the same diameter, so you can use that to check. It doesn't bore out as well.  

Yes, I think late winter is a good time to put them out.  Some people take the whole thing apart, remove every single larva every year....... too much work for me.

John S
PDX OR

Joylynn (or anyone else growing teasel),

I'm posting a couple pics of young teasel plants here in case you have any seeds planted and need to ID seedlings.

These are coming up in my hoop house where it's warmer than outdoor temps though.  Have not seen any out in the teasel patch yet but it has a lot of other things going on there.

These were unintended.  I put cut tops on the beds to keep the cat out...it worked for that.  I might leave one or two plants to compare to the 'wild' ones.

Thank-you!

Do they grow very slow at first? My seem to be lagging even though they sprouted quite fast.

Around here, you don't have to grow them intentionally. They will appear at the edge of nearly every field. If you know what to look for, they are extremely easy to find.  
John S
PDX OR

Joy Oasis wrote:Do they grow very slow at first? My seem to be lagging even though they sprouted quite fast.

Hi Joy,
Mine are all different sizes depending on where they popped up.
The original wild patch seemed later than the ones I sowed in the garden and then the hoophouse ones are very large rosettes now.

I guess I haven't noticed slow growth just sporadic germination?

I'm not sure when to harvest though.
First year plants in the summer is all I've read...so am planning to start digging a few in july to see what they're doing.  
I'm also not sure how large the roots get and I know in their wild spot it will be almost impossible to dig them so I'm counting on the loose garden soil.

Thank you, Judith, for your answer. I think we dig either in the fall or next spring before stem comes up. In my zone 10 though I wouldn't wait until spring as they might start shooting the stem up earlier due to no real winter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMyHurIyIAM

Happened upon this video about teasel -- very informative, hope it helps.

I had always thought that teasel root was the part used but both Michael Moore and Stephen Buhner ( who often uses info from Moore) say use the 'herb' as an infusion.

So I've gathered some leaves an am drinking on a cup that is somewhat bitter tasting but not bad.

Has anyone else used the leaves rather than the root for possible lymes or for any other reason?

I read about using teasel as a lavender or purple dye but found very little example. Does the tincture look purplish? Or have you tried dyeing with the water?
There are plenty of teasela by the road here but they are all dead now. I am wondering if the dead plant can still be used.