Yellow dock
Rumex crispus
Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Dr. Sebi's list.
Also called Curly dock, Narrow dock, Garden patience
Spanish: Romaza
Laxative; may lower potassiumYellow dock is a weedy plant whose root is used in folk medicine as a mild laxative and for itchy skin.
Did you know? In British folklore, people rubbed a crushed dock leaf on nettle stings, a folk remedy that has little proof behind it.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Skin. Used in folk medicine for itchy skin and rashes, with no good human trials.Traditional proof
- Constipation. The root contains laxative compounds called anthraquinones, but good human studies are lacking.Traditional proof
- Cleansing & detox. Long sold as a blood cleanser, and there is no good evidence for that claim.Not supported
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Western folk herbalists used yellow dock as an alterative, a term for herbs that were thought to cleanse the blood and skin, and as a laxative for sluggish bowels. These uses are traditional and not proven.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Alterative, Laxative, Astringent. Energy: cooling.
How people take it
The root is simmered as tea or taken as a tincture or capsule. No standard dose is proven, and long-term use is not advised.
Decoction, tincture, capsule and tea.
Where to get it
Grows wild in fields, pastures, and waste ground across Europe, Asia, and North America. Sold as dried root in herb shops and in some herbal blends.
Be careful
Can cause cramps, diarrhea, and dependence on laxatives with long-term use. Its laxative compounds can lower potassium, which adds to the effect of water pills and raises the risk of heart problems with digoxin. The leaves are high in oxalates, which can add to kidney stone risk.
Avoid if: pregnancy; kidney stones; bowel obstruction; children under 12.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Traditionally paired in folk alterative blends.
- Works well together
Both are old spring tonic herbs.
- Works well together
Both appear in folk spring tonic blends.
- Use cautionWater pills (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
Laxative compounds can lower potassium, which adds to the effect of water pills.
- Use cautionHeart rhythm medicine (digoxin, amiodarone)
Low potassium can raise the risk of digoxin toxicity.
The honest take
Yellow dock's laxative effect comes from anthraquinones, the same type of compound found in senna and rhubarb. Its claims for skin and blood cleansing have no good human proof. Long-term use is best avoided.