Roots have a long history of being used to treat diseases and promote overall health and wellbeing. And because there are many of them out there, it’s essential to know each root’s functions, which is what we try to provide. Abd in this article, we’ll go over the teasel root and its health benefits.
But first..
What Is Teasel Root
Teasel is a flowering biennial plant with prickly stems and leaves. It can grow up to a whole 2.5 meters in height.
Traditionally, it’s been used to treat warts, strengthen the stomach, and as a remedy for jaundice. Teasel got its name from an Old English word taesl, which means ‘to tease,’ and that’s because the plant was used in the textile industry to fleece/tease woolen cloth.
Interesting Fact: For many years, teasel has been known to catch insects in their leaf basins which fill with rainwater, which has lead to speculations about it being carnivorous.
Teasel Root Health Benefits
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that is spread mostly by ticks. It can take up to 30 days (from being exposed to the bacteria) to develop the initial symptoms, which include rashes, fever, chills, fatigue, body pain, headaches and swollen lymph nodes.
Teasel root is famous for its use in Lyme disease treatments. It’s mostly effective in reducing inflammation in muscles that is caused by the infection.
That is due to the iridoids’ anti-inflammatory effects, which are a class of active compounds found in the plant.
Research also shows that an extract of teasel root has shown direct activity against Lyme disease. It is said to pull the bacteria from the tissue into the bloodstream, which exposes it to medication and the immune system.
Did You Know? Lyme disease can be cured within 2 to 4 weeks, but some people may experience the disease’s effects for months or even years.
Cell Protection
Protecting our cells is vitally important in order to keep our bodies functioning to their best ability, and that’s where teasel root might show off some more benefits.
Extracts of teasel root have shown cytoprotective properties and may act as a stimulant in osseous cells, which means it can improve bone healing. That is again due to the content of iridoids that also have high antioxidant activity.
This is excellent for protection from cellular damage and oxidative stress, which are two well-known causes of many cardiovascular, inflammatory, and nervous system diseases, as well as aging.
Studies have also suggested another important chemical found in teasel root is saponin C, which has notable properties that increase intracellular calcium and apoptosis of mitochondria.
Antibacterial
Bacteria is the root cause of many illnesses and health conditions. Of course, ideally, we should all try to protect ourselves from them, but unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to avoid being affected by some of them.
So when trouble hits home, it’s great to have natural remedies like teasel root at hand!
According to research, teasel root has demonstrated antibacterial activity against all sorts of bacteria, specifically intestine bacteria E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause pneumonia and skin, heart valve, and bone infections.
Nervous System Stimulant
The nervous system plays an extremely important role in our health. It controls many mechanisms inside our body and allows us to practically communicate with the outside world.
To put it simply, it takes in information, processes it, and then triggers reactions, for example, causing you to feel pain, or moving your muscles. So when it does not function properly, neurodegenerative diseases are likely to occur, for example, Alzheimer’s disease.
The good news is we can do our best to prevent or improve these things through physical activity, sleep, and diet. But in addition to that, natural active ingredients found in plants, such as teasel root, can be very helpful.
That’s because the iridoids found in the root of teasel have shown neuroprotective effects. The root showed powerful biological activities, which can be used to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
In addition to that, it may also be effective because of its antioxidant activity. Studies suggest that foods and supplements that contain antioxidants and free radical scavengers, can be used to treat or prevent such degenrative diseases.
How to Take Teasel Root
Teasel root can come in a powder or capsule form but is most commonly sold and used as a tincture. It is usually taken either diluted in water, or as drops under the tongue.
Note: If you are using it to treat a disease or incorporating it into your daily regimen, it is best to consult your healthcare provider before doing so!
Conclusion
As we can see, teasel root can easily be considered an excellent natural source of helpful bioactive compounds. Teasel root benefits our health in many ways, and let’s be honest, who would say no to a natural remedy that can have such powerful effects?
Well, maybe your healthcare provider will, so be sure to advise with them first. Other than that, let us know in the comments below if you ended up trying it, and if you noted any improvements.
And if you’re looking for another interesting root, check out our article about gravel root.