Have you heard of Teasel Root (Dipsacus sylvestris)?  If you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, you probably have.  Teasel Root is said to be a powerful herb against Lyme.  Teasel was used in the “old days” to card or “tease” wool fiber.  Note the tall, impressive thistle head.

But it is the root of this plant that holds the most medicinal value.  According to herbalist Matthew Wood, Teasel Root “promotes the circulation of the blood and removes pain and stiffness in areas that have been bruised.”  It is said to be excellent for chronic inflammation and is also used for trauma and inflammation of the joints and muscles.  Its current, most notable, use is as a remedy for Lyme Disease.  There are many testimonies by people who swear by this herb against Lyme.  Teasel Root is also noted in helping osteoporosis (a good herb for the bones) and reducing Candida (fungus) overgrowth.

In my opinion, Teasel Root is a pretty bad tasting tea.  That may be why, most often, it is taken in tincture form, at a very minimal dosage.  (3 drops, 3x per day)  Even that small amount can cause enough bacterial die-off to create what is known as the Herxheimer Reaction, a (usually) short-term increase in discomfort related to the detoxification your body is experiencing.  It’s important to understand this reaction and deal with it accordingly by reducing the amount of the tincture and drinking more water.  Detoxifying is not something to take lightly!

Read more about the benefits of Teasel Root here and a testimony (with helpful links) on Teasel and Lyme disease here.

I carry both Teasel Root (wildharvested in the U.S.A.) and Teasel Tincture (made here at Cottonboro Farm) in the shop.