Latin (botanical) name: Rumex crispus

Common names: Yellow Dock, Curled Dock, Narrow Dock, Narrow-Leafed Dock, Garden Patience, Sour Dock, Rumex

Plant Description: The main identifying characteristics of Yellow Dock are the narrowness of the leaves. They are very curly at their edges, and a deep yellow. A native British perennial herb, it grows freely on roadsides, in ditches and wastelands. Yellow Dock’s spindle-shaped taproot, which grows 8-12 inches long, has a reddish-brown somewhat thick bark and is yellowish inside. From it arises a smooth, thin stem about 1-3 feet high and branched. It has pointed, light green leaves with wavy margins, and from June to July produces pale green drooping flowers in panicled racemes. The fruit of Yellow Dock is a pointed, heart-shaped nut.

Use: Make a tea by pouring approximately 2 cups of boiling water over 2 heaped tsp of herb. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. In general, sip a cup before breakfast, and another 2 hours after dinner.

Cautions & Interactions: Keep out of reach of children.