Bernice Bjornson had this this to say about the species in 1946:   “Another useful dock is the one called Rumex crispus. The young plants may be used for greens.”  She then quotes an earlier reference (Spencer 1940):  “Strange as it may seem, the Yellow dock has medicinal properties enough to place the plant in the United States Pharmacopoeia in the days before the gay nineties.  The gay nineties removed it, but it was in there until then.  The root has long been used in home remedies. It can be made into tonics, laxatives, and salves.  It is mildly astringent, and is said that its root makes a good dentrifrice if it is dried and ground to a powder.”

Spencer, E. R.  1940.  Just Weeds.  Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York.