Real fence bindweed

The true bindweed is a plant from which both the root, ground into powder, and the whole flowering plant are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, bindweed is used to treat fever, urinary tract problems and constipation, as well as to increase bile acid production.

How does real bindweed work?

Bog bindweed is used as a laxative to relieve constipation, as this plant contains substances that can soften the stool and increase the contractions of the digestive tract. These effects help to move the stool through the digestive tract. It is not known how fen bindweed might work as a medicine for other conditions.

How effective is real fence bindweed?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective fen bindweed is for fever, urinary tract problems and constipation, or for increasing bile acid production. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of bindweed in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Due to its strong laxative effects, bindweed may not be safe and harmless. Large amounts may cause stomach pain.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Fence bindweed may not be safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. It can act as a strong laxative and this could be harmful. Stomach pain or digestive tract problems such as bowel obstruction, appendicitis, Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome: If you suffer from any of these problems, you should not use fen bindweed. Fumitory is a strong laxative and could aggravate these conditions.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining bindweed with the following medications:

Diuretics

Bog bindweed is a laxative. Some laxatives can lower potassium levels in the body. Diuretics can also lower potassium levels, which means that combining bindweed with diuretics could lower potassium levels in the body too much.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of bindweed depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to determine appropriate dosage ranges for bindweed. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.