Skip to content

Golden Ragwort

Golden Ragwort, which is also known as Packera aurea (formerly Senecio aureus), is a plant that is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, golden ragwort is used by some people to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, water retention, bleeding, congested airways and cramps. Women use Golden Ragwort to treat irregular or painful menstrual periods and symptoms of menopause. They also use Golden Ragwort to reduce pain and make childbirth easier. Some people apply Golden Ragwort to the gums to stop bleeding after the removal of a tooth.

How does Golden Ragwort work?

There is not enough information available to say how Golden Ragwort might work as a medicine.

How effective is Golden Ragwort?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective Golden Ragwort is for diabetes, high blood pressure, cramps, water retention, bleeding, congested airways and irregular or painful menstrual periods. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Golden Ragwort in these applications.

Precautions and warnings

There are numerous concerns regarding the use of Golden Ragwort as a medicine, as this plant contains chemicals called hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These chemicals can block blood flow in the veins and cause liver damage. Hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids can also cause cancer and birth defects. Preparations of Golden Ragwort that are not certified free of hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are not considered safe and harmless.

It is also not safe and harmless to apply Golden Ragwort to injured or broken skin areas, as the dangerous chemicals contained in Golden Ragwort can be absorbed by the body through damaged skin and cause dangerous body-wide poisoning. Again, avoid preparations that are not certified free of hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. There is not enough information to say whether it is safe to apply Golden Ragwort to intact, undamaged skin.

Pregnancy and lactation: The use of Golden Ragwort products that may contain hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids is not safe during pregnancy and lactation, as these products may cause birth defects and liver damage. It is also not safe to use Golden Ragwort products that may contain hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids while breastfeeding, as the potentially harmful chemicals may pass into breast milk and harm the nursing infant.

It is not known whether Golden Ragwort products that are certified free of hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are safe and harmless during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Golden Ragwort products altogether to be on the safe side. Allergies to broomweed and related plants: Golden Ragwort could cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this plant family include broomweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and many others. If you suffer from allergies, you should consult your doctor before taking Golden Ragwort. Liver disorders: There are concerns that hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids may aggravate liver disorders.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining Golden Ragwort with the following medications. Drugs that can accelerate the breakdown of other drugs by the liver: Golden Ragwort is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals produced when Golden Ragwort is broken down by the liver can be harmful. Medications that can accelerate the breakdown of Golden Ragwort by the liver may increase the toxic effects of these breakdown products.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Golden Ragwort 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 Golden Ragwort. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46.
  2. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market. July 6, 2001. available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr06.html.
  3. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmacy 1995;50:83-98.
  4. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20.
  5. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.