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Buttercup

Buttercup is a genus of plants. The parts of the plants of this genus that grow above the ground are dried and ground to make medicine. Fresh preparations have a very strong irritant effect and should not be used. Despite safety concerns, buttercup is used to treat arthritis, nerve pain, chronic skin problems and bronchitis. Buttercup should not be confused with dandelion, marsh marigold, lesser celandine and twayblade. All these plants are known as buttercups.

How does buttercup work?

Buttercup contains toxins that can severely irritate the skin and mucous membranes around the mouth, stomach and intestines. There is not enough information about how buttercup might work in medicinal applications.

How effective is buttercup?

There is not enough scientific information to assess the effectiveness of buttercup in treating arthritis, blisters, bronchitis, chronic skin problems and nerve pain. More scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of buttercup in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Fresh buttercup is not safe and harmless. It can cause serious irritation of the digestive tract with colic and diarrhea. It can also cause irritation of the urinary tract and bladder. Skin contact can cause blistering and burns that heal poorly. In addition, buttercup can increase the risk of sunburn. Some of the toxins contained in buttercup may be destroyed during the drying process, but there is not enough information to say whether dried buttercup is safe and harmless.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: The use of fresh buttercup is not safe, especially for pregnant women. Fresh buttercup could cause contractions of the uterus which could lead to miscarriage. There is not enough information available to judge whether dried buttercup is safe and harmless. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should play it safe and avoid all forms of buttercup.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of buttercup with medications or supplements.

Dosage

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

References

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc, 1998.