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Jakobskreuzkraut

Ragwort is a plant whose flowering parts are used to make medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, ragwort is used by some people to treat cancer, colic, wounds and cramps. It is also used as a laxative, to stimulate sweating, to induce menstruation and for general 'cleansing'. Some people apply ragwort directly to the skin for muscle and joint pain.

How does ragwort work?

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

How effective is ragwort?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective ragwort is for cancer, colic, cramps, constipation and menstrual problems, as well as when used on the skin for muscle and joint pain and when used to promote wound healing.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of ragwort in these applications.

Safety and side effects

There are numerous concerns regarding the use of ragwort for medicinal purposes, as ragwort 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. Products made from ragwort that are not certified to be free of hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are not considered safe and harmless.

It is also not safe or safe to apply ragwort to fragile or injured skin. The hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in ragwort can be absorbed by the body through damaged skin and lead to dangerous body-wide toxicity. One should avoid ragwort skin products that are not certified free of hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: It is not safe to use ragwort products that may contain hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids during pregnancy and lactation, as these products may cause birth defects and liver damage.

It is also not safe to use 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 ragwort products certified as free from hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are safe and harmless during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid ragwort products altogether to be on the safe side.

Allergies to ragwort and related plants: Ragwort could cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this plant family include broomsedge, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and many others. If you suffer from allergies, you should consult your doctor before taking ragwort.

Liver disorders: There are concerns that the hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in ragwort may aggravate existing liver disorders. For this reason, you should avoid ragwort to be on the safe side if you suffer from a liver disease.

Interactions

St. James' ragwort should not be combined with the following products

Drugs that can accelerate the breakdown of other drugs by the liver (cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP2C9) inducers)

White felt ragweed is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals produced during the breakdown of white felt ragwort by the liver can be harmful. Drugs that stimulate the liver to break down white felt ragwort may increase the toxic effects of these breakdown products.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of ragwort depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to determine appropriate dosage ranges for 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. view abstract.
  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. Klepser TB, Klepser ME. Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1999;56:125-38. view abstract.
  4. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmacy 1995;50:83-98.
  5. 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. view abstract.
  6. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.