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Capers

The true caper bush is a plant whose unopened flower bud, known ascaper, and other parts of the plant that grow above ground are used as medicine. Capers are used for diabetes, fungal infections, congested airways, worm infestation of the digestive organs and a skin disease called leishmaniasis. Capers are also used as a tonic. Some people apply capers directly to the skin for dry skin or other skin conditions, as well as to improve blood flow near the surface of the skin. Capers are eaten as a food and used as a flavoring agent.

How do capers work?

Capers contain chemicals that may help control blood sugar levels. Capers may also have antioxidant properties.

How effective are capers?

There is not enough scientific data to assess the effectiveness of capers for diabetes, fungal infections, congested airways, worm infestation of the digestive tract and a skin condition called leishmaniasis, as well as applied to the skin for skin conditions, dry skin and to improve circulation near the surface of the skin. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of capers in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Capers are safe and harmless for most people when consumed as a food. However, there is not enough information on the safety and harmlessness of ingestion in medicinal quantities. Capers can cause skin rash and irritation.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Capers are safe when consumed as food, but there is not enough information on whether larger quantities used for medicinal purposes are safe and harmless. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should therefore avoid such quantities until more is known about their safety.

Diabetes: There are concerns that capers may affect blood sugar control in diabetics. For this reason, diabetics should carefully monitor their blood sugar levels when using capers in medicinal quantities.

Surgeries: Capers could affect blood sugar levels. There are concerns that capers could affect blood sugar control during and after surgery. For this reason, the use of medicinal amounts should be stopped at least 2 weeks before planned operations.

Interactions

Care should be taken when using capers in medicinal quantities in combination with the following medications

Diabetes medication

Capers could lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar levels. Taking capers in combination with diabetes medication could result in an excessive drop in blood sugar levels. For this reason, blood sugar levels should be carefully monitored. It is possible that the dosage of diabetes medication may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

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

References

  1. Angelini G, Vena GA, Filotico R, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis from Capparis spinosa L. applied as wet compresses. Contact Dermatitis 1991;24:382-3.
  2. Eddouks M, Lemhardri A, Michel JB. Caraway and caper: potential anti-hyperglycaemic plants in diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;94:143-8.
  3. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid= 786bafc6f6343634fbf79fcdca7061e1&rgn=div5&view= text&node=21:3.0.1.1.13&idno=21
  4. Gadgoli C, Mishra SH. Antihepatotoxic activity of p-methoxy benzoic acid from Capparis spinosa. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;66:187-92.