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Purple water aster

Gravel Root, also known by its Latin name Eupatorium Purpureum, is a plant whose tuber, root and above-ground parts are used for medicinal purposes. Despite serious safety concerns, purple watermilfoil is used to treat urinary tract problems including kidney stones, infections of the bladder, urethra and prostate, and painful urination.

In addition, purple watermilfoil is also used for rheumatic pain and gout, as well as for fever due to malaria, dengue fever and typhoid fever. Other uses of purple water azalea include the reduction of stomach acid and an increase in urine flow, as well as use as an emetic, to stimulate sweating and as a stimulant and tonic.

How does purple water azalea work?

Purple waterazalea may be effective for certain conditions by reducing inflammatory swelling.

How effective is purple water azalea?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective purple watermilfoil is for kidney stones, urinary tract infections, arthritis pain, gout and fever. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of purple watermilfoil in these applications.

Safety and side effects

There are numerous concerns regarding the use of purple water azalea for medicinal purposes, as purple water azalea 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. Purple watermilfoil products that are not certified free of hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are not considered safe and harmless.

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

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: It is not safe to use purple water azalea 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 purple water azalea 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 purple watermilfoil products certified as free from hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are safe and harmless during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid purple watermilfoil products altogether to be on the safe side.

Allergies to broomrape and related plants: Purple watercress may 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 purple water azalea.

Liver disorders: There are concerns that the hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in purple watermilfoil may aggravate liver disorders.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining purple water azalea with the following medications:

Lithium

Purple watermilfoil could have a dehydrating (diuretic) effect. Taking purple watermilfoil may interfere with the body's excretion of lithium, which could result in increased lithium levels and serious side effects. For this reason, it is important to consult your doctor before using purple water azalea if you are taking lithium. The dosage of lithium may need to be adjusted.

Medications that can accelerate the breakdown of other medications by the liver

Purple water azalea is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals produced when purple water azalea is broken down by the liver can be harmful. Medications that can accelerate the breakdown of purple water azalea by the liver may increase the toxic effects of these breakdown products.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of purple watermilfoil 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 purple watermilfoil. 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. Habtemariam S. Cistifolin, an integrin-dependent cell adhesion blocker from the anti- rheumatic herbal drug, gravel root (rhizome of Eupatorium purpureum). Planta Med 1998;64:683-5.
  4. Klepser TB, Klepser ME. Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1999;56:125-38.
  5. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmacy 1995;50:83-98.