Skip to content

Painwort

Black bryony is a plant whose root is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, black bryony is used orally as an emetic. Black bryony is applied directly to the affected areas to treat bruises, muscle strains, torn muscle fibers, gout and arthritis pain. Other uses on the skin include treating hair loss and improving circulation to the scalp.

How does common painwort work?

Common painwort can stimulate the nerve endings by penetrating the skin with tiny, needle-like crystals.

How effective is common bitterroot?

There is not enough scientific data to evaluate the effectiveness of common bitterroot when taken orally as an emetic or applied to the skin to treat bruises, muscle strains, torn muscle fibers, gout, arthritis pain and hair loss, and to improve circulation to the scalp. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of common painwort in these applications.

Safety and side effects

The use of common painwort on the skin may not be safe and harmless. It can cause serious skin irritation, rashes and swelling. Oral ingestion of common bitterroot is not safe and harmless. Serious side effects can occur including stomach and intestinal irritation, seizures, kidney failure and dangerously slowed breathing.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: It is not safe to ingest common painwort and it may not be safe to apply common painwort to the skin. Pregnant and breastfeeding women have an additional reason not to use common bitterroot.

Interactions

At present, there is no information available on interactions of common painwort with medications or supplements.

Dosage

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

References

  1. Mascolo N, Autore G, Capasso F. Local anti-inflammatory activity of Tamus communis. J Ethnopharmacol 1987;19:81-4.
  2. Schmidt RJ, Moult SP. The dermatitic properties of black bryony (Tamus communis L.). Contact Dermatitis 1983;9:390-6.
  3. Williamson EM, Evans FJ, eds. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Essex, England: CW Daniel Company Ltd, 1998.