Woodruff

Woodruff is a plant whose above-ground constituents are used to make medicine, although its medicinal use has declined considerably in many countries. Woodruff products are used to prevent and treat disorders of the lungs, stomach, liver, gall bladder and urinary tract. They are also used for heart problems, to purify the blood and for circulatory problems.

Other uses include the treatment of restlessness, agitation, hysteria and sleep problems. Woodruff products are sometimes used to relieve nerve pain and migraine pain, relieve respiratory congestion and increase urine flow to relieve water retention. Some people apply woodruff products directly to affected areas for skin conditions, wounds, vein problems, hemorrhoids and swelling. Woodruff is used as a flavoring agent in foods. In industrial production, woodruff extracts are used as fragrances in perfume.

How does woodruff work?

Woodruff contains ingredients that can help to reduce inflammatory swelling and kill germs.

How effective is woodruff?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of woodruff products for lung disorders, stomach problems, liver and gallbladder disorders, urinary tract disorders, heart problems, nervousness, hemorrhoids, insomnia, migraines and water retention, and when applied to the skin for skin problems.

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

Safety and side effects

Woodruff appears to be safe and harmless in normal food quantities and for short-term use in medicinal quantities. Long-term use may cause headaches, blackouts and liver damage. There is not enough information available to say whether woodruff products are safe to use on the skin.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of woodruff products during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Woodruff products.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between Woodruff products and medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of woodruff products 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 woodruff products. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

1. Kovac-Besovic, E. E. and Duric, K. Thin layer chromatography-application in qualitative analysis on presence of coumarins and flavonoids in plant material. Bosn.J Basic Med.Sci. 2003;3(3):19-26. view abstract.
2. Wierzchowska-Renke, K. [Study of the content of 1-ascorbic acid in the herb Asperulae odoratae L. depending on the stage of its development in the period of vegetation]. Acta Pol.Pharm 1969;26(2):181-185. view abstract.