Overview

Cubebs is an herb. The dried, unripe fruit of cubebs is used to make medicine.

People use cubebs for parasitic infections, bacterial infections, diarrhea, gonorrhea, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, cubebs oil is used as a flavoring ingredient.

How does it work ?

Cubebs contains chemicals that can damage cancer cells and bacteria and help to kill them.

Cubebs contains chemicals that can damage cancer cells and bacteria and help to kill them.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Increasing urination.
  • Amoebic dysentery.
  • Bacterial infections.
  • Intestinal gas (flatulence).
  • Diarrhea.
  • Gonorrhea.
  • Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH).
  • Cancer.
  • Loosening mucus.
  • Reducing swelling.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cubebs for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Cubebs is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in the amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use in the amounts found in medicine or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Cubebs is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in the amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use in the amounts found in medicine or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cubebs is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Infection or swelling (inflammation) of the stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal tract, GI tract): Cubebs might irritate the GI tract. Don't use it if you have a stomach or intestinal problem.

Kidney disease (nephritis): Cubebs might irritate the kidneys. Don't use cubebs if you have kidney disease.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with CUBEBS

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cubebs might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking cubebs along with some medications might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking cubebs, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
    Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), diltiazem (Cardizem), estrogens, indinavir (Crixivan), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.

    Minor Interaction

    Be watchful with this combination

  • Antacids interacts with CUBEBS

    Antacids are used to neutralize stomach acid. Cubebs may increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, cubebs might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

    Some antacids include calcium carbonate (Tums, others), dihydroxyaluminum sodium carbonate (Rolaids, others), magaldrate (Riopan), magnesium sulfate (Bilagog), aluminum hydroxide (Amphojel), and others.

  • Medications that decrease stomach acid (H2-blockers) interacts with CUBEBS

    Cubebs might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, cubebs might decrease the effectiveness of some medications that decrease stomach acid, called H2-blockers.

    Some medications that decrease stomach acid include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid).

  • Medications that decrease stomach acid (Proton pump inhibitors) interacts with CUBEBS

    Cubebs might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, cubebs might decrease the effectiveness of medications that are used to decrease stomach acid called proton pump inhibitors.

    Some medications that decrease stomach acid include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

Dosing

The appropriate dose of cubebs depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for cubebs. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.