Overview

Wahoo is a tree. The trunk, root bark, and fruit are used to make medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, people take wahoo root bark for indigestion, constipation, and water retention. They also use it as a tonic and to stimulate bile flow. Bile is produced by the liver and is important in the digestion of fats.

How does it work ?

Wahoo might stimulate the digestive tract and affect the heart. There isn't enough information to know how it might work for as a medicine.

Wahoo might stimulate the digestive tract and affect the heart. There isn't enough information to know how it might work for as a medicine.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Constipation.
  • Indigestion.
  • Water retention.
  • Stimulating bile production.
  • As a tonic.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wahoo for these uses.

Side Effects

Wahoo is UNSAFE. It is poisonous and even deadly. Symptoms of poisoning include severe upset stomach, bloody diarrhea, fever, shortness of breath, unconsciousness, spasms, and coma.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Wahoo is UNSAFE. It is poisonous and even deadly. Symptoms of poisoning include severe upset stomach, bloody diarrhea, fever, shortness of breath, unconsciousness, spasms, and coma. While wahoo is UNSAFE for anyone to use, some people are especially sensitive to the toxic effects. Be particularly careful not to use wahoo if you have one of the following conditions:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Wahoo is UNSAFE. If you take it while pregnant or breast-feeding, you will endanger yourself as well as your baby.

Diarrhea: Wahoo contains caffeine. The caffeine in wahoo, especially when taken in large amounts, can worsen diarrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Wahoo contains caffeine. The caffeine in wahoo, especially when taken in large amounts, can worsen diarrhea and might worsen symptoms of IBS.

Stomach and intestinal problems: Wahoo could make stomach and intestinal disorders worse.

Interactions ?

    Major Interaction

    Do not take this combination

  • Digoxin (Lanoxin) interacts with WAHOO

    Digoxin (Lanoxin) helps the heart beat more strongly. Wahoo also seems to affect the heart. Taking wahoo along with digoxin (Lanoxin) can increase the effects and the side effects from digoxin (Lanoxin). Do not take wahoo if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin) without talking to your healthcare professional.

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Antibiotics (Macrolide antibiotics) interacts with WAHOO

    Wahoo can affect the heart. Some antibiotics might increase how much wahoo the body absorbs. Increasing how much wahoo the body absorbs might increase the effects and side effects of wahoo.

    Some antibiotics called macrolide antibiotics include erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin.

  • Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics) interacts with WAHOO

    Taking tetracycline antibiotics along with wahoo might increase the chance of side effects from wahoo.

    Some tetracycline antibiotics include demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Minocin), and tetracycline (Achromycin).

  • Quinine interacts with WAHOO

    Wahoo can affect the heart. Quinine can also affect the heart. Taking quinine along with wahoo might cause serious heart problems.

  • Stimulant laxatives interacts with WAHOO

    Wahoo is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking wahoo along with other stimulant laxatives could speed up the bowels too much and cause dehydration and low minerals in the body.

    Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.

  • Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with WAHOO

    Wahoo might affect the heart. "Water pills" can decrease potassium in the body. Low potassium levels can also affect the heart and increase the risk of side effects from wahoo.

    Some "water pills" that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of wahoo 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 wahoo. 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.
Next
View References

You Might Also Like

Preventing HIV: How PrEP Works
Explore Medicare Advantage & Prescription Drug Coverage
Navigating Life With Migraine
Alternative Treatments for Migraines
View More

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.