Overview

Blackthorn is a shrub. The berry and dried flower are used as medicine.

People use blackthorn for the common cold, cough, fatigue, constipation, and other conditions , but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, blackthorn is used in herbal teas, syrups, wines, and liqueurs.

How does it work ?

There isn't enough information available to know how blackthorn might work.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of blackthorn for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Blackthorn flower is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth short-term. One to two cups per day of tea prepared with 1-2 grams of blackthorn flowers have been used with apparent safety. But blackthorn is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when the seeds or fresh flowers are used in large doses or long-term. These parts of the plant contain poisonous chemicals.

When applied to the skin: Blackthorn berries are POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin, short-term. Traditionally, preparations containing 2-4 grams of blackberry fruit have been applied to the skin with apparent safety.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Blackthorn flower is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth short-term. One to two cups per day of tea prepared with 1-2 grams of blackthorn flowers have been used with apparent safety. But blackthorn is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when the seeds or fresh flowers are used in large doses or long-term. These parts of the plant contain poisonous chemicals.

When applied to the skin: Blackthorn berries are POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin, short-term. Traditionally, preparations containing 2-4 grams of blackberry fruit have been applied to the skin with apparent safety. Pregnancy: Blackthorn seeds and fresh flowers are POSSIBLY UNSAFE for pregnant women because they contain chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals can also cause toxicity.

Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if blackthorn is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for BLACKTHORN overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of blackthorn 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 blackthorn. 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.