Overview
Despite safety concerns, people use gravel root for conditions such as bladder infections, kidney stones, arthritis pain, fever, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
How does it work ?
Uses & Effectiveness
Insufficient Evidence for
- Arthritis-like pain.
- Fever.
- Gout.
- Urinary and kidney stones.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Other conditions.
Side Effects
When applied to the skin: It is LIKELY UNSAFE to apply gravel root to broken skin. The dangerous chemicals in gravel root can be absorbed quickly through broken skin and can lead to dangerous body-wide toxicity. Steer clear of skin products that aren't certified and labeled "hepatotoxic PA-free." There isn't enough reliable information to know if it's safe to apply "hepatotoxic PA-free" gravel root to the skin. It's best to avoid use.
Special Precautions and Warnings
When applied to the skin: It is LIKELY UNSAFE to apply gravel root to broken skin. The dangerous chemicals in gravel root can be absorbed quickly through broken skin and can lead to dangerous body-wide toxicity. Steer clear of skin products that aren't certified and labeled "hepatotoxic PA-free." There isn't enough reliable information to know if it's safe to apply "hepatotoxic PA-free" gravel root to the skin. It's best to avoid use.
Pregnancy: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use gravel root preparations that might contain hepatotoxic PAs during pregnancy. These products might cause birth defects and liver damage. It's not known whether products that are certified "hepatotoxic PA-free" are safe to use during pregnancy. Stay on the safe side and avoid using any gravel root preparation.
Breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use gravel root preparations that might contain hepatotoxic PAs if you are breast-feeding. These chemicals can pass into breast-milk and might harm the nursing infant. It's not known whether products that are certified "hepatotoxic PA-free" are safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid using any gravel root preparation.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Gravel root may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking gravel root.
Liver disease: There is concern that the hepatotoxic PAs in gravel root might make liver disease worse.
Interactions
Lithium interacts with GRAVEL ROOT
Gravel root might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking gravel root might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Medications that increase break down of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducers) interacts with GRAVEL ROOT
Gravel root is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals that form when the liver breaks down gravel root can be harmful. Medications that cause the liver to break down gravel root might enhance the toxic effects of chemicals contained in gravel root.
Some of these medicines include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin, rifabutin (Mycobutin), and others.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Dosing
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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.