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Watercress

Watercress, also known as watercress and watercress, as well as by its Latin name Nasturtium officinale, is a plant whose parts growing above the ground are used to make medicine. Watercress is used to treat swollen bronchial tubes, coughs, bronchitis and influenza. Other uses include the treatment of baldness, constipation, cancer, tuberculosis, polyps, scurvy, parasitic worm infestations and goitre. Watercress is also used to improve appetite and digestion, to increase sexual arousal, to kill germs and as a tonic. Women sometimes use watercress to induce abortion. Some people apply watercress directly to the skin for arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, earaches, eczema, scabies and warts. Watercress is also used as an ingredient in salads and as a spice.

How does watercress work?

Watercress may be able to fight bacteria. It can also act as a diuretic and increase the amount of urine the body produces.

How effective is watercress?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective watercress taken orally is for coughs, bronchitis, inflammatory swelling of the lungs, hair loss, flu and constipation, and watercress applied to the skin for arthritis, earaches, eczema, scabies and warts.

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

Safety and side effects

Watercress appears to be safe and harmless for most people in normal food quantities and for short-term use in medicinal quantities. Long-term use or use in large quantities may cause stomach upset and kidney problems.

Precautions and warnings

Children: Watercress is not safe for use as a medicine for children, especially children under the age of four.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: The use of watercress in medicinal quantities is not safe and harmless during pregnancy. It could induce menstruation and cause a miscarriage. Not enough is known about the safety and harmlessness of watercress during breastfeeding, which is why breastfeeding women should avoid watercress in medicinal quantities.

Stomach or intestinal ulcers: Watercress should not be used if you suffer from stomach or intestinal ulcers.

Kidney diseases: You should not use watercress if you suffer from kidney disease.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining watercress with the following medicines:

Chlorzoxazone

The body breaks down chlorzoxazone in order to be able to excrete it. Watercress could reduce the rate at which the body breaks down chlorzoxazone. Taking watercress in combination with chlorzoxazone could increase the effects and side effects of chlorzoxazone.

Lithium

Watercress could have a dehydrating (diuretic) effect. Ingestion of watercress may interfere with the body's excretion of lithium, which could result in increased lithium levels and serious side effects. For this reason, it is important to consult your doctor before using watercress if you are taking lithium. The lithium dosage may need to be adjusted.

Warfarin

Watercress contains large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the body to support blood clotting. Warfarin is used to slow down blood clotting. By supporting blood clotting, watercress could reduce the effectiveness of warfarin. For this reason, the blood should be checked regularly. The warfarin dosage may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of watercress depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for watercress. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

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