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Fleabane

What is fleabane?

Fleabane is a plant whose oil and leaves are used to make medicine. Throughout history, both American and European fleabane have been used as a source of oil. Despite serious safety concerns, fleabane is used for colds, pneumonia and other respiratory problems. It is also used for stomach pain, flatulence, indigestion and liver and gallbladder problems. Women use fleabane to regulate or induce menstruation or to induce abortion. Fleabane is also used to control muscle spasms and to increase urine output. Some people use fleabane as a stimulant and to counteract weakness. Fleabane is applied to the skin to kill germs, keep insects away and treat skin conditions. In addition to this, fleabane is applied to the skin for gout, poisonous bites and mud ulcers and is also used to kill fleas. Fleabane is used as a flavoring agent in food. In veterinary medicine, fleabane oil is used as an anti-flea agent for dogs and cats. In the industrial sector, fleabane oil is used as a fragrance in cleaning agents, perfume and soap.

How effective is fleabane?

There is insufficient scientific data to evaluate the effectiveness of fleabane in inducing abortion. The large amount that would be needed for an abortion could kill the expectant mother or cause irreversible kidney and liver damage. There is also insufficient scientific data to assess the effectiveness of fleabane for cramps, flatulence, pneumonia, stomach pain, weakness, water retention, skin disorders and for killing germs. Further scientific studies are needed for this.

How does fleabane work?

There is not enough information available to explain how fleabane might work.

Are there any safety concerns?

Psyllium oil is not safe and harmless. It can cause serious kidney and liver damage and can also damage the nervous system. Possible side effects include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, a burning sensation in the throat, fever, confusion, restlessness, seizures, dizziness, impaired vision and hearing, high blood pressure, abortion, lung failure and brain damage.

Repeated use of alcoholic fleabane extracts over a 2-week period has been associated with one death.

Not enough is known about the safety of using fleabane leaves to make a tea.

Precautions and warnings:

The use of fleabane is not safe and harmless, which is especially true for children and people suffering from certain medical conditions.

  • Pregnancy and lactation: Oral ingestion or application of fleabane to the skin is not safe during pregnancy and lactation. There is evidence that fleabane oil can induce abortion through contractions of the uterus. However, the dosage required for such an effect may kill the expectant mother or cause lifelong kidney and liver damage.

Psyllium tea appears to be able to induce menstruation, which could also threaten pregnancy.

  • Children: The use of fleabane by children is not safe. Two infants suffered serious liver and nervous system damage after ingesting fleabane and one child died as a result.
  • Kidney disease: Psyllium oil can irritate the kidneys and aggravate existing kidney disease.
  • Liver diseases: Psyllium oil can cause liver damage and aggravate existing liver diseases.

Are there any interactions with medication?

It is not known whether fleabane interacts with medications.

Are there any interactions with medicinal herbs or supplements?

There are no known interactions with medicinal herbs or supplements

Are there any interactions with food?

There are no known interactions with foods.

Dosages used

The appropriate dosage of fleabane depends on various factors, including age, health status and others. There is insufficient scientific data to determine an appropriate dosage range for fleabane. 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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