Heather

Heather, which is also known as broom heather, is a plant whose flowers, leaves and plant tips are used to make medicine. Heather is used as a tea to treat kidney and lower urinary tract conditions, prostate enlargement, water retention, gout, arthritis, insomnia, respiratory problems, coughs and colds. Heather is also used for digestive disorders such as diarrhea, cramps, colic and stomach pain, as well as for diseases of the liver and gallbladder. Sometimes heather is also used to stimulate sweating.

In combination with other plant extracts, heather is used to treat diabetes, menstrual problems, symptoms of the menopause and nervous exhaustion. Other uses include stimulating digestion and regulating the circulatory system. Some people add heather to bath water to treat wounds.

How does heather work?

There is not enough information available to say how heather might work as a medicine.

How effective is heather?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective heather is for treating kidney and lower urinary tract conditions, prostate enlargement, water retention, diarrhea, stomach and intestinal cramps, colic, stomach pain, liver disorders, gallbladder problems, gout and arthritis, as well as added to bath water to treat wounds. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of heather in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Heather may be safe and harmless for most people, but the potential side effects of heather are not known.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Not enough is known about the use of heather during pregnancy and breastfeeding. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid heather.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between heather and medications or supplements.

Dosage

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