Swallow root

Swallow root is a plant whose leaves, root and root stem are used to make medicine.

Despite safety concerns, swallow root is used for digestive problems, kidney problems, water retention and snake bites. Swallow root is also used as an emetic and to stimulate sweating. Women use swallowwort to treat a painful menstrual period. Some people apply swallowwort to the skin in the form of warm compresses to treat swelling and bruising.

How does swallowwort work?

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

How effective is swallowwort?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of swallowwort for digestive problems, kidney problems, painful menstrual periods, snake bites and water retention, as well as applied to the skin for swelling and bruising. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of swallowwort in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Swallow root is not safe and harmless when taken orally. Swallow root can cause vomiting, breathing problems, paralysis, heart stumbling and other problems. There is not enough information to determine whether it is safe to apply swallowwort directly to the skin.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Swallow root may not be safe for everyone. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and should not use swallowwort out of concern for their baby's health.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of swallowwort with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of dovetail root 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 swallowwort. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.