Butternussbaum, Douberre, Juglans cinerea, Lemon Walnut, Nogal Blanco Americano, Nogal Ceniciento, Noyer à Beurre, Noyer de Beurre, Noyer Blanc, Noyer Cendré, Oil Nut, White Walnut.
Butternut is a plant. People use the bark for medicine.
People take butternut for constipation, gallbladder disorders, hemorrhoids, and skin diseases. It is also used for cancer and infections caused by bacteria and parasites. Some people use butternut as “a tonic.”
How does it work?
Butternut bark might work as a laxative to help stool move through the intestine.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerInsufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Gallbladder disorders.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Skin diseases.
- Constipation.
- Cancer.
- Infections.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Butternut appears to be safe for most people, but it can cause diarrhea and irritation of the stomach and intestines.
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowDigoxin (Lanoxin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Butternut is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).
Medications for inflammation (Corticosteroids)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications for inflammation can decrease potassium in the body. Butternut is a type of laxative that might also decrease potassium in the body. Taking butternut along with some medications for inflammation might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some medications for inflammation include dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), and others.
Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Butternut is a laxative. Laxatives can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs. Decreasing how much medicine your body absorbs can decrease the effectiveness of your medication.
Stimulant laxativesInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Butternut is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking butternut along with other stimulant laxatives could speed up the bowels too much and cause dehydration and low minerals in the body.
Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.
Warfarin (Coumadin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Butternut can work as a laxative. In some people butternut can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take warfarin do not take excessive amounts of butternut.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Butternut is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking butternut along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
The appropriate dose of butternut depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for butternut. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.