Cat's Foot

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Antennaire, Antennaire Dioïque, Antennaria dioica, Antennariase Dioicae Flos, Cat's Ear Flower, Cudweed, Gnaphalium dioicum, Katsenpfotchenbluten, Life Everlasting, Mountain Everlasting, Patte de Chat, Pie de Gato, Pied de Chat Dioïque.

Overview

Cat's foot is a plant. Its fresh or dried flowers are used to make medicine.

People take cat's foot to treat intestinal disease and water retention.

Be careful not to confuse cat's foot with cat's claw or with ground ivy, which is sometimes called cat's foot.

How does it work?

There is some evidence from animal experiments that cat's foot might relieve intestinal spasms and increase bile flow. However, there isn't enough information to know how it might work in people.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Intestinal disease.
  • Water retention.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cat's foot for these uses.

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).

Side Effects

There isn't enough information to know if cat's foot is safe.

SLIDESHOW

Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See Slideshow

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of cat's foot during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Allergy to ragweed, daisies, and related plants: Cat's foot may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking cat's foot.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of cat's foot 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 cat's foot. 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.

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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.

References

Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp., 1999.