Chinese Prickly Ash

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Interactions
• Dosing

Chinese prickly ash is a plant. The bark and berry are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse Chinese prickly ash with ash, or northern or southern prickly ash.

People take Chinese prickly ash to treat vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, water retention, parasites, snakebite, and skin diseases. They also use it as a painkiller, stimulant, and tonic.

In foods, Chinese prickly ash is used as a spice.

How does it work?

It is not known how Chinese prickly ash might work.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Pain.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Stomach pain.
• Water retention.
• Parasites.
• Snakebite.
• Skin diseases.
• Use as a stimulant.
• Use as a tonic.
• Other 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).

There isn't enough information to know if Chinese prickly ash is safe for use as a medicine.

Surgery: Chinese prickly ash might slow blood clotting. There is some concern that it might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using Chinese prickly ash at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Chinese prickly ash might slow blood clotting. Taking Chinese prickly ash along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

The appropriate dose of Chinese prickly ash 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 Chinese prickly ash. 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.