Cudweed

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

Cotton Dawes, Cotton Weed, Cotonnière des Fanges, Dysentery Weed, Everlasting, Filaginella uliginosa, Gnaphale, Gnaphale des Fanges, Gnaphale des Marais, Gnaphale des Mares, Gnaphale des Vases, Gnaphalium uliginosum, Immortelle des Vases, Mouse Ear, Wartwort.

Overview

Cudweed is an herb. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.

People use cudweed as a gargle or rinse for diseases of the mouth or throat.

Don't confuse cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum) with cat's foot (Antennaria dioica), which is also known as cudweed. Also, don't confuse cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum) with Pilosella officinarum; both are sometimes called mouse ear.

How does it work?

There isn't enough information to know how cudweed might work.

SLIDESHOW

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

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Diseases of the mouth or throat, when used as a gargle or rinse.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cudweed 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

It is not known if cudweed is safe or what the potential side effects might be.

QUESTION

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

Special Precautions & Warnings

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

Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Cudweed may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic 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 cudweed.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of cudweed 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 cudweed. 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

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References

Williamson EM, Evans FJ, eds. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Essex, England: CW Daniel Company Ltd., 1998.