Groundsel

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

Groundsel is a plant. The whole flowering plant is used to make medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, people take groundsel for worms and colic. They take the pressed juice for irregular or painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea) and epilepsy.

The pressed juice is sometimes applied directly to gums to stop bleeding.

How does it work?

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

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Colic.
• Worms.
• Epilepsy.
• Irregular or painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea).
• Stopping dental bleeding, when applied directly to the affected area.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of groundsel 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).

Groundsel is UNSAFE for anyone to use. There's a lot of concern about using groundsel as medicine, because it contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which may block blood flow in the veins, causing liver damage. Hepatotoxic PAs might also cause cancer and birth defects. Groundsel preparations that are not certified and labeled “hepatotoxic PA-free” are considered UNSAFE.

It's also UNSAFE to apply groundsel to broken skin. The dangerous chemicals in groundsel can be absorbed quickly through broken skin and can lead to dangerous body-wide toxicity. Steer clear of skin products that aren't certified and labeled “hepatotoxic PA-free.” There isn't enough information to know if it's safe to apply groundsel to unbroken skin. It's best to avoid use.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to use groundsel preparations that might contain hepatotoxic PAs during pregnancy. These products might cause birth defects and liver damage.

It's also UNSAFE to use groundsel preparations that might contain hepatotoxic PAs if you are breast-feeding. These chemicals can pass into breast-milk and might harm the nursing infant.

It's not known whether products that are certified hepatotoxic PA-free are safe to use during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid using any groundsel preparation if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Groundsel 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 groundsel.

Liver disease: There is concern that the hepatotoxic PAs in groundsel might make liver disease worse.

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Medications that increase break down of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 [CYP3A4] inducers)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Groundsel is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals that form when the liver breaks down groundsel can be harmful. Medications that cause the liver to break down groundsel might enhance the toxic effects of chemicals contained in groundsel.

Some of these medicines include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin, rifabutin (Mycobutin), and others.

The appropriate dose of groundsel 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 groundsel. 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.