English Watercress, Erísimo, Erysimum, Erysimum officinale, Herbe au Chanvre, Moutarde des Haies, Singer's Plant, Sisymbre, Sisymbre Officinal, Sisymbrium officinale, St. Barbara's Hedge Mustard, Thalictroc, Vélar, Vélar Officinal.
Hedge mustard is a plant. The leaves, stems, and flowers are used to make medicine.
Despite serious safety concerns, people take hedge mustard to treat urinary tract diseases, coughs, chronic bronchitis, and swelling (inflammation) of the gallbladder.
Hedge mustard is also used as a gargle or mouthwash.
Be careful not to confuse hedge mustard with other types of mustards such as black mustard, brown mustard, white mustard, Indian mustard, and Chinese mustard.
How does it work?
Hedge mustard contains vitamin C and mustard oil. There isn't enough information to know how hedge mustard might work as a medicine.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerInsufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Urinary tract diseases.
- Coughs.
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the gallbladder.
- Use as a gargle or mouthwash.
- 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).
The flowering above-ground parts of hedge mustard are considered UNSAFE to take by mouth. Hedge mustard can cause serious side effects including vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and heart rhythm disorders.
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowPregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to use hedge mustard. It can affect the heart and cause other harm. Don't use it.
Heart disease: Hedge mustard contains chemicals called cardiac glycosides that might make heart disease worse or interfere with treatment. Avoid use.
Digoxin (Lanoxin)Interaction Rating: Major Do not take this combination.
Digoxin (Lanoxin) helps the heart beat more strongly. Hedge mustard also seems to affect the heart. Taking hedge mustard along with digoxin (Lanoxin) can increase the effects and side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin). Do not take hedge mustard if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin) without talking to your health care professional.
Antibiotics (Macrolide antibiotics)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Hedge mustard can affect the heart. Some antibiotics might increase how much hedge mustard the body absorbs. Taking hedge mustard along with some antibiotics might increase the effects and side effects of hedge mustard.
Some antibiotics called macrolide antibiotics include erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin.
Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Taking tetracyclines with hedge mustard might increase the chance of side effects from hedge mustard.
Some tetracyclines include demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Minocin), and tetracycline (Achromycin).
QuinineInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Hedge mustard can affect the heart. Quinine can also affect the heart. Taking quinine along with hedge mustard might cause serious heart problems.
Stimulant laxativesInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Hedge mustard can affect the heart. The heart uses potassium. Laxatives called stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the chance of side effects from hedge mustard.
Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Hedge mustard might affect the heart. "Water pills" can decrease potassium in the body. Low potassium levels can also affect the heart and increase the risk of side effects from hedge mustard.
Some "water pills" that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
The appropriate dose of hedge mustard 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 hedge mustard. 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.
Burnham TH, ed. Drug Facts and Comparisons, Updated Monthly. Facts and Comparisons, St. Louis, MO.