Allspice

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

Allspice Essential Oil, Aqua Pimentae, Clove Pepper, Eugenia Piment, Eugenia pimenta, Jamaica Pepper, Piment de la Jamaïque, Pimenta dioica, Pimenta officinalis, Pimento, Pimienta de Jamaica, Poivre Anglais, Poivre Aromatique, Poivre de Jamaïque, Poivre de la Jamaïque, Quatre-Épices, Spanish Pimienta, Toute-Épice, Water of Pimento, West Pimenta Officinalis.

Overview

Allspice is a plant. The unripe berries and leaves of the plant are used to make medicine.

Allspice is used for indigestion (dyspepsia), intestinal gas, abdominal pain, heavy menstrual periods, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, colds, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. It is also used for emptying the bowels.

Some people apply allspice directly to the affected area for muscle pain and toothache, or put it on the skin to kill germs.

Some dentists use eugenol, a chemical contained in allspice, to kill germs on teeth and gums.

In foods, allspice is used as a spice.

In manufacturing, allspice is used to flavor toothpaste.

How does it work?

Allspice contains a chemical called eugenol, which might explain some of its traditional uses for toothache, muscle pain, and as a germ-killer.

QUESTION

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

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of allspice 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

Allspice is safe for most adults when used as a spice. However, there is not enough information available to know if allspice is safe in medicinal amounts.

When applied directly to the skin, allspice can cause allergic skin reactions in sensitive people.

SLIDESHOW

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Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Allspice is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts should be avoided until more is known.

Surgery: Allspice can slow blood clotting. There is some concern that it might increase the chance of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using allspice at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions


Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Allspice might slow blood clotting. Taking allspice along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Allspice contains eugenol. Eugenol is the part of allspice that might slow blood clotting. Eugenol is very fragrant and gives allspice and cloves their distinctive smell.

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.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of allspice 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 allspice. 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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References

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