American Spikenard

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

American spikenard is a plant. The root is used to make medicine.

People take American spikenard for colds, chronic coughs, asthma, and arthritis. It is also used to loosen chest congestion, boost tissue regrowth, and promote sweating.

Some people apply American spikenard directly to the skin as an alternative to sarsaparilla for treating skin diseases.

How does it work?

There isn't enough information to know how American spikenard works.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Colds.
• Coughs.
• Asthma.
• Arthritis.
• Promoting sweating.
• Skin diseases, when applied directly.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of American spikenard 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).

There isn't enough information to know if American spikenard is safe. If applied directly to the skin, it might be irritating.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to use American spikenard if you are pregnant. It's also best to avoid using it if you are breast-feeding, since there isn't enough information to know whether or not it is safe for a nursing infant.

The appropriate dose of American spikenard 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 American spikenard. 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.