Fireweed
OTHER NAME(S): Adelfilla, Blood Vine, Blooming Sally, Bouquet Rouge, Chanerol, Épilobe, Épilobe en Épi, Épilobe à Feuilles Étroites, Flowering Willow, French Willow, Great Willow Herb, Great Willowherb, Herbe de San Antonio, Laurier de San Antonio, Persian Willow, Purple Rocket, Rosebay Willow, Tame Withy, Wickup, Wicopy, Willow Herb, Epilobium angustifolium, Chamaenerion angustifolium, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium spicatum, French-Willow, Rose Bay Willow, Willowherb, Bloodvine, Fire Weed, Great Willow Herb, Epilobio, Épilobe À Feuilles Étroites
Overview
Fireweed is an herb. The parts of the plant that grow above ground are used to make medicine.
People use fireweed for migraine, the common cold, stomach ulcers, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Fireweed might contain substances that reduce swelling (inflammation).
Fireweed might contain substances that reduce swelling (inflammation).
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- A mental state in which a person is confused and unable to think clearly.
- A type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis).
- Bed sores (pressure ulcers).
- Burns.
- Cancer.
- Common Cold.
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).
- Insomnia.
- Leg sores caused by weak blood circulation (venous leg ulcer).
- Low levels of red blood cells in people with a long-term illness (anemia of chronic disease).
- Migraine.
- Painful urination due to swelling (inflammation) of the urethra (urethral syndrome).
- Sore throat (pharyngitis).
- Stomach ulcers.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the stomach (gastritis).
- Swimmer's ear (otitis externa).
- Tumors without cysts or liquid (solid tumors).
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of fireweed for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fireweed is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fireweed is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fireweed is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fireweed is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fireweed is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Fireweed overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of fireweed 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 fireweed. 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.
References
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Hiermann A, Bucar F. Studies of Epilobium angustifolium extracts on growth of accessory sexual organs in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;55:179-83.
- Hiermann A, Reidlinger M, Juan H, Sametz W. [Isolation of the antiphlogistic principle from Epilobium angustifolium]. Planta Med 1991;57:357-60.
- Hiermann A, Juan H, Sametz W. Influence of Epilobium extracts on prostaglandin biosynthesis and carrageenin induced edema of the rat paw. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:161-9.
- - Carroll AB, Pallardy SG, Galen C. Drought stress, plant water status, and floral trait expression in fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae). Am J Bot. 2001;88(3):438-46.
- Schepetkin IA, Ramstead AG, Kirpotina LN, Voyich JM, Jutila MA, Quinn MT. Therapeutic potential of polyphenols from Epilobium angustifolium (Fireweed). Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1287-97.
- Deng L, Zong W, Tao X, et al. Evaluation of the therapeutic effect against benign prostatic hyperplasia and the active constituents from Epilobium angustifolium L. J Ethnopharmacol 2019;232:1-10.
- Orlando G, Chiavaroli A, Ferrante C, et al. Protective effects induced by the food supplement Fluxonorm® in the lower urinary tract. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021;25(7):3074-3082.
- Esposito C, Santarcangelo C, Masselli R, et al. Epilobium angustifolium L. extract with high content in oenothein B on benign prostatic hyperplasia: A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Jun;138:111414. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111414.
- Liao C, Bao M, Hasi Q, Chen Z, Qian J, Baigude H. The study of ethanol extract of Epilobium angustifolium L. on blood sugar level in type II diabetic rats. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2022 Mar;35(2):425-433.