Overview

German ipecac is a plant. The leaf, root, and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine.

Despite safety concerns, people take German ipecac for digestion problems, kidney disorders, fluid retention, and snakebite. They also take it to cause vomiting and sweating.

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

Women take German ipecac to treat painful menstrual periods.

Some people apply German ipecac directly to the skin in a warm compress (poultice) for healing swelling and bruising.

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

Uses

Insufficient Evidence for

• Digestive problems.
• Kidney problems.
• Painful menstrual periods.
• Snakebite.
• Fluid retention.
• Swelling and bruising, when applied to the skin.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of German ipecac for these uses.

Precautions

German ipecac might be UNSAFE to take by mouth. It can cause vomiting, breathing problems, paralysis, heart stoppage, and other problems.

There isn’t enough information to know whether it is safe to apply German ipecac directly to the skin.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: German ipecac might be UNSAFE for anyone to take. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, concern for you baby’s health gives you extra reasons not to use it.

Interactions

We currently have no information for German Ipecac overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of German ipecac 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 German ipecac. 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.