Sweet Vernal Grass
OTHER NAME(S): Chiendent Odorant, Grass, Spring Grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Hierba Vernal Dulce, Flouve Odorante
Overview
Sweet vernal grass is a plant. The whole plant is used to make medicine.
People use sweet vernal grass pollen combined with other grass pollens in a tablet placed under the tongue. This tablet is FDA-approved for the treatment of hay fever in people with grass pollen allergies.
Sweet vernal grass contains ingredients that can thin the blood.
Despite serious safety concerns, people take dried sweet vernal grass by mouth for headache, nausea, sleeplessness, and conditions of the urinary tract, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In foods, sweet vernal grass is used as a flavoring agent, including in Russian brandies.
Sweet vernal grass contains ingredients that can thin the blood.
Uses
Likely Effective for
- Hay fever. An FDA-approved prescription product (Oralair) containing sweet vernal grass, orchard grass, perennial rye grass, Timothy grass, and Kentucky blue grass pollen extracts can reduce allergy symptoms in people with grass pollen allergies.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Headache.
- Nausea.
- Sleeplessness.
- Urinary tract problems.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of sweet vernal grass for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: A specific, FDA-approved prescription product (Oralair) is LIKELY SAFE when placed under the tongue as prescribed. This product contains a mixture of sweet vernal grass pollen with other grass pollens.
However, dried sweet vernal grass is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken in large quantities. It contains a chemical that can slow blood clotting. In addition, sweet vernal grass can cause dizziness, headaches, and liver problems.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if sweet vernal grass is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: A specific, FDA-approved prescription product (Oralair) is LIKELY SAFE when placed under the tongue as prescribed. This product contains a mixture of sweet vernal grass pollen with other grass pollens.
However, dried sweet vernal grass is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken in large quantities. It contains a chemical that can slow blood clotting. In addition, sweet vernal grass can cause dizziness, headaches, and liver problems.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if sweet vernal grass is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's POSSIBLY SAFE to place a specific FDA-approved prescription medication under the tongue while pregnant. This product contains a mixture of sweet vernal grass pollen and other grass pollens. It's LIKELY UNSAFE to take dried sweet vernal grass by mouth if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It contains a chemical that might slow blood clotting.
Surgery: Dried sweet vernal grass taken by mouth might slow blood clotting. There is concern that it might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using dried sweet vernal grass at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Sweet Vernal GrassDried sweet vernal grass taken by mouth can slow blood clotting. Taking dried sweet vernal grass along with medications that also slow clotting can increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. 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 sweet vernal grass 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 sweet vernal grass. 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
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Didier A, Bons B. Safety and tolerability of 5-grass pollen tablet sublingual immunotherapy: pooled analysis and clinical review. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2015;14(5):777-88. doi: 10.1517/14740338.2015.1017468.
- Oralair Product Information. (Sweet vernal, orchard, perennial rye, timothy, and Kentucky blue grass mixed pollens allergen extract). Stallergenes S.A., France. 2014. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Allergenics/UCM391580.pdf (accessed 08/03/18).
- de Kieviet JF, Oosterlaan J, van Zwol A, Boehm G, Lafeber HN, van Elburg RM. Effects of neonatal enteral glutamine supplementation on cognitive, motor and behavioural outcomes in very preterm and/or very low birth weight children at school age. Br J Nutr. 2012 Dec 28;108(12):2215-20. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512000293.