Wild Carrot
OTHER NAME(S): Beesnest Plant, Bird's Nest Root, Carotte Commune, Dauce Carotte, Daucus, Garijara, Nan He Shi, Nid d'Oiseau, Queen Anne's Lace, Shikha-Mula, Daucus carota, Zanahoria Silvestre, Carotte Sauvage
Overview
Wild carrot is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground and an oil made from the seeds are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse wild carrot (which has a white tap root that shouldn't be eaten) with the common carrot (which has the familiar orange tap root that is commonly eaten).
Wild carrot or its seed oil is used for urinary tract problems, digestive problems, to induce menstruation, and for other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use for any condition.
Wild carrot contains chemicals that might have effects on blood vessels, muscles, and the heart, but it is not known how wild carrot might work for medicinal uses.
In foods, wild carrot oil is used to flavor alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins, puddings, meat and meat products, condiments, relishes, and soups.
In manufacturing, wild carrot seed oil is used as a fragrance in soaps, detergents, creams, lotions, and perfumes.
Wild carrot contains chemicals that might have effects on blood vessels, muscles, and the heart, but it is not known how wild carrot might work for medicinal uses.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Kidney stones and other kidney problems.
- Bladder problems.
- Gout.
- Diarrhea.
- Indigestion.
- Gas.
- Worm infestations.
- Pain in the uterus.
- Heart disease.
- Cancer.
- Water retention.
- Use as a nerve tonic.
- Use as an aphrodisiac.
- Starting menstruation (periods).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wild carrot for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Wild carrot seed oil is LIKELY SAFE for most people when used in amounts found in food. Wild carrot seed oil is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts used in medicines. Very high doses of wild carrot seed oil might cause kidney damage and nerve problems. Wild carrot can also cause skin rash and increase the risk of sunburn when in the sun.
There isn't enough reliable information to know if the above-ground parts of wild carrot are safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Wild carrot seed oil is LIKELY SAFE for most people when used in amounts found in food. Wild carrot seed oil is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts used in medicines. Very high doses of wild carrot seed oil might cause kidney damage and nerve problems. Wild carrot can also cause skin rash and increase the risk of sunburn when in the sun.
There isn't enough reliable information to know if the above-ground parts of wild carrot are safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy: Wild carrot LIKELY UNSAFE to take by mouth if you are pregnant. The seeds, oil, and parts that grow above the ground can make the uterus contract and might start menstruation. These effects could cause a miscarriage.
Breast-feeding: Wild carrot seed oil is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth if you are breast-feeding. The seed oil can act like the hormone estrogen. There isn't enough reliable information to know if wild carrot seeds or the above-ground parts are safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Allergy to celery and related plants: Wild carrot may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to birch, mugwort, spices, celery, and related plants. This has been called the "celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome."
Kidney problems: Wild carrot might make kidney problems worse, because it irritates the kidneys. Avoid use.
Surgery: Wild carrot might affect blood pressure. Some physicians worry that it might interfere with blood pressure control during and after surgery. Stop using wild carrot at least 2 weeks before a scheduled procedure.
Treatment with UV light: Wild carrot increases the risk of getting a sunburn after exposure to the sun or to UV light. Don't take wild carrot if you are being treated with UV light.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Estrogens interacts with Wild CarrotLarge amounts of wild carrot might have some of the same effects as estrogen. But wild carrot isn't as strong as estrogen pills. Taking wild carrot along with estrogen pills might decrease the effects of estrogen pills. Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.
- Lithium interacts with Wild CarrotWild carrot might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking wild carrot might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
- Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with Wild CarrotLarge amounts of wild carrot seem to increase blood pressure. By increasing blood pressure wild carrot might decrease the effectiveness of medications for high blood pressure. Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
- Medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight (Photosensitizing drugs) interacts with Wild CarrotSome medications can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Wild carrot might also increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Taking wild carrot along with medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight could increase the chances of sunburn, blistering, or rashes on areas of skin exposed to sunlight. Be sure to wear sunblock and protective clothing when spending time in the sun. Some drugs that cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), gatifloxacin (Tequin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra), tetracycline, methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen), and Trioxsalen (Trisoralen).
Dosing
The appropriate dose of wild carrot 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 wild carrot. 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
- Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Majumder PK, Dasgupta S, Mukhopadhaya RK, et al. Anti-steroidogenic activity of the petroleum ether extract and fraction 5 (fatty acids) of carrot (Daucus carota L.) seeds in mouse ovary. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;57:209-12.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
- Bauer L, Ebner C, Hirschwehr R, et al. IgE cross-reactivity between birch pollen, mugwort pollen, and celery is due to three distinct cross-reacting allergens: immunoblot investigation of the birch-mugwort-celery syndrome. Clin Exp Allergy 1996;26:1161-70.
- Bahman M, Hajimehdipoor H, Bioos S, Hashem-Dabaghian F, Afrakhteh M, Tansaz M. Effect of Aslagh Capsule, a Traditional Compound Herbal Product on Oligomenorrhea in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Three-Arm, Open-label, Randomized, Controlled Trial. Galen Med J 2019;8:e1261.
- Alves-Silva JM, Zuzarte M, Gonçalves MJ, et al. New claims for wild carrot (Daucus carota subsp. carota) essential oil. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9045196.