Wood Sorrel
OTHER NAME(S): Acederilla, Aleluya, Alléluia, Common Sorrel, Cuckoo Bread, Cuckowes Meat, Fairy Bells, Green Sauce, Hallelujah, Herbe aux Coucous, Mountain Sorrel, Oseille des Bois, Oxalide des Bois, Oxalide Petite Oseille, Oxalis, Oxalis des Bois, Oxalis Petite Oseille, Pain-de-Coucou, Petite Oseille, Shamrock, Sour Trefoil, Stickwort, Stubwort, Surelle, Three-Leaved Grass, White Sorrel, Wood Sour, Oxalis acetosella, Oxalis montana, Acedera, Oseille Des Bois
Overview
Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is a flowering plant. The whole plant is traditionally used to make medicine.
The wood sorrel plant contains oxalic acid, which can have toxic effects when taken in high amounts.
People sometimes use wood sorrel for gum disease, scurvy, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse wood sorrel with sorrel or yellow dock. These are not the same.
Uses
We currently have no information for Wood Sorrel overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Wood sorrel is possibly unsafe, especially when used in higher doses. It contains crystals made of oxalic acid which can damage the organs. Side effects might include diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, and skin reactions.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Wood sorrel is possibly unsafe, especially when used in higher doses. It contains crystals made of oxalic acid which can damage the organs. Side effects might include diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, and skin reactions.
Pregnancy: Wood sorrel is likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. It might stimulate menstrual bleeding. Avoid use.
Breast-feeding: Wood sorrel is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth while breast-feeding. Avoid use.
Children: Wood sorrel is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth in children. It contains crystals made of oxalic acid which can damage the organs.
Blood-clotting problems: The oxalic acid in wood sorrel can make the blood clot too fast.
Stomach or intestinal disorders: Wood sorrel can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines and might make ulcers worse.
Kidney disease: The oxalic acid crystals in wood sorrel can damage the kidney and make kidney disease or kidney stones worse.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Wood Sorrel overview.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of wood sorrel might be. 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 a healthcare professional before using.
References
- Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
- 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.