Jalap
OTHER NAME(S): Indian Jalap, Ipoméep, Jalap des Indes, Jalap Officinal, Jalap Vrai, Jalape, Mechoacán, Ipomoea purga, Exogonium purga, Convolvulus purga, Jalapa
Overview
Jalap is a plant. People use the root of jalap to make medicine.
Despite serious safety concerns, jalap is sometimes used to empty and cleanse the bowels (as a cathartic or purgative), and to increase urine flow to relieve water retention (as a diuretic).
Don't confuse jalap (Ipomoea purga) with pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) or Mexican scammony root (Ipomoea orizabensis). These plants are also known as jalap.
Jalap is a stimulant laxative herb. That means it contains substances that increase water loss and cause contractions of bowel muscles to push out stool.
Jalap is a stimulant laxative herb. That means it contains substances that increase water loss and cause contractions of bowel muscles to push out stool.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Emptying and cleansing the bowels (cathartic, purgative).
- Increasing the body's loss of water by increasing urine production (diuretic).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of jalap for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Jalap is UNSAFE. It has powerful effects on the bowel that might cause irritation of the digestive tract, including diarrhea, vomiting, and a loss of important chemicals such as potassium.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Jalap is UNSAFE. It has powerful effects on the bowel that might cause irritation of the digestive tract, including diarrhea, vomiting, and a loss of important chemicals such as potassium.
While jalap is UNSAFE for anyone to use, people with the following conditions should be especially careful to avoid it.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to use jalap when pregnant. It might start your period, and that could cause a miscarriage. It's UNSAFE to use jalap when breast-feeding.
Digestive tract problems, such as appendicitis, ulcers, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, or other conditions: Don't use jalap if you have one of these conditions. Jalap can irritate the digestive tract and make your condition worse.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Digoxin (Lanoxin) interacts with JalapJalap is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).
- Stimulant laxatives interacts with JalapJalap is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking jalap along with other stimulant laxatives could speed up the bowels too much and cause dehydration and low minerals in the body. Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.
- Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with JalapJalap can work as a laxative. In some people jalap can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take warfarin, do not to take excessive amounts of jalap.
- Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with JalapJalap is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking jalap along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much. Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
Minor Interaction
Be watchful with this combination
- Lithium interacts with JalapJalap might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic". Taking jalap 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.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of jalap 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 jalap. 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
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Williamson EM, Evans FJ, eds. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Essex, England: CW Daniel Company Ltd., 1998.
- Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris: Lavoisier Publishing, 1995.
- Lust J. The herb book. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.
- Botanical.Com A Modern Herbal. http://www.botanical.com (Accessed 31 July 1999).