Kousso
OTHER NAME(S): Agenia Abyssinica, Cossoo, Kooso, Kosso, Hagenia abyssinica, Banksia abyssinica, Brayera anthelmintica, Hagenia
Overview
Kousso is a plant. The leaves, fruit, and flowers are used to make medicine.
Despite safety concerns, people take kousso for diabetes, cancer, and to get rid of tapeworms, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Kousso contains chemicals that might lower blood sugar. It also contains chemicals that kill tapeworms and can be poisonous.
Kousso contains chemicals that might lower blood sugar. It also contains chemicals that kill tapeworms and can be poisonous.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Cancer.
- Diabetes.
- Tapeworm.
- Nausea.
- Wounds.
- Nausea.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of kousso for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Kousso is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause irritation of the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, nausea, fainting, and vision disorders.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Kousso is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause irritation of the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, nausea, fainting, and vision disorders.
While taking kousso isn't safe for anyone, some people should be especially careful to avoid it.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to take kousso if you are pregnant. In addition to serious side effects for the mother, it might cause a miscarriage. It's also UNSAFE to take kousso if you are breast-feeding.
Stomach or intestinal problems: Kousso can irritate the stomach and intestines. Don't use it if you have a digestive tract condition.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with KoussoKousso might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking kousso along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of kousso 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 kousso. 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
- 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.
- Thomsen H, Reider K, Franke K, et al. Characterization of constituents and anthelmintic properties of Hagenia abyssinica. Sci Pharm 2012;80(2):433-46.
- Belachew TF, Asrade S, Geta M, Fentahun E. In Vivo Evaluation of Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 80% Methanol Crude Flower Extract of Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel in Mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:9645792.
- Fan M, Chen G, Zhang Y, et al. Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferative Properties of Hagenia abyssinica Roots and Their Potentially Active Components. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(2):143.
- Kifle ZD, Yesuf JS, Atnafie SA. Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Hyperlipidemic and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Flower Crude Extract and Solvent Fractions of Hagenia Abyssinica (Rosaceae). J Exp Pharmacol. 2020 Jun 9;12:151-167.
- Kifle ZD, Atnafie SA, Yimer Tadesse T, Belachew TF, Kidanu BB. Methanolic crude extract of Hagenia abyssinica possesses significant antidiarrheal effect: Evidence for in vivo antidiarrheal activity. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 May 16;2021:9944629.