Lousewort
OTHER NAME(S): Bracteate Lousewort, Bracted Lousewort, Bracted Pedicularis, Common Lousewort, Dwarf Lousewort, Early Lousewort, Pinyon-Juniper Lousewort, Wood Betony, Pedicularis bracteosa, Pedicularis canadensis, Pedicularis centranthera, Pedicularis gracilis, Pedicularis longiflora, Pedicularis siphonantha, and others.r r Family: Orobanchaceae/Scrophulariaceae, Pedicular, Pédiculaire
Overview
Lousewort is a group of plants. The whole plants are sometimes used to make medicine.
People use lousewort for heart failure, lice, and an itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies), but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
There isn't enough reliable information available to know how lousewort might work.
There isn't enough reliable information available to know how lousewort might work.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Cough.
- Diarrhea.
- Headache.
- Heart failure.
- Indigestion (dyspepsia).
- Itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies).
- Lice.
- Muscle soreness.
- Sore throat.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the main airways in the lung (bronchitis).
- Swelling (inflammation) of the tonsils (tonsillitis).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of lousewort for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lousewort is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lousewort is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lousewort is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lousewort is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lousewort is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Iron-deficiency anemia: Lousewort contains chemicals that bind to iron. In theory, this might reduce the amount of iron that the body absorbs from food and supplements.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Lousewort overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of lousewort 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 lousewort. 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
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- Jia ZJ, Liu ZM, Wang CZ. Phenylpropanoid and iridoid glycosides from Pedicularis spicata. Phytochemistry 1991;30(11):3745-7.
- Liu ZM, Jia ZJ. Phenylpropanoid and iridoid glycosides from Pedicularis striata. Phytochemistry 1991;30(4):1341-4.
- Wang CZ, Jia ZJ. Neolignan glycosides from Pedicularis longiflora. Planta Med 1997;63(3):241-4.
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- Jia ZJ, Liu ZM, Wang CZ. Phenylpropanoid and iridoid glycosides from Pedicularis lasiophrys. Phytochemistry 1992;31(1):263-6.
- Chen RC, Su JH, Yang SM, et al. Effect of isoverbascoside, a phenylpropanoid glycoside antioxidant, on proliferation and differentiation of human gastric cancer cell. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2002;23(11):997-1001.
- Rui-Chuan C, Jin-Hua S, Gao-Liang O, et al. Induction of differentiation in human hepatocarcinoma cells by isoverbascoside. Planta Med 2002;68(4):370-2.
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- Wang P, Kang J, Zheng R, et al. Scavenging effects of phenylpropanoid glycosides from Pedicularis on superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical by the spin trapping method(95)02255-4. Biochem Pharmacol 1996;51(5):687-91.
- Li J, Wang PF, Zheng R, et al. Protection of phenylpropanoid glycosides from Pedicularis against oxidative hemolysis in vitro. Planta Med 1993;59(4):315-7.
- Zheng RL, Wang PF, Li J, et al. Inhibition of the autoxidation of linoleic acid by phenylpropanoid glycosides from Pedicularis in micelles. Chem Phys Lipids 1993;65(2):151-4.
- Li J, Zheng RL, Liu ZM, Jia ZJ. Scavenging effects of phenylpropanoid glycosides on superoxide and its antioxidation effect. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 1992;13(5):427-30.
- Liao F, Zheng RL, Gao JJ, Jia ZJ. Retardation of skeletal muscle fatigue by the two phenylpropanoid glycosides: verbascoside and martynoside from Pedicularis plicata maxim. Phytother Res 1999;13(7):621-3.
- Schneider MJ, Stermitz FR. Uptake of host plant alkaloids by root parasitic Pedicularis species. Phytochem 1990;29(6):1811-1814.
- Yang F-S, Wang X-Q, Hong D-Y. Unexpected high divergence in nrDNA ITS and extensive parallelism in floral morphology of Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae). Plant Syst Evol 2003;240:91-105.
- Garg A. An Insight into Pedicularis cheilanthifolia Schrenk Complex (Scrophulariaceae). Taiwania 2009;54(3):266-272.