Picrorhiza
OTHER NAME(S): Chardon de Lait Indien, Hu Huang Lian, Katki, Katuka, Katuko, Katurohini, Katvi, Kuru, Kutki, Xi Zang Hu Huang Lian, Picrorhiza Urrooa, Picroriza, Picrorhiza kurroa, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora, picorhiza, picrorhiza kurrua
Overview
Picrorhiza is a plant that grows in the Himalayan mountains. People, especially practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, use the root and rhizome (underground stem) for treatment. Picrorhiza has been harvested to near extinction.
Picrorhiza is used for liver problems, fever, allergy, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
More information is needed to know how picrorhiza might work. Picrorhiza contains chemicals that might stimulate the immune system, kill cancer cells, and relieve inflammation (swelling).
More information is needed to know how picrorhiza might work. Picrorhiza contains chemicals that might stimulate the immune system, kill cancer cells, and relieve inflammation (swelling).
Uses
Possibly Effective for
- A skin disorder that causes white patches to develop on the skin (vitiligo). Taking picrorhiza by mouth for up to one year, in combination with a drug called methoxsalen that is taken by mouth and applied to the skin, seems to help treat vitiligo in adults and children.
Possibly Ineffective for
- Asthma. Taking picrorhiza by mouth for up to 12 weeks doesn't seem to help asthma symptoms or improve lung function.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Swelling (inflammation) of the liver (hepatitis). Early research suggests that taking picrorhiza by mouth for 2 weeks might relieve symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, and feelings of general discomfort in people with acute viral hepatitis.
- A lung disease that makes it harder to breathe (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD).
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of picrorhiza for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Picrorhiza is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth for up to one year. It may cause vomiting, rash, anorexia, diarrhea, and itching in some people.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Picrorhiza is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth for up to one year. It may cause vomiting, rash, anorexia, diarrhea, and itching in some people.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if picrorhiza is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Picrorhiza might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using picrorhiza.
Diabetes: Picrorhiza might lower blood sugar levels in some people. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use picrorhiza.
Surgery: Picrorhiza might lower blood sugar in some people. In theory, picrorhiza might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using picrorhiza at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with PicrorhizaPicrorhiza might increase the activity of the immune system. Taking picrorhiza along with medications that decrease the activity of the immune system might decrease the effectiveness of these medications. Some medications that decrease the activity of the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes medications) interacts with PicrorhizaPicrorhiza might lower blood sugar in some people. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking picrorhiza 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 for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Dosing
BY MOUTH
- For a skin disorder that causes white patches to develop on the skin (vitiligo): 200 mg of picrorhiza rhizome powder twice a day, in combination with a medication called methoxsalen that is taken by mouth and applied to the affected skin.
References
- Ansari RA, Tripathi SC, Patnaik GK, Dhawan BN. Antihepatotoxic properties of picroliv: an active fraction from rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurrooa. J Ethnopharmacol 1991;34:61-8.
- Sharma ML, Rao CS, Duda PL. Immunostimulatory activity of Picrorhiza kurroa leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 1994;41:185-92.
- Bedi KL, Zutshi U, Chopra CL, Amla V. Picrorhiza kurroa, an ayurvedic herb, may potentiate photochemotherapy in vitiligo. J Ethnopharmacol 1989;27:347-52.
- Chander R, Kapoor NK, Dhawan BN. Picroliv, picroside-I and kutkoside from Picrorhiza kurrooa are scavengers of superoxide anions. Biochem Pharmacol 1992;44:180-3.
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- Dwivedi Y, Rastogi R, Garg NK, Dhawan BN. Effects of picroliv, the active principle of Picrorhiza kurroa, on biochemical changes in rat liver poisoned by Amanita phalloides. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 1992;13:197-200.
- Dorsch W, Stuppner H, Wagner H, et al. Antiasthmatic effects of Picrorhiza kurroa: androsin prevents allergen- and PAF-induced bronchial obstruction in guinea pigs. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1991;95:128-33.
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- Singh, A. K., Sharma, A., Warren, J., Madhavan, S., Steele, K., Rajeshkumar, N. V., Thangapazham, R. L., Sharma, S. C., Kulshreshtha, D. K., Gaddipati, J., and Maheshwari, R. K. Picroliv Accelerates Epithelialization and Angiogenesis in Rat Wounds. Planta Med 2-22-2007;
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