Smartweed
OTHER NAME(S): Arsesmart, La Liao, Marshpepper Smartweed, Marshpepper Knotweed, Persicaire Âcre, Persicaire Brûlante, Persicaria Acre, Persicaria Picante, Piment Aquatique, Pimienta Acuática, Pique Langue, Renouée Poivre d'Eau, Tade, Water Pepper, Polygonum hydropiper, Persicaria hydropiper, Smart Weed, Pimienta de Agua, Renouée Poivre D'eau
Overview
Smartweed is an herb. The above-ground parts are used to make medicine.
People use smartweed for diarrhea, to stop bleeding, for the common cold, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Smartweed contains vitamin K which helps the blood to clot.
Smartweed contains vitamin K which helps the blood to clot.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods (menorrhagia).
- Common cold.
- Diarrhea.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Wounds.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of smartweed for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if smartweed is safe. It might cause side effects such as stomach irritation.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if smartweed is safe. It might cause side effects such as skin irritation and swelling (inflammation), especially when the skin is in contact with the fresh plant.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if smartweed is safe. It might cause side effects such as stomach irritation.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if smartweed is safe. It might cause side effects such as skin irritation and swelling (inflammation), especially when the skin is in contact with the fresh plant.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if smartweed is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Ulcers or other stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) disorders: Smartweed can irritate the tissues that line the stomach and intestines, making ulcers and GI problems worse. Avoid using smartweed if you have ulcers or another GI disorder.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with SmartweedSmartweed contains large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the body to help blood clot. Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. By helping the blood clot, smartweed might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of smartweed 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 smartweed. 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.
- Yang Y, Yu T, Jang HJ, et al. In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of Polygonum hydropiper methanol extract. J Ethnopharmacol 2012;139(2):616-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.003.
- Nasir A, Khan M, Rehman Z, et al. Evaluation of alpha-amylase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential and phytochemical contents of Polygonum hydropiper L. Plants (Basel). 2020 Jul 6;9(7):852.
- Ren S, Chen B, Ma Z, Hu H, Xie Y. Polygonum hydropiper extract attenuates ethanol-induced gastric damage through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. Braz J Med Biol Res 2021;54(8):e10841.
- Batool A, Saleem M, Alamgeer, et al. The potential protective effect of the Polygonum hydropiper L against the development of fructose-induced oxidative stress and metabolic disorders in male Sprague-Dawley rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2022;74(4):585-595.