Purple Loosestrife

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

Purple loosestrife is a plant. The flowering parts are used as medicine.

People use purple loosestrife as a tea for diarrhea, intestinal problems, and bacterial infections. They also use it for swelling and as a drying agent. Women use it for menstrual problems.

Purple loosestrife is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for swollen (varicose) veins, bleeding gums, hemorrhoids, and eczema.

How does it work?

Purple loosestrife contains astringent chemicals called tannins and salicarin. They have a drying effect. Astringent chemicals might help reduce diarrhea and inflammation. Salicarin may also help fight bacteria in the intestine.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Diarrhea.
• Intestinal problems.
• Menstrual complaints.
• Swelling (inflammation).
• Infection.
• Varicose veins, when applied directly to the affected area.
• Bleeding gums, when applied directly to the affected area.
• Hemorrhoids, when applied directly to the affected area.
• Eczema, when applied directly to the affected area.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of purple loosestrife for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

It is not known if purple loosestrife is safe or what the side effects might be.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of purple loosestrife during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

The appropriate dose of purple loosestrife 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 purple loosestrife. 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.