Cyclamen: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions

Other Name(s):

Ciclamen, Coquette, Cyclamen des Alpes, Cyclamen europaeum, Cyclamen d'Europe, Cyclamen purpurascens, Groundbread, Ivy-Leafed Cyclamen, Marron de Cochon, Pain de Pourceau, Rave de Terre, Sowbread, Swinebread, Violeta Persa, Violeta de los Alpes.

Overview

Cyclamen is a plant. The root and underground stem (rhizome) are used as medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, people take cyclamen for “nervous emotional states” and problems with digestion. Women take it for menstrual disorders.

How does work?

There isn't enough information to know how cyclamen might work as a medicine.

Uses

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

Menstrual disorders.
“Nervous emotional states.”
Digestion problems.
Other conditions.

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

Side Effects

Cyclamen is UNSAFE for use. Poisoning with cyclamen has been reported with doses as low as 300 mg. Symptoms of poisoning include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. High doses can cause severe poisoning, which can cause symptoms including spasms and serious breathing problems.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Precautions

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Cyclamen is UNSAFE for anyone to use, including women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. It is poisonous. Don't use it.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of cyclamen 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 cyclamen. 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.

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).

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Botanical.Com A Modern Herbal. www.botanical.com (Accessed 31 July 1999).

Jaspersen-Schib R, Theus L, Guirguis-Oeschger M, et al. [Serious plant poisonings in Switzerland 1966-1994. Case analysis from the Swiss Toxicology Information Center]. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1996;126:1085-98. View abstract.

Lust J. The herb book. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.