Water Plantain: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions

Other Name(s):

Alisma, Alisma Plantain d'Eau, Alismatis Plantago, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Alisma plantago-aquatica subsp. orientale, Alisma orientale, Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale, Alismatis Plantago, American Water Plantain, Asian Water Plantain, Llanten de Agua, Mad-Dog Weed, Plantain, Plantain d'Eau, Rhizoma Alismatis, Ze Xie.

Overview

Water plantain is a plant. The root and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse water plantain with other plantain species such as buckhorn plantain.

Despite safety concerns, water plantain is used for bladder and urinary tract diseases.

How does work?

There isn't enough information to know how water plantain works.

Uses

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

Bladder and urinary tract diseases.
Other conditions.

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

Side Effects

Water plantain may be UNSAFE and toxic. The fresh rootstock is thought to be poisonous.

QUESTION

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

Precautions

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Water plantain may be UNSAFE for anyone, including pregnant and breast-feeding women. Do not use it.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of water plantain 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 water plantain. 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

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.