Bugleweed
Scientific names: Lycopus americanus, Lycopus europaeus, Lycopus virginicus
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Alternate names: Archangle, Ashangee, Bugle Weed, Chanvre d'Eau, Green Wolf's Foot, Gypsy Weed, Gypsywort, Hoarhound, Lycope, Lycope d'Amérique, Lycope d'Europe, Lycope de Virginie, Lycopi Herba, Lycopus Europea, Menta de Lobo, Patte-de-Loup, Paul's Betony, Sweet Bugle, Virginia Water Horehound, Water Bugle, Water Hoarhound, Water Horehound, Wolfstrapp
Actions: Cardiac, Hormonal, Narcotic, Sedative, Thyroid
Background
Bugleweed (Lycopus americanus) is a plant. The parts of the plant that grow above the ground are sometimes used as medicine.
People use bugleweed for overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), insomnia, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Do not confuse bugleweed with white horehound, black horehound, or veronica. These are not the same.
People use bugleweed for overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), insomnia, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Do not confuse bugleweed with white horehound, black horehound, or veronica. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bugleweed is safe or what the side effects might be.
Breast-feeding: It's possibly unsafe to take bugleweed by mouth while breast-feeding. It might affect milk production.
Thyroid disorders: Don't use bugleweed if you have a thyroid disorder or are receiving thyroid treatments.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: It's likely unsafe to take bugleweed by mouth during pregnancy because it might affect hormones.Breast-feeding: It's possibly unsafe to take bugleweed by mouth while breast-feeding. It might affect milk production.
Thyroid disorders: Don't use bugleweed if you have a thyroid disorder or are receiving thyroid treatments.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using bugleweed for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of bugleweed might be. 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 a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Thyroid hormone
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking bugleweed might change the way that thyroid hormone pills work. Don't take bugleweed if you take thyroid pills.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs that decrease production of thyroid hormones: Bugleweed might affect the body's production of thyroid hormone. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might alter thyroid function too much and cause side effects. Examples of supplements with this effect include lemon balm and tiratricol.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per serve:
- Lycopus virginicus
- Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)
- Porcine aorta
- Porcine heart
- Porcine pericardium
- Porcine mitral valve
- Porcine coronary vein
- Porcine heart ventricles
- Adonis vernalis
- Selenicereus grandiflorus
- Cytisus scoparius
- Phosphorus
- Strophanthus hispidus
- Porcine artery
- Cholesterol
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 12/09/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 25/09/2022 23:36:23. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
