Cherry laurel water
Cherry laurel water

Background

Cherry laurel water is produced by water distillation of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) leaves. Avoid confusion with wild cherry bark, sweet bay leaf (laurel).

People use this for...

Orally, cherry laurel water is used as a sedative, pain reliever, antispasmodic, for treating cough, colds, insomnia, stomach and intestinal spasms, vomiting, and cancer.
Topically, cherry laurel water is used in eye lotions.
As an inhalant, cherry laurel water is used as an aromatic, and breathing stimulant.

Possibly Safe ...when used orally and appropriately (18).

Likely Unsafe ...when use orally in high doses. Cherry laurel water contains 0.1% hydrocyanic acid (11). Overdose can be fatal (18).

Pregnancy And Lactation: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of cherry laurel water.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

    Adverse effects

    General: Orally, adverse effects have not been reported with typical doses. However, cherry laurel water contains 0.1% hydrocyanic acid (11), and overdoses can cause significant toxicity and death (18).

    Interactions with pharmaceuticals

    None known.

    Interactions with herbs & supplements

    None known.

    Interactions with foods

    None known.

    Interactions with lab tests

    None known.

    Interactions with diseases

    None known.

    Mechanism of action

    Cherry laurel water contains prunasin, a cyanogenic glycoside (11,18).

    References

    11Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
    18Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
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    This monograph was last reviewed on 17/06/2019 21:27:38 and last updated on 27/05/2015 22:12:07. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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