Lychee
Scientific names: Litchi chinensis, Nephelium litchi
Family: Sapindaceae
Alternate names: Cerisier de Chine, Lechia, Leechee, Lichee, Lichia, Lici, Litchi, Litchi de Chine, Litchia, Litchibaum, Litchipflanze
Actions: Antidiabetic, Anti-inflammatory, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant, Cholesterol-lowering, Exercise, Immunomodulating
Background
Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Its fruit is eaten as food and also used as medicine.
Lychee fruit contain chemicals that might help reduce swelling and reduce pain. It might also stimulate the immune system and work as an antioxidant.
People use lychee for cough, fever, pain, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse lychee with goji. These are not the same.
Lychee fruit contain chemicals that might help reduce swelling and reduce pain. It might also stimulate the immune system and work as an antioxidant.
People use lychee for cough, fever, pain, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse lychee with goji. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Lychee is commonly consumed as food. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if lychee is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine. Some people might be allergic to lychee.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Lychee might cause the immune system to become more active. This might increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. Use lychee with caution if you have an auto-immune condition.
Allergies: Lychee might cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to birch, sunflower seeds and other plants from the same family, mugwort, and latex.
Surgery: Lychee might lower blood sugar levels. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using lychee at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lychee is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts."Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Lychee might cause the immune system to become more active. This might increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. Use lychee with caution if you have an auto-immune condition.
Allergies: Lychee might cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to birch, sunflower seeds and other plants from the same family, mugwort, and latex.
Surgery: Lychee might lower blood sugar levels. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using lychee at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using lychee for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
Lychee fruits are commonly eaten as food. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of lychee 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
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Lychee might lower blood sugar levels. Taking lychee along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Lychee can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking lychee along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Lychee might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 20/04/2022 23:02:57 and last updated on 05/12/2020 03:00:27. 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.
