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Mexican scammony root
Mexican scammony root

Background

Mexican scammony root is a plant. The root and root extract have been traditionally used as a purgative, but are no longer used in most countries (18).

People use this for...

Orally, Mexican scammony root is used as a purgative.

Safety Safety definitions

Likely Unsafe ...when used orally (18); avoid using.

Lactation: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of Mexican scammony root.

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

  • Standardization & formulationThere is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of Mexican scammony root.

Adverse effects

Gastrointestinal: Orally, Mexican scammony root can cause intestinal colic, and in large amounts, vomiting (18).

General: There is currently a limited amount of information available about the adverse effects of Mexican scammony root. Orally, Mexican scammony root has been reported to cause intestinal colic, and in large amounts, vomiting (18).

Toxicology

There is insufficient reliable information available about the toxicology of Mexican scammony root.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

WARFARIN (Coumadin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Severity: High Occurrence: Possible Level of evidence: DMexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). In some people Mexican scammony root can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin, increase international normalized ratio (INR), and increase the risk of bleeding. Advise patients who take warfarin not to take excessive amounts of Mexican scammony root.

STIMULANT LAXATIVESInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Severity: High Occurrence: Possible Level of evidence: DMexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). Concomitant use of Mexican scammony and laxatives may lead to additive electrolyte and fluid depletion.

DIGOXIN (Lanoxin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Severity: High Occurrence: Possible Level of evidence: DMexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). Theoretically, overuse or abuse of Mexican scammony root might increase potassium depletion and increase the risk of adverse effects with cardiac glycoside drugs.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Mexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). Overuse or abuse of Mexican scammony root may increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity.

HORSETAIL: Mexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). Theoretically, concomitant use of Mexican scammony root with horsetail increases the risk of potassium depletion.

Mexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). Theoretically, concomitant use of Mexican scammony root with licorice increases the risk of potassium depletion.

Mexican scammony root has stimulant laxative effects (19). Theoretically, concomitant use with other stimulant laxative herbs may increase the risk of potassium depletion. Stimulant laxative herbs include aloe, alder buckthorn, black root, blue flag, butternut bark, colocynth, European buckthorn, fo ti, gamboge, gossypol, greater bindweed, jalap, manna, Mexican scammony root, rhubarb, senna, and yellow dock.

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

None known.

Interactions with diseases

GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) CONDITIONS: Mexican scammony root is a stimulant laxative and may have GI irritant effects (19). Stimulant laxatives are contraindicated in individuals with intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, and infectious or inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions (272).

Mechanism of action

General: The applicable part of Mexican scammony root is the root and root resin. It contains 12% to 15% resinous polymeric ester glycosides (18).

Laxative effects: The laxative effects of Mexican scammony root are related to the constituent resinous polymeric ester glycosides (18).

References

18Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
19Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
272Covington TR, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 18/11/2021 01:00:48 and last updated on 29/09/2020 19:52:16. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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