Mountain ash
Scientific names: Sorbus aucuparia, Pyrus aucuparia
Family: Rosaceae
Alternate names: Arbre aux Grives, Corbier d'Europe, Eberesche, Ebereschenbeeren, European Mountain-Ash, Quickbeam, Rowan, Rowan Tree, Serbal de los Cazadores, Sorb Apple, Sorbi Acupariae Fructus, Sorbier d'Europe, Sorbier des Oiseaux, Sorbier des Oiseleurs, Sorbier des Oiseliers, Sorbier Sauvage, Witchen
Background
Mountain ash is a tree. People use the berries and flowers to make medicine. The berries may be used fresh, dried, or cooked and then dried.
People take mountain ash for diabetes, diarrhea, gout, heart disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific research to support any of these uses. Eating large amounts of fresh mountain ash berries can also be unsafe.
In manufacturing, mountain ash is used as an ingredient in marmalade, stewed fruit, juice, liqueur, vinegar, and in tea mixtures.
People take mountain ash for diabetes, diarrhea, gout, heart disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific research to support any of these uses. Eating large amounts of fresh mountain ash berries can also be unsafe.
In manufacturing, mountain ash is used as an ingredient in marmalade, stewed fruit, juice, liqueur, vinegar, and in tea mixtures.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Fresh mountain ash berries are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Eating large amounts can cause stomach irritation and pain, vomiting, queasiness, diarrhea, kidney damage, and other side effects.
There isn't enough reliable information to know if dried or cooked mountain ash berries are safe or what the side effects might be.
Kidney disease: There is a chemical in mountain ash berries that might harm the kidneys. If you have kidney disease, don't risk making it worse by taking mountain ash berries.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's POSSIBLY UNSAFE to use large amounts of fresh mountain ash berries. Not enough is known about the safety of dried or cooked berries. Stay on the safe side and avoid using any mountain ash product.Kidney disease: There is a chemical in mountain ash berries that might harm the kidneys. If you have kidney disease, don't risk making it worse by taking mountain ash berries.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro 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.
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
- Diabetes.
- Diarrhea.
- Gout.
- Hardening of the arteries.
- Heart disease.
- Long-term kidney disease (chronic kidney disease or CKD).
- Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)
- Osteoarthritis.
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis).
- Vitamin C deficiency.
- Other conditions.
Dosing & administration
The appropriate dose of mountain ash 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 mountain ash. 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.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications that can harm the kidneys (Nephrotoxic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Eating a lot of mountain ash berries might harm the kidneys in some people. Some medications can also harm the kidneys. Taking mountain ash berries with medications that can harm the kidneys might increase the chance of kidney damage.
Some of these medications that can harm the kidneys include cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); aminoglycosides including amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin, Gentak, others), and tobramycin (Nebcin, others); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene); and numerous others.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 19/02/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 07/10/2020 01:56:38. 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.
