Winter cherry
Scientific names: Physalis alkekengi
Family: Solanaceae
Alternate names: Alkékenge, Alquequenje, Amour en Cage, Bladder Cherry, Cape Gooseberry, Cerise d'Hiver, Cerise de Terre, Chinese Lantern, Coqueret, Coqueret Alkékenge, Corazoncillo, Farolillo Chino, Groseille du Cap, Ground Cherry, Herbe à Cloques, Herbe aux Cloques, Herbe à la Pierre, Japanese Lantern, Jin Deng Long, Lanterne Chinoise, Lanterne Japonaise, Physalis, Strawberry Ground Cherry, Strawberry Tomato
Actions: Antifertility, Hormonal
Background
Winter cherry is a plant. It grows in central and southern Europe, Iran, China, and Southeast Asia. The fruit and leaves are used to make medicine.
People use winter cherry for arthritis, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), fever, swelling, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse winter cherry with ashwagandha. Both are known as winter cherry. Also don't confuse winter cherry with sweet cherry, tart cherry, or wild cherry.
People use winter cherry for arthritis, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), fever, swelling, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse winter cherry with ashwagandha. Both are known as winter cherry. Also don't confuse winter cherry with sweet cherry, tart cherry, or wild cherry.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if winter cherry is safe or what the side effects might be.
Diabetes: Winter cherry might reduce blood sugar levels. Taking winter cherry might increase the risk of blood sugar levels becoming too low, especially if you are taking insulin or other diabetes medications.
Surgery: Winter cherry might reduce blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might increase the chance of blood sugar falling too low during and after surgery. Stop using winter cherry at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Winter cherry is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken during pregnancy. Winter cherry might prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb. Don't use winter cherry if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. There isn't enough reliable information to know if winter cherry is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Diabetes: Winter cherry might reduce blood sugar levels. Taking winter cherry might increase the risk of blood sugar levels becoming too low, especially if you are taking insulin or other diabetes medications.
Surgery: Winter cherry might reduce blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might increase the chance of blood sugar falling too low during and after surgery. Stop using winter cherry at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
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
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).
- Arthritis.
- Gout.
- Increasing urine flow (as a diuretic) in kidney and bladder conditions.
- Fever.
- Constipation.
- Swelling.
- Preventing pregnancy.
- Causing an abortion.
- Other conditions.
Dosing & administration
The appropriate dose of winter cherry 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 winter cherry. 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 changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Winter cherry might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking winter cherry along with some medications that are changed by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of your medication. Before taking winter cherry, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications that are changed by the liver include acetaminophen, chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte), ethanol, theophylline, and drugs used for anesthesia during surgery such as enflurane (Ethrane), halothane (Fluothane), isoflurane (Forane), and methoxyflurane (Penthrane).
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Winter cherry might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking winter cherry along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Winter cherry might lower blood sugar. Using winter cherry along with other herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar might cause blood sugar to go too low. Herbs that might lower blood sugar include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Action
There isn't enough information available to know how winter cherry might work.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 31/07/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 25/11/2020 20:20:19. 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.
