Background

Wood sorrel is a plant. The whole flowering plant is used to make medicine.

Despite safety concerns, people take wood sorrel for liver and digestive disorders, a condition caused by lack of vitamin C (scurvy), wounds, and swollen gums.

Don’t confuse wood sorrel with sorrel.

Safety Safety definitions

Wood sorrel is UNSAFE, especially when used when used in higher doses. Wood sorrel can cause diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, skin reactions, stomach and intestine irritation, eye damage, and kidney damage. Swelling of the mouth, tongue, and throat can make speaking and breathing difficult.

Taking wood sorrel by mouth can lead to crystals forming in the blood and depositing in the kidneys, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and liver.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

While wood sorrel isn’t safe for anyone, some people are at even greater risk for serious side effects. Be especially careful not give wood sorrel to children or take it yourself if you have any of the following conditions.

Children: It is UNSAFE give wood sorrel to children. It contains crystals made of oxalic acid that can damage the organs. One four-year old child died after eating rhubarb leaves, which also contain oxalic acid.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Wood sorrel is UNSAFE for both mothers and infants. Avoid use.

Blood-clotting (coagulation) problems: Chemicals in wood sorrel can make blood clot too fast.

Stomach or intestinal disorders: Wood sorrel can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines and might make ulcers worse.

Kidney disease: The oxalic acid crystals in wood sorrel can damage the kidney and make existing kidney disease worse.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of wood sorrel 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 wood sorrel. 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

It is not known if Wood Sorrel interacts with any medicines. Before taking Wood Sorrel, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Calcium: Calcium supplements release calcium in the intestine, where the calcium is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with calcium in the intestine, reducing the amount of free calcium that the body can absorb. The result is that taking wood sorrel along with calcium supplements can decrease the amount of calcium that the body absorbs from supplements.
Iron: Iron supplements release iron in the intestine, where the iron is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with iron in the intestine, reducing the amount of free iron that the body can absorb. The result is that taking wood sorrel along with iron supplements can decrease the amount of iron that the body absorbs from supplements.
Zinc: Zinc supplements release zinc in the intestine, where the zinc is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with zinc in the intestine, reducing the amount of free zinc that the body can absorb. The result is that taking wood sorrel along with zinc supplements can decrease the amount of zinc that the body absorbs from supplements.

Interactions with foods

Calcium: Calcium in food enters the intestine, where the calcium is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with calcium in the intestine, reducing the amount of free calcium that the body can absorb. The result is that wood sorrel can decrease the amount of calcium that the body absorbs from food.
Iron: Iron in food enters the intestine, where the iron is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with iron in the intestine, reducing the amount of free iron that the body can absorb. The result is that wood sorrel can decrease the amount of iron that the body absorbs from food.
Zinc: Zinc in food enters the intestine, where the zinc is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with zinc in the intestine, reducing the amount of free zinc that the body can absorb. The result is that wood sorrel can decrease the amount of zinc that the body absorbs from food.

Action

There isn’t enough information to know how wood sorrel works.