Buck Bean
Botanical Description & Habitat
Menyanthes trifoliata
Family
Menyanthaceae
Common Names
| Bean trefoil | Bog bean |
| Bog myrtle | Brook bean |
| Marsh clover | Marsh trefoil |
| Moon flower | Trefoil |
| Water shamrock |
Habitat
Shorelines, ditches, bogs, marshy meadows of Pacific North America and Eurasia.
Medicinal Parts
Leaves
Historical Properties & Uses
The buck bean leaf is generally regarded as a bitter tonic, with cathartic, cholagogue and febrifuge properties, to be used for cleanses, to relieve headaches and migraines, indigestion, constipation, to promote the appetite, stimulate the flow of bile while toning up the liver, and externally for ulcerous sores and herpes infections. The buck bean leaf is used essentially in the same manner as gentian root. It is sometimes used as a sedative in combination with valerian root.
Bogbean leaf has approval status by the German Commission E for loss of appetite and peptic discomforts.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Bitter Substances Account For Buck Bean's Actions
The buck bean leaf contains a bitter substance called meliatine that would account for the observed medicinal activity of this plant, including the digestive, amenorrhagic and cholagogue properties. In Germany, the leaf finds applications particularly in geriatrics.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognizes buck bean leaf as a bitter and diuretic, for use in the treatment of rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and muscular rheumatism associated with general asthenia. Combined with celery seed and black cohosh root. Contraindicated in diarrhea, dysentery and colitis.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Buck bean, due to its cathartic activity, may potentiate anticoagulant therapy by reducing absorption of vitamin k from the gut. It may also inhibit absorption of dextrose from the intestines.
This cathartic may increase intestinal transit time of digitalis glycosides, inhibit their absorption and cardiac action. But cathartic-induced hypokalmia increases toxicity and potency of absorbed digitalis. Cathartic-induced hypokalemia potentiates muscle relaxants.
In addition to the specific interactions listed, the cathartic action of this herb tend to hasten the passage of all oral medications through the gut and thereby inhibit their action.
In sub-laxative and sub-emetic doses this herb should have no drug interactions. At higher doses, interactions similar to those involving diuretics and cathartics may occur.
Buck bean, insofar as its diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuremic effects of glucose elevating agents.
Diuretics may potentiate the action of antihypertensive, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and norepinephrine.
The effects of dopamine and diuretic agents are additive.
Diuretics may potentiate the action of antihypertensive drugs, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and norepinephrine.
Possible Interactions
Laxative-induced diarrhea may result in decreased absorption of isoniazid the same is true with sulfisoxazole, but it appears to be a clinically unimportant interaction effect.
In conjunction with ACTH or corticosteroids, this diuretic is more prone to produce hypokalemia.
The use of diuretics may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs. The diuretic action of this herb may reduce renal clearance of lithium.
An initial dose of captopril (an antihypertensive) may cause a severe drop in blood pressure within three hours if the person is also using a strong diuretic.
Comments
Laxative induced increased speed of intestinal emptying may result in decreased absorption of vitamin k and/or anticoagulants.
Prolonged use of this diuretic may affect certain lab test results such as electrolytes (especially potassium and sodium), bun, uric acid, glucose, and pbi.
Strong diuretics such as this in conjunction with indomethacin may produce natriuretic effects.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The buck bean leaf is nontoxic in therapeutic doses. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia suggests it be avoided in diarrhea, dysentery and colitis.
This herb ("Bog bean") [specifically the leaf] has approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Infusion
Use 1-2g of dried leaves
Liquid Extract
Use 1-2ml of 1:1 in 25% alcohol
Tincture
Use 1-3ml of 1:5 in 45% alcohol
Bogbean leaf has approval status by the German Commission E regarding specific pharmacological actions as a bitter.
Daily dosages are as follows:
1.5 - 3 g
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Bhakuni, D.S., Dhar, M.L., Dhar, M.M., Dhawan, B.N. & Mehrotra, B.N. Screening of indian plants for biological activity. Part II. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 7(10), 250-262, 1969.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Schauenberg, P. & Paris, F. Guide to Medicinal Plants, Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut, 1977.
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