Cudweed
Botanical Description & Habitat
Gnaphalium ulignosum
Family
Compositeae
Common Names
Low cudweed
Marsh cudweed
Wartwort
Habitat
Northern United States and Canada; found in damp, gravely soil.
Description
Cudweed is a low-spreading herb which produces a small, thready root. The herb is covered with small, long, whitish leaves; its flowers are brownish-white. The plant blooms from July to September, with the seeds ripening in August.
Medicinal Parts
Whole plant - fresh
Historical Properties & Uses
Cudweed is used primarily as a diuretic. It is also recognized as an astringent and diaphoretic by herbalists. A gargle and mouthwash of cudweed is said to soothe throat irritations, but no research has been done on the herb's effects.
Method of Action
No research available on this species of everlasting.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Since cudweed's diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, the herb may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuricemic effects of glucose-elevating agents.
Diuretics may also potentiate the action of antihypertensive, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and, to a lesser degree, norepinephrine.
Possible Interactions
When taken in conjunction with corticotropin (ACTH) or corticosteroids, this diuretic herb is more prone to produce hypokalemia.
The diuretic action of cudweed may reduce renal clearance of lithium. The use of diuretics may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs.
The topical application of cudweed, in conjunction with the acne product tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin A acid), may adversely affect the skin.
Cudweed's analgesic effects may be additive with other analgesics and anesthetics. Conversely, it may be inhibited by barbiturates, despite any CNS-depressant effects which may occur. The analgesic property of the herb may be reversed or even eliminated by P-chlorophenylalaine, cyproheptadine HCl, and phenobarbital.
The CNS depressant tendency of this analgesic may be potentiated by chlorpoxthixene HCl, haloperidol, and tranquilizers.
Comments
It should be noted prolonged use of this diuretic herb may affect certain laboratory test results such as electrolytes, especially potassium and sodium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, glucose, and protein bound iodine (PBI).
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The toxicity level of cudweed has not been determined at this time.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Dried herb
2-4 grams
Tea
made from 1 tsp of dried herb
Fluid extract
1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-4 ml
Tincture
1:5 in 45% alcohol, 1-4 ml
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
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Chambers, G., R.J. Kerry & G. Owen. 1977. Lithium used with a diuretic. British Medical Journal, 2. pp. 805-806.
Chiles, V.K. 1968. Drug interactions and the pharmacist. Canadian Pharaceutical Journal, 101(7). pp. 241-247.
Clark, T.H., A.H. Conney & B.P. Harpole, et.al. 1967. Drug interactions that can affect your patients. Pat Care, 1(11) pp.33-71.
Committee on Pharmocopaeia of the Am Institute of Homeopathy, The Homeopathic Pharmacopaeia of the United States. 8th ed., Vol 1. Otis Clapp and Son, Agents, Boston, l981.
De Martinis, M., et.al. Milk thistle (silybum marianum) derivatives in the therapy of chronic hepatopathies. Clin. Ter. 94(3). pp. 283-315.
Drug package insert (FDA approved official brochure) and other labeling based on sponsored clinical investigations and New Drug Applic. data.
Goldner, M.G., H. Zarowitz & S. Akgun. 1960. Hyperglycemia and glycosuria due to thiazide derivatives administered in diabetes mellitus. New England Jornal of Medicine, 262(Feb 2). pp. 403-405.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. MacMillan, NY.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Hansten, P.D. 1968. Antidiabetic drug interactions. Hospital Form. Management, 4(2). pp. 30-32.
Hurtig, H.I. & W.L. Dyson. 1974. Lithium toxicity enhanced by diuresis. New England Jornal of Medicine. 290(Mar 28). pp. 748-749.
Hyde, F.F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Assoc: West Yorks, England, 1983
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Lutz, E.G. 1975. Lithium toxicity precipitated by diuretics. Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey, 72(5). pp. 439-440.
Martin, E.W. 1978. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
Melmon, K., H.F. Morelli, J.A. Oates, et.al. 1967. Drug interactions that can affect your patients. Pat Care, Nov. pp. 33-71.
Miller, R.D., et.al. 1976. Enhancement of d-tubocurarine neuromuscular blockage by diuretics in man. Anesth, 45. p.442.
Miller, L. & R.D. Lindeman. Red Blood Cell and Serum Selenium Concentration as Influenced by Age and Selected Diseases. Journal Of Am College Nutrition, 2. 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.
Ngai, S.H., L.C. Mark & E.M. Papper. 1970. Pharmacologic and physiologic aspects of anesthesiology. N Eng J of Med, 282 pp. 479-491.
Stuart, D.M. 1968. Drug metabolism Part 2. Drug interactions. PharmIndex, 10(10). pp. 4-16.
Thorn, G.W. 1966. Clin considerations in the use of corticosteroids. New England J of Medicine, 274(Apr 7). pp. 775-781.
Tuttle. 1969. Drug interactions. Can J of Hosp Pharm, 22(5-6) pp.2-15.
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