Background

Calotropis is a plant. People use the bark and root bark for medicine.

People use calotropis for conditions such as digestive disorders, toothache, cramps, joint pain, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using calotropis is unsafe, especially in high doses.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Calotropis is LIKELY UNSAFE, especially in high doses. It contains chemicals that can interfere with heart function. It can cause serious side effects including vomiting, diarrhea, slow heartbeat, convulsions, and death.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if calotropis is safe. It might cause an allergic reaction in some people.

When applied into the eye: There isn't enough reliable information to know if calotropis is safe. It can cause eye injury and vision loss if parts of the plant get into the eye.

When inhaled: There isn't enough reliable information to know if calotropis is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use calotropis when pregnant or breast-feeding. Avoid use.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of calotropis 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 calotropis. 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

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Digoxin (Lanoxin) helps the heart beat more strongly. Calotropis also seems to affect the heart. Taking calotropis along with digoxin can increase the effects of digoxin and increase the risk of side effects. Do not take calotropis if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin) without talking to your healthcare professional.

Lithium

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Calotropis might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking calotropis might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.

Stimulant laxatives

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Calotropis can affect the heart. The heart uses potassium. Laxatives called stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the chance of side effects from calotropis.

Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.

Water pills (Diuretic drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Calotropis might affect the heart. "Water pills" can decrease potassium in the body. Low potassium levels can also affect the heart and increase the risk of side effects from calotropis.

Some "water pills" that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Herbs that contain cardiac glycosides: Calotropis contains chemicals called cardiac glycosides which affect the heart. Using calotropis with other herbs that also contain these chemicals might harm the heart. Avoid doing this. Herbs that contain cardiac glycosides include black hellebore, Canadian hemp roots, digitalis leaf, hedge mustard, figwort, lily of the valley roots, motherwort, oleander, pheasant's eye plant, pleurisy root, squill bulb leaf scales, strophanthus seeds, and uzara.
Horsetail: Calotropis contains chemicals called cardiac glycosides. There is a concern that using horsetail with cardiac glycoside-containing herbs such as calotropis increases the risk of heart damage due to loss of too much potassium.
Licorice: Calotropis contains chemicals called cardiac glycosides. There is a concern that using licorice with cardiac glycoside-containing herbs such as calotropis increases the risk of heart damage due to loss of too much potassium.
Stimulant laxative herbs: Calotropis contains chemicals called cardiac glycosides. There is a concern that using herbs that act like stimulant laxatives along with cardiac glycoside-containing herbs such as calotropis increases the risk of heart damage due to loss of too much potassium. Stimulant laxative herbs include aloe, alder buckthorn, black root, blue flag, butternut bark, colocynth, European buckthorn, fo-ti, gamboge, gossypol, greater bindweed, jalap, manna, Mexican scammony root, rhubarb, senna, and yellow dock.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Calotropis contains chemicals that might help thin mucous and make it easier to cough up. In studies in animals, calotropis has shown some activity against pain, inflammation, bacteria, fever, and ulcers caused by alcohol and medications such as aspirin, indomethacin (Indocin), and others.