Cubebs | vital.ly

Cubebs

Scientific names: Piper cubeba

Family: Piperaceae

Alternate names: Cubeb, Cubeb Berries, Cubeba, Cubeba officinalis, Cubèbe, Java Pepper, Kabab Chini, Kankol, Pimienta de Java, Poivre Cubèbe, Poivre de Java, Poivre à Queue, Poivrier Cubèbe, Sheetal, Tailed Chubebs, Tailed Pepper

Scientific names: Piper cubeba

Family: Piperaceae

Background

Cubebs is an herb. The dried, unripe fruit of cubebs is used to make medicine.

People use cubebs for parasitic infections, bacterial infections, diarrhea, gonorrhea, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, cubebs oil is used as a flavoring ingredient.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Cubebs is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in the amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use in the amounts found in medicine or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cubebs is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Infection or swelling (inflammation) of the stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal tract, GI tract): Cubebs might irritate the GI tract. Don't use it if you have a stomach or intestinal problem.

Kidney disease (nephritis): Cubebs might irritate the kidneys. Don't use cubebs if you have kidney disease.

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

Increasing urination.
Amoebic dysentery.
Bacterial infections.
Intestinal gas (flatulence).
Diarrhea.
Gonorrhea.
Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH).
Cancer.
Loosening mucus.
Reducing swelling.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cubebs for these uses.

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of cubebs 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 cubebs. 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

Antacids

Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.

Antacids are used to neutralize stomach acid. Cubebs may increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, cubebs might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

Some antacids include calcium carbonate (Tums, others), dihydroxyaluminum sodium carbonate (Rolaids, others), magaldrate (Riopan), magnesium sulfate (Bilagog), aluminum hydroxide (Amphojel), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cubebs might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking cubebs along with some medications might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking cubebs, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), diltiazem (Cardizem), estrogens, indinavir (Crixivan), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.

Medications that decrease stomach acid (H2-blockers)

Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.

Cubebs might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, cubebs might decrease the effectiveness of some medications that decrease stomach acid, called H2-blockers.

Some medications that decrease stomach acid include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid).

Medications that decrease stomach acid (Proton pump inhibitors)

Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.

Cubebs might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, cubebs might decrease the effectiveness of medications that are used to decrease stomach acid called proton pump inhibitors.

Some medications that decrease stomach acid include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Cubebs contains chemicals that can damage cancer cells and bacteria and help to kill them.

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This monograph was last reviewed on 08/03/2024 11:00:00. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.

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