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Safety Safety definitions

Possibly Unsafe ...when the whole plant is used orally because it has strong contact cathartic effects (271).

Possibly Unsafe ...when used orally (271); avoid using.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of greater bindweed.

Natural Medicines 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.

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

General: Theoretically, large amounts of greater bindweed may cause intestinal and stomach pain (18).

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

WARFARIN (Coumadin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Severity: High Occurrence: Possible Level of evidence: DGreater bindweed has stimulant laxative effects. In some people greater bindweed can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin, increase international normalized ratio (INR), and increase the risk of bleeding. Advise patients who take warfarin not to take excessive amounts of greater bindweed.

DIGOXIN (Lanoxin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Severity: High Occurrence: Possible Level of evidence: DTheoretically, overuse or abuse of greater bindweed might increase the risk of adverse effects of cardiac glycoside drugs.

DIURETIC DRUGSInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Severity: High Occurrence: Possible Level of evidence: DOveruse of Greater bindweed might compound diuretic-induced potassium loss (271). There is some concern that people taking greater bindweed along with potassium depleting diuretics might have an increased risk for hypokalemia. Initiation of potassium supplementation or an increase in potassium supplement dose may be necessary for some patients. Some diuretics that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Concomitant use may increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity. Cardiac glycoside-containing herbs include black hellebore, Canadian hemp roots, digitalis leaf, hedge mustard, figwort, lily-of-the-valley roots, motherwort, oleander leaf, pheasant's eye plant, pleurisy root, squill bulb leaf scales, and strophanthus seeds (19).

Theoretically, overuse or misuse of horsetail with cardiac glycoside-containing herbs increases the risk of cardiac toxicity due to potassium depletion (19).

Theoretically, overuse or misuse of licorice with cardiac glycoside-containing herbs increases the risk of cardiac toxicity due to potassium depletion (19).

Theoretically, concomitant use with other stimulant laxative herbs may increase the risk of potassium depletion. 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 (19).

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

None known.

Interactions with diseases

GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) CONDITIONS: Contraindicated in individuals with intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown origin, or any inflammatory condition of intestines including appendicitis, colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and others (12).

Mechanism of action

Greater bindweed is said to be a potent smooth muscle stimulant and to increase bile production (18). Constituent gluco-resins (glycoretins) are contact cathartics which cause an increase in water elimination and peristalsis (271).

References