Sweet gale
Sweet gale

Background

Sweet gale (Myrica gale) is an herb. The leaves, branches, and wax are sometimes used to make medicine.

Sweet gale contains ingredients that might help reduce skin redness and swelling (inflammation) and have a drying (astringent) effect on the tissues.

People use sweet gale for conditions such as intestinal worms and itching, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using sweet gale can also be unsafe.
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if sweet gale is safe or what the side effects might be. The oil of sweet gale is thought to be poisonous.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

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

Effectiveness

There is interest in using sweet gale for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Likely effective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
Likely ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions

Dosing & administration

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of sweet gale might be. 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 a healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

It is not known if Sweet Gale interacts with any medicines. Before taking Sweet Gale, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 22/02/2023 11:00:00 and last updated on 26/02/2022 04:46:09. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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