Wild cherry
Wild cherry

Background

Wild cherry is a tree. The bark and fruit are used to make medicine.

Some people take wild cherry by mouth for colds, whooping cough, bronchitis (lung inflammation), and other lung problems. It is also used for diarrhea, gout, digestive disorders, pain, and cancer. It is also used in cough syrups because of its sedative (sleepiness), expectorant (clearing mucus), drying, and cough-suppressing effects.

In foods and beverages, wild cherry is used as a flavoring agent. Some people eat the seeds as snacks. The fruit of wild cherry is eaten fresh, in jams, or used in liquors or syrups.
Wild cherry is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in amounts normally found in food. Wild cherry is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in small amounts, short-term. But taking wild cherry long-term or in large amounts is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Wild cherry contains chemicals that are poisonous in large amounts.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use wild cherry if you are pregnant. Wild cherry contains a chemical, prunasin, which can cause birth defects. Not enough is known about the safety of using wild cherry during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

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.
Likely effective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
Likely ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
  • Bronchitis.
  • Colds.
  • Cough.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wild cherry for these uses.

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of wild cherry 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 wild cherry. 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

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. Wild cherry might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking wild cherry along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking wild cherry, 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), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and others.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Wild cherry contains chemicals that might help reduce swelling (inflammation).
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This monograph was last reviewed on 26/08/2023 10:00:00 and last updated on 29/09/2014 18:49:22. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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