Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to contain sorrel. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with a pharmacist or health care professional before starting.
Scientists have studied sorrel for the following health problems: Bronchitis | Sorrel, in combination with other herbs, has been observed to have possible beneficial effects for acute uncomplicated bronchitis, but it is not clear what dose is safe or effective. Sorrel alone has not been studied for this indication. | Cancer | Early evidence suggests that herbal formulations containing sorrel, such as Essiac, do not shrink tumor size or increase life expectancy in patients with cancer. Future research may provide more information about sorrel as a treatment for different types of cancer, such as colon cancer. | Sinus infections | One study suggests that an herbal preparation containing sorrel called Sinupret may have beneficial effects in improving symptoms of sinus infection when used with antibiotics. It is not clear if these same effects would be seen with sorrel alone or what dose may be safe and effective. |
Sorrel has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult with a health care professional before taking sorrel for any unproven use. Acne
Anemia
Antibacterial
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Appetite stimulant
Asthma
Astringent
Bleeding
Boils
Bowel ulcers
Constipation
Diarrhea | Diuresis (urine production)
Fever
Gonorrhea
Hemorrhage
HIV
Infection
Itching
Jaundice
Kidney stones
Mouth ulcers
Nasal inflammation
Nettle rash
Oral ulcers
Parasites
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory tract infections
Ringworm
Scurvy
Sinusitis
Skin cancer
Sore throat
Stomach problems
Vitamin C deficiency
Wound healing |
Allergies People should avoid sorrel if they have a known allergy to sorrel or any member of the Rumex acetosa or Polygonaceae plant families. Signs of allergy include rash, itching and shortness of breath. Allergic airborne pollen has been reported. Side Effects Sorrel seems to be well tolerated by most people. Some people may experience stomach pain or cramping, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Other side effects may include difficulty breathing or skin irritation caused by sorrel allergies. Rarely, kidney stones or kidney damage may occur, causing either frequent urination or lack of urination. Low levels of calcium in the blood may also occur, which can lead to muscle spasms. Dizziness and liver disease are possible adverse effects. Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided when driving or operating heavy machinery. Large doses of sorrel should be avoided; they have been associated with reports of toxicity and death, possibly caused by oxalate found in sorrel. Fatal oxalic acid poisoning has been reported from sorrel soup. Cases of imported cholera have been reported with the consumption of fresh sorrel imported from west Africa. Heavy amounts of zinc have been reported in sorrel shoots and roots in contaminated soils in China. Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding There is not enough scientific evidence to recommend using sorrel during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Interactions with drugs, supplements and other herbs have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with a health care professional or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements. Interactions With Drugs Sorrel has the potential to interact with many different drugs, especially drugs that effect kidney or liver function. In general, prescription drugs should be taken one hour before or two hours after sorrel to reduce the likelihood of drug interactions. In theory, sorrel may interact with drugs such as atropine, belladonna, galantamine (Reminyl), scopolamine (Transderm-Scop) or vinblastine. There may be an increase in diuretic (urine-producing) effects if sorrel is taken with diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide (Lasix). Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and may cause nausea or vomiting when taken with metronidazole (Flagyl) or disulfiram (Antabuse). Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements Sorrel also can interact with many herbs and supplements, especially those containing iron, rhubarb and shamrock. Sorrel may reduce the levels of calcium, iron and zinc in the body. In theory, sorrel may interact with herbs that contain high amounts of alkaloids, such as belladonna extracts. Sorrel should not be combined with other herbs or supplements that contain oxalate. Sorrel may have diuretic (urine-producing) properties. These effects may be increased if sorrel is used with other supplements that cause diuresis, such as licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra L.).
The doses listed below are based on scientific research, publications or traditional use. Because most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly studied or monitored, safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients even within the same brand. Combination products often contain small amounts of each ingredient and may not be effective. Appropriate dosing should be discussed with a health care professional before starting therapy; always read the recommendations on a product's label. The dosing for unproven uses should be approached cautiously, because scientific information is limited in these areas. Sorrel is often used in combination with other herbs as either tablets (Sinupret) or tea (Essiac) formulations. There are no standard or well-studied doses of sorrel, and many different doses are used traditionally. Sorrel can be toxic or fatal in large doses and should be used cautiously. Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Sinupret tablets: For sinus infections, a dose of one or two tablets of the combination product Sinupret taken by mouth three times daily for two weeks has been used and studied. Sorrel tincture: For sinus infections, a dose of 50 drops of 19 percent tincture taken by mouth three times daily has been used. Essiac tea: For treating cancer, a dose of 30 milliliters (two tablespoons) of the combination product Essiac tea one to three times daily has been used. Children (Younger Than 18) There are not enough scientific data to recommend sorrel for use in children, and sorrel is not recommended because of potential side effects and toxicity.
Although sorrel has been suggested as a treatment for many conditions, there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of sorrel for any medical condition. Sorrel may increase the risk of kidney stones and should be avoided in people with kidney disease. It should also be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding women and in children. Large doses of sorrel should be avoided; they have been associated with reports of toxicity and death, possibly caused by oxalate found in sorrel. Consult a health care professional immediately if you have any side effects. The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
- Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research
Selected Scientific Studies: Sorrel Natural Standard has reviewed all of the currently available medical literature to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created. Some of the more recent studies are listed below: - Jaber R. Respiratory and allergic diseases: from upper respiratory tract infections to asthma. Prim Care 2002;29(2):231-261.
- Jellinek N, Maloney ME. Escharotic and other botanical agents for the treatment of skin cancer: a review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Sep;53(3):487-95.
- Lee NJ, Choi JH, Koo BS, et al. Antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity of the constituents from the aerial parts of Rumex acetosa. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Nov;28(11):2158-61.
- Natural Standard Research Collaboration, Chief Editors: Ulbricht C, Basch E, Natural Standard Herb and Supplement Reference - Evidence-Based Clinical Reviews, USA: Elsevier/Mosby, 2005.
- Tai J, Cheung S. In Vitro culture studies of FlorEssence on human tumor cell lines. Phytother Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):107-12.
- Zick SM, Sen A, Feng Y, et al. Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Dec;12(10):971-80.
Last updated September 03, 2008
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