Deertongue is a plant. People use the dried leaf to make medicine.
Despite serious safety concerns, people take deertongue for malaria.
In manufacturing, deertongue extracts are used to flavor tobacco, as a fragrance in cosmetics and soaps, and as a fixative in some products.
Is It Effective?
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.
- Malaria.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of deertongue for these uses.
Is it Safe?
Deertongue contains coumarins, chemicals that may thin the blood and cause liver damage. It is not known how deertongue might work as a medicine.
Deertongue is UNSAFE for use. It’s not even permitted in foods in the U.S. The concern is that deertongue can cause liver injury and bleeding.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It’s UNSAFE to use deertongue if you are pregnant, because it contains chemicals that can cause liver damage and bleeding. Avoid use.
Allergy to ragweed, daisies, and related plants: Deertongue may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking deertongue.
Surgery: Deertongue might slow clotting. This raises the concern that it might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using deertongue at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Deertongue might slow blood clotting. Taking deertongue along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Herbs and supplements that might slow bleeding: Deertongue might slow blood clotting. Taking deertongue along with other herbs or supplements that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some of these herbs are angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and others.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of deertongue 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 deertongue. 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.
Carolina Vanilla, Carphephorus, Carphephorus odoratissimus, Deer's Tongue, Feuille de Vanille, Hound's Tongue, Langue de Cerf, Trilisa odoratissima, Vanilla Leaf, Vanilla Plant, Vanilla Trilisa, Wild Vanilla.
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