Gamboge is a gum-like substance (resin) from the trunk of the Garcinia hanburyi tree. Don't confuse gamboge with garcinia (Garcinia cambogia).
Gamboge is used for cancer, constipation, infections of the intestines by parasites, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using gamboge can also be unsafe.
Some gamboge products are "stretched" by adding rice and wheat starches, sand, and vegetable fragments. You can spot these adulterated products because they are usually coarser and harder than pure gamboge.
Is It Effective?
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.
- A lung disease that leads to scarring and thickening of the lung (idiopathic interstitial pneumonia).
- Cancer.
- Constipation.
- Infection of the intestines by parasites.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of gamboge for these uses.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Gamboge is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. It can cause stomach pain and vomiting. Large amounts are poisonous and may cause death.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's POSSIBLY UNSAFE to use gamboge if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It contains chemicals that may cause harmful side effects or death.
Heart conditions: Since gamboge is a stimulant laxative, it might cause the body to lose too much potassium. This can cause heart damage or make existing heart disease worse.
Digestive tract conditions including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, stomach pain, ulcers, obstruction, nausea, or vomiting: Gamboge is a stimulant laxative. It might make these conditions worse.
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gamboge is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).
Medications for inflammation (Corticosteroids)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications for inflammation can decrease potassium in the body. Gamboge is a type of laxative that might also decrease potassium in the body. Taking gamboge along with some medications for inflammation might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some medications for inflammation include dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), and others.
Stimulant laxatives
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gamboge is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking gamboge along with other stimulant laxatives could speed up the bowels too much and cause dehydration and low minerals in the body.
Some stimulant laxatives include bisacodyl (Correctol, Dulcolax), cascara, castor oil (Purge), senna (Senokot), and others.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gamboge can work as a laxative. In some people gamboge can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take warfarin do not to take excessive amounts of gamboge.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gamboge is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking gamboge along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
Herbs that contain cardiac glycosides: Cardiac glycosides are chemicals that are similar to the prescription drug digoxin. Cardiac glycosides can cause the body to lose potassium.
Gamboge can also cause the body to lose potassium because it is a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. As a result, food may not remain in the intestine long enough for the body to absorb minerals such as potassium. This can lead to lower than ideal potassium levels.
Using gamboge along with an herb that contains cardiac glycosides can cause the body to lose too much potassium, and this can cause heart damage. Herbs that contain cardiac glycosides 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, star of Bethlehem, strophanthus seeds, and uzara. Avoid using gamboge with any of these.
Horsetail: Horsetail increases the production of urine (acts as a diuretic) and this can cause the body to lose potassium.
Gamboge can also cause the body to lose potassium because it is a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. As a result, food may not remain in the intestine long enough for the body to absorb minerals such as potassium. This can lead to lower than ideal potassium levels.
If potassium levels drop too low, the heart may be damaged. There is a concern that using horsetail with gamboge increases the risk of losing too much potassium and increases the risk of heart damage. Avoid using gamboge with horsetail.
Licorice: Licorice causes the body to lose potassium.
Gamboge can also cause the body to lose potassium because it is a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. As a result, food may not remain in the intestine long enough for the body to absorb minerals such as potassium. This can lead to lower than ideal potassium levels.
If potassium levels drop too low, the heart may be damaged. There is a concern that using licorice with gamboge increases the risk of losing too much potassium and increases the risk of heart damage. Avoid using gamboge with licorice.
Stimulant laxative herbs: Gamboge is a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. As a result, food may not remain in the intestine long enough for the body to absorb minerals such as potassium. This can lead to lower than ideal potassium levels.
There is a concern that taking gamboge along with other stimulant laxatives herbs can make potassium levels drop too low, and this can harm the heart. Other stimulant laxative herbs are aloe, alder buckthorn, black root, blue flag, butternut bark, colocynth, European buckthorn, fo-ti, gossypol, greater bindweed, jalap, manna, Mexican scammony root, rhubarb, senna, and yellow dock. Avoid using gamboge with any of these.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of gamboge 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 gamboge. 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.
Baie de Brindall, Camboge, Gambodia, Gambooge, Garcinia hanburyi, Gomme-Gutte, Gummigutta, Gutta Cambodia, Gutta Gamba, Tom Rong.
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