Greater bindweed is a plant. The powdered root and whole flowering plant are used to make medicine.
Despite safety concerns, people take greater bindweed for treating fever, urinary tract problems, and constipation; and for increasing bile production.
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.
- Fever.
- Urinary tract problems.
- Constipation.
- Increasing bile production.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of greater bindweed for these uses.
Is it Safe?
People try greater bindweed as a laxative to relieve constipation because it contains substances that can soften stools and increase gut muscle contractions. These effects help move stool through the digestive tract. It’s not known how greater bindweed might work as a medicine for other conditions.
Greater bindweed may be UNSAFE due to its strong laxative effects. Large amounts can cause stomach pain.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It might be UNSAFE to take greater bindweed if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It can act as a strong laxative, and this might be harmful.
Stomach pain or intestinal conditions such as obstruction, appendicitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Don’t use greater bindweed if you have any of these conditions. It is a strong laxative and might make your condition worse.
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Greater bindweed 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).
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Greater bindweed can work as a laxative. In some people greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Greater bindweed is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking greater bindweed 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.
Greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed with any of these.
Horsetail: Horsetail increases the production of urine (acts as a diuretic) and this can cause the body to lose potassium.
Greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed increases the risk of losing too much potassium and increases the risk of heart damage. Avoid using greater bindweed with horsetail.
Licorice: Licorice causes the body to lose potassium.
Greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed increases the risk of losing too much potassium and increases the risk of heart damage. Avoid using greater bindweed with licorice.
Stimulant laxative herbs: Greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed 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, gamboge, gossypol, jalap, manna, Mexican scammony root, rhubarb, senna, and yellow dock. Avoid using greater bindweed with any of these.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of greater bindweed 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 greater bindweed. 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.
Bearbind, Bear's-Bind, Calystegia sepium, Correhuela Mayor, Devil's Vine, Grand Liseron, Hedge Bindweed, Hedge Convolvulus, Hedge Lily, Lady's Nightcap, Liseron des Bois, Liseron des Haies, Old Man's Night Cap, Rutland Beauty.
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