Mexican scammony is a plant. Its root is used to make medicine.
Some people take Mexican scammony root to empty the bowels.
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.
- Emptying the bowels.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Mexican scammony root for this use.
Is it Safe?
Mexican scammony root acts like a strong laxative and pushes stool through the intestines.
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Mexican scammony root is safe. It can cause vomiting and intestinal problems.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use Mexican scammony root when pregnant because it acts like a strong laxative. There isn't enough reliable information to know if Mexican scammony root is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Digestive tract problems, such as appendicitis, ulcers, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, or other conditions: Don't use Mexican scammony root if you have one of these conditions. It can irritate the digestive tract and make your condition worse.
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Mexican scammony root 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).
Stimulant laxatives
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Mexican scammony root is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives speed up the bowels. Taking Mexican scammony root 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.
Mexican scammony root can work as a laxative. In some people Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root.
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.
Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root with any of these.
Horsetail: Horsetail increases the production of urine (acts as a diuretic) and this can cause the body to lose potassium.
Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root increases the risk of losing too much potassium and increases the risk of heart damage. Avoid using Mexican scammony root with horsetail.
Licorice: Licorice causes the body to lose potassium.
Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root increases the risk of losing too much potassium and increases the risk of heart damage. Avoid using Mexican scammony root with licorice.
Stimulant laxative herbs: Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root 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, greater bindweed, jalap, manna, rhubarb, senna, and yellow dock. Avoid using Mexican scammony root with any of these.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of Mexican scammony root 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 Mexican scammony root. 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.
Convolvulus orizabensis, Convolvulus superbus, Ipomoea, Ipomoea orizabensis, Ipomoea superba, Ipomoea tyrianthina, Jalap Fusiforme, Mexican Jalap, Orizaba Jalap, Racine de Scammonée du Mexique, Raíz de Escamonea Mexicana, Resina Scammoniae, Scammonée du Mexique.
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