Health & Well-Being A-Z

Winter's Bark

Drimys winteri plant
Description

Winter's bark is the bark of a tree (Drimys winteri). The powdered bark is used to make medicine.


People take winter's bark for digestion problems including intestinal gas (flatulence), colic, and stomach ache.

Winter's bark is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for toothaches and skin irritation.

Is It Effective?

Effectiveness header

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.

Insufficient evidence
  • Intestinal gas (flatulence).
  • Colic.
  • Stomach ache.
  • Toothaches, when applied directly.
  • Skin irritation, when applied directly.
  • Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of winter's bark for these uses.

Is it Safe?

Action

There isn't enough information available to know how winter's bark might work as a medicine.

Safety

There isn't enough information available to know if winter's bark is safe or what the possible side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of winter's bark during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Drug interactions

It is not known if Winter's Bark interacts with any medicines. Before taking Winter's Bark, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Herb interactions

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Food interactions

There are no known interactions with foods.

Dosage

The appropriate dose of winter's bark 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 winter's bark. 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.

Other names

Arbre à Écorce de Winter, Canelo, Cannelle de Magellan, Drimys chilensis, Drymis de Winter, Drimys winteri, Écorce de Winter, Foye, Pepper Bark, Poivre Austral, Wintera, Wintera Aromatica, Winters Bark, Winters Cinnamon, Winter’s Cinnamon.

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