Health & Well-Being A-Z

Wood Sorrel

Wood Sorrel plant
Description

Wood sorrel is a plant. The whole flowering plant is used to make medicine.


Despite safety concerns, people take wood sorrel for liver and digestive disorders, a condition caused by lack of vitamin C (scurvy), wounds, and swollen gums.


Don’t confuse wood sorrel with sorrel.

Is It Effective?

Effectiveness header

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.

Insufficient evidence
  • Liver problems.
  • Digestion problems.
  • Wounds.
  • Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy).
  • Gum swelling.
  • Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wood sorrel for these uses.

Is it Safe?

Action

There isn’t enough information to know how wood sorrel works.

Safety

Wood sorrel is UNSAFE, especially when used when used in higher doses. Wood sorrel can cause diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, skin reactions, stomach and intestine irritation, eye damage, and kidney damage. Swelling of the mouth, tongue, and throat can make speaking and breathing difficult.

Taking wood sorrel by mouth can lead to crystals forming in the blood and depositing in the kidneys, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and liver.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

While wood sorrel isn’t safe for anyone, some people are at even greater risk for serious side effects. Be especially careful not give wood sorrel to children or take it yourself if you have any of the following conditions.

Children: It is UNSAFE give wood sorrel to children. It contains crystals made of oxalic acid that can damage the organs. One four-year old child died after eating rhubarb leaves, which also contain oxalic acid.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Wood sorrel is UNSAFE for both mothers and infants. Avoid use.

Blood-clotting (coagulation) problems: Chemicals in wood sorrel can make blood clot too fast.

Stomach or intestinal disorders: Wood sorrel can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines and might make ulcers worse.

Kidney disease: The oxalic acid crystals in wood sorrel can damage the kidney and make existing kidney disease worse.

Drug interactions

It is not known if Wood Sorrel interacts with any medicines. Before taking Wood Sorrel, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Herb interactions

Calcium: Calcium supplements release calcium in the intestine, where the calcium is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with calcium in the intestine, reducing the amount of free calcium that the body can absorb. The result is that taking wood sorrel along with calcium supplements can decrease the amount of calcium that the body absorbs from supplements.
Iron: Iron supplements release iron in the intestine, where the iron is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with iron in the intestine, reducing the amount of free iron that the body can absorb. The result is that taking wood sorrel along with iron supplements can decrease the amount of iron that the body absorbs from supplements.
Zinc: Zinc supplements release zinc in the intestine, where the zinc is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with zinc in the intestine, reducing the amount of free zinc that the body can absorb. The result is that taking wood sorrel along with zinc supplements can decrease the amount of zinc that the body absorbs from supplements.

Food interactions

Calcium: Calcium in food enters the intestine, where the calcium is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with calcium in the intestine, reducing the amount of free calcium that the body can absorb. The result is that wood sorrel can decrease the amount of calcium that the body absorbs from food.
Iron: Iron in food enters the intestine, where the iron is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with iron in the intestine, reducing the amount of free iron that the body can absorb. The result is that wood sorrel can decrease the amount of iron that the body absorbs from food.
Zinc: Zinc in food enters the intestine, where the zinc is absorbed and used by the rest of the body. But wood sorrel contains a chemical that can bind with zinc in the intestine, reducing the amount of free zinc that the body can absorb. The result is that wood sorrel can decrease the amount of zinc that the body absorbs from food.

Dosage

The appropriate dose of wood sorrel 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 wood sorrel. 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

Acederilla, Aleluya, Alléluia, Cuckoo Bread, Cuckowes Meat, Fairy Bells, Green Sauce, Hallelujah, Herbe aux Coucous, Mountain Sorrel, Oseille des Bois, Oxalide des Bois, Oxalide Petite Oseille, Oxalis, Oxalis acetosella, Oxalis des Bois, Oxalis montana, Oxalis Petite Oseille, Pain-de-Coucou, Petite Oseille, Shamrock, Sour Trefoil, Stickwort, Stubwort, Surelle, Three-Leaved Grass, White Sorrel, Wood Sour.

Disclaimer

Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While evidence-based, it is not guaranteed to be error-free and is not intended to meet any particular user’s needs or requirements or to cover all possible uses, safety concerns, interactions, outcomes, or adverse effects. Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions (including taking any medication) and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website.

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