Common Name: |
Water Shamrock |
Other Names: |
Bog Bean, Bog Myrtle, Buckbean, Marsh Clover, Marsh Trefoil |
Botanical Name: |
Menyanthes trifoliata |
Genus: |
Menyanthes |
Family: |
Menyanthaceae |
Native Location: |
Europe, N Asia, NW India and N America |
Cultivation: |
Shallow, acid water or wet soil in sun. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in wet soil mix in winter; by sections of rhizomes, 23-30cm (9-12in) long, pegged horizontally in mud or in baskets or aquatic soil mix in spring. |
Harvest: |
Leaves are picked in summer and dried for use in infusions, liquid extracts, or tinctures. |
Height: |
20-30cm (8-12in) |
:Width |
Indefinite |
Hardiness: |
Z4-9 |
Parts Used: |
Leaves |
Properties: |
A very bitter herb that is diuretic and laxative, stimulates the digestion, and improves lymphatic drainage. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for indigestion, anorexia, arthritis, rheumatism, muscular weakness in chronic fatique syndrome (CFS), and chronic infections with debility and exhaustion. Often combined with Apium graveolens (See, Wild Celery) or Actaea racemosa (See, Black Cohosh) to relieve joint and muscular pin. To treat diseases of the digestive system, fever, insomnia, headache, and lack of menstruation. Germany's Commission E has approved the use of bog bean to treat loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints such as heartburn, bloating and nausea. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical daily dose of bog bean may range from 1.5 to 3.0gm of the herb. Tea is prepared by pouring boiling water over 0.5 to 1.0gm of herb, steeping for five to ten minutes, then drinking before meals. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking bog bean with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising: |
Abciximab (ReoPro) |
Acemetacin (Acemetacin Heumann, Acemetacin Sandoz) |
Antithrombin III (Thrombate III) |
Argatroban |
Aspirin (Buffering, Ecotrin) |
Aspirin and Dipyridamole (Aggrenox) |
Bivalirudin (Angiomax) |
Celecoxib (Celebrex) |
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate (Trilisate) |
Choline Salicylate (Teejel) |
Clopidogrel (Plavix) |
Dalteparin (Fragmin) |
Danaparoid (Orgaran) |
Diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren) |
Diflunisal (Apo-Diflunisal, Dolobid) |
Dipyridamole (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine) |
Dipyrone (Analgina, Dinador) |
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) |
Eptifibatide (Integrillin) |
Etodolac (Lodine, Ultradol) |
Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) |
Fenoprofen (Nalfon) |
Flurbiprofen (Ansaid, Ocufen) |
Fondaparinux (Arixtra) |
Heparin (Hepalean, Hep-Lock) |
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) |
Indobufen (Ibustrin) |
Indomethacin (Indocin, Novo-Methacin) |
Ketoprofen (Orudis, Rhodis) |
Ketorolac (Acular, Toradol) |
Lepirudin (Refludan) |
Magnesium Salicylate (Doan's Mobidin) |
Meclofenamate (Meclomen) |
Mefenamic Acid (Ponstan, Ponstel) |
Meloxicam (MOBIC, Mobicox) |
Nabumetone (Apo-Nabumetone, Relafen) |
Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) |
Niflumic Acid (Niflam, Nifluril) |
Nimesulide (Areuma, Aulin) |
Oxaprozin (Apo-Oxaprozin, Daypro) |
Piroxicam (Feldene, Nu-Pirox) |
Rofecoxib (Vioxx) |
Salsalate (Amgesic, Salflex) |
Sulindac (Clinoril, Nu-Sundac) |
Tenoxicam (Dolmen, Mobiflex) |
Tiaprofenic Acid (Dom Tiaprofenic, Surgam) |
Ticlopidine (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid) |
Tinzaparin (Innohep) |
Tirofiban (Aggrastat) |
Tolmetin (Tolectin) |
Valdecoxib (Bextra) |
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) |
Taking bog bean with these drugs may interfere with the action of the drug: |
Cimetidine (Nu-Cimet, Tagamet) |
Famotidine (Apo-Famotidine, Pepcid) |
Famotidine, Calcium Carbonate, and Magnesium Hydroxide (Pepcid Complete) |
Lansoprazole (Prevacid) |
Omeprazole (Losec, Prilosec) |
Pantoprazole (Pantoloc, Protonix) |
Ranitidine (Alti-Ranitidine, Zantac) |
Sucralfate (Carafate, Sulcrate) |
|
Disease Effects: |
May increase risk of bleeding in those with bleeding disorders. |
Warning: |
Excess causes vomiting. Not give to patients with diarrhea, dysentery, or colitis |
Culinary Uses: |
Dried leaves are made into tea, and used as a substitute for hops in brewing beer (Sweden). |
Bibliography: |
Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pp 278-279 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg, MD and Barry Fox, PhD. Copyright ©2007 by Barry Fox, PhD. Pp.90-92 |