Asarabacca

Other Names: Asara, Asarabácara, Asaret du Caucase, Asaret d'Europe, Asari Herba, Asari Herba cum Radice, Ásaro Europeo, Asaroun, Asarum, Asarum europeaum, Azarum, Cabaret, False Coltsfoot, Gingembre Rouge, Gingembre Sauvage, Hazelwort, Nard Sauvage, Oreille d’Homme, Public House Plant, Rondelle, Snakeroot, Wild Ginger, Wild Nard, Xi Xin
Asarabacca is a plant. The root is used to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Asarabacca

• Asarum Europaeum is too dangerous to be used without medical supervision
• Asarum Canadense : Large doses cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Use under medical supervison.
• Asarabacca might be safe when taken short-term, as long as it isn’t contaminated with a chemical called aristolochic acid. This chemical can damage the kidney or cause cancer. The problem is, there is no way of telling whether the asarabacca you are using contains this chemical. For this reason, most experts consider asarabacca UNSAFE and advise avoiding it.
• Large amount of asarabacca, even if it is free from contamination, may cause nausea, vomiting, burning of the tongue, diarrhea, rash, and paralysis.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It’s UNSAFE to take asarabacca if you are pregnant. It might start your period or cause the uterus to contract. These effects might cause a miscarriage. Avoid use.
• It’s also best to avoid using asarabacca if you are breast-feeding. Not enough is known about what effects it might have on a nursing infant.
• Stomach or intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) problems: Asarabacca can irritate the GI tract.
• Don’t use it if you have ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, or Crohn’s disease.
• Do not boil the herb, boiling weakens it's properties.

Benefits and uses of Asarabacca are

Despite serious safety concerns, asarabacca is used for bronchitis, bronchial spasms, and bronchial asthma. It is also used to treat coughs, pneumonia, chest pain (angina), migraines, liver disease, and dehydration. Some people use it to cause vomiting. Women use it to start their menstrual periods and cause an abortion.

Used in patent medecines

• Xiao Qing Long Tang