African Wild Potato

Other Names: African Potato, Bantu Tulip, Hypoxis, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Hypoxis Plant, Hypoxis rooperi, Papa Silvestre Africana, Pomme de Terre Sauvage d'Afrique, South African Star Grass, Sterretjie.

Special Precautions of African Wild Potato

• Some African wild potato products appear to be safe for most people. Side effects include nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, or constipation, and possibly sexual side effects such as trouble getting an erection or less interest in sex. However, other African wild potato products have been associated with decreased production of blood cells and irregular heartbeat.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of African wild potato during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• A rare inherited fat storage disease called sitosterolemia: People with sitosterolemia tend to develop early heart disease and also tend to accumulate cholesterol deposits under the skin. The beta-sitosterol in African wild potato can make this condition worse. If you have sitosterolemia, don’t use African wild potato.

Benefits and uses of African Wild Potato are

• Trouble urinating because of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH). African wild potato contains a chemical called beta-sitosterol, which seems to improve symptoms of BPH. In research, some specific African wild potato extracts (Harzol, Azuprostat) taken by mouth alone, or in combination with other beta-sitosterol sources, reduced urinary symptoms of BPH and improved quality of life.
• Lung cancer. Developing research suggests hypoxoside, an African wild potato extract, might help people with lung cancer live longer.