Asarabacca Interactions Overview

Asarum europaeum, known as European wild ginger, is a perennial herb found in European shady woodlands. It features heart-shaped, glossy leaves and bell-shaped, brownish-purple flowers hidden beneath the foliage. Traditionally, its rhizomes are used in medicine for their aroma and sweat-inducing properties, but modern use is limited due to the presence of toxic aristolochic acid. Asarabacca is often tainted with this toxin, which is harmful to the kidneys and carcinogenic. The FDA deems all aristolochic acid-containing products unsafe and adulterated, emphasizing the need for verified aristolochic acid-free products. Asarabacca's rhizome contains phenylpropanol, trans-isoasarone, and trans-isomethyleugenol. It exhibits local anesthetic effects, potentially due to trans-isoasarone and trans-isomethyleugenol, bronchial effects possibly attributed to phenylpropanol, emetic effects likely linked to trans-isoasarone, and spasmolytic effects possibly due to trans-isoasarone.