Sweet Gale Interactions Overview

Additional Details

Is Sweet Gale Safe? Are There Any Warnings?

Sweet gale is an herb with medicinal uses. However, caution must be exercised not to confuse it with Bayberry, which is also in the Myrica genus. The volatile oil of sweet gale is considered toxic, and there is insufficient reliable information available about its safety. Pregnant and lactating individuals should avoid using sweet gale due to the lack of reliable information about its effects in these situations.

How Is Sweet Gale Thought To Work? What Is the Mechanism of Action?

Sweet gale's active components are found in its leaves, branches, and wax. It contains a volatile oil with various compounds, including alpha-pinene, delta-cadinene, gamma-cadinene, limonene, beta-myrcene, beta-phellandrene, and 1,8 cineole. Additionally, sweet gale contains flavonoids like myricitrin. The herb is believed to possess astringent and aromatic properties.

Specifically, sweet gale has been studied for its potential effects in several areas:

• Antidiabetic effects: In laboratory studies, an ethanolic extract of sweet gale stem and leaf showed more potent inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activities than acarbose, a common antidiabetic drug.
• Antioxidant effects: Laboratory tests on an ethanolic extract of sweet gale stem and leaf demonstrated a high antioxidant capacity due to the presence of phenolic compounds.
• Weight effects: In laboratory tests, an ethanolic extract of sweet gale leaf and stem showed inhibition of adipogenesis in adipocytes.

Pharmacokinetics

Unfortunately, there is insufficient reliable information available about the pharmacokinetics of sweet gale, which refers to how the body processes the herb, including its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.

Interaction Overview

As of now, there are no known interactions between sweet gale and drugs, supplements, conditions, or lab tests.

Common Side Effects To Watch For

There have been no reported common side effects of sweet gale. However, it's important to note that a thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been conducted, and the volatile oil is considered toxic when taken orally.

Are Supplements Standardized?

At present, there is insufficient reliable information available regarding the standardization of sweet gale supplements, which means the content and potency of active ingredients may vary between products.

What Is Sweet Gale Typically Used For?

Sweet gale, as a dietary supplement, has been explored for potential use in the following areas, but more evidence is needed to establish its effectiveness:

• Intestinal parasite infection: There has been interest in using oral sweet gale for this purpose, but reliable clinical information is lacking.
• Pruritus: Similarly, oral sweet gale has been considered for pruritus treatment, but more research is required to determine its efficacy.

Drugs that interact with Sweet Gale