Marsh Labrador Tea - Coumadin (Warfarin Sodium) Interaction

Marsh Labrador tea (Rhododendron tomentosum) is a shrub that is native to North America and a member of the heath family (Ericaceae). The shrub has small, white or pink flowers that bloom in the spring, and small, green berries that turn black when ripe. It contains the word 'marsh' in its name as it is often seen growing in nutrient-poor, acidic soils of bogs and swamps. Marsh Labrador tea has been used most commonly in traditional medicine as a natural remedy for colds and respiratory problems. The leaves and twigs of the plant are used to make a tea that is believed to have astringent, expectorant, and diuretic properties. It has also been used for stimulating milk flow, as well as topically to relieve e swelling, ulcers, burns and stings. It is important to use caution when consuming Marsh Labrador tea as it contains very small amounts of a toxic substance known as andromedotoxin, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing if ingested in large amounts.