American Adder's Tongue Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how American Adder's Tongue interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug American Adder's Tongue is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what American Adder's Tongue is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy
Check American Adder's Tongue against your medication
Add one medicationDrugs that interact with American Adder's Tongue
0 medications have a known interaction with American Adder's Tongue, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for American Adder's Tongue. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.
What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean
Severity — How Serious It Can Be
- Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
- Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
- Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
- No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.
Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented
- Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
- Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
- Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Where This Data Comes From
- Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
- Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact American Adder's Tongue combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
American Adder's Tongue: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
American Adder's Tongue (Erythronium americanum) is a woodland lily used in traditional folk medicine, mainly as a crushed-leaf poultice for skin ulcers and wounds. There is very little modern scientific evidence to support any of its uses, and safety information is limited, so it should be used cautiously and avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Scientific name
- Erythronium americanum
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Part used
- Leaves and tubers (corms)
- Common forms
- Crushed fresh leaves (poultice), juice, tea, tincture
- Skin ulcers and wounds
- Swollen glands
- Minor skin irritation
- Folk remedy for nausea (as an emetic)
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Human safety data is very limited, and the plant can cause stomach upset or vomiting when eaten.
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full pregnancy detailInsufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
American Adder's Tongue is a small spring wildflower in the lily family (Liliaceae). Its scientific name is Erythronium americanum, and it is also widely known as Dog's Tooth Violet, Trout Lily, and Rattlesnake Violet. The plant has mottled green-and-brown leaves and a single nodding yellow flower.
It is native to eastern North America, where it grows in moist, rich woodlands and along shaded stream banks. The plant grows from an underground bulb-like structure called a corm.
In traditional folk medicine, the fresh leaves and corms have been used. A common traditional use was to crush the leaves and apply the juice or pulp to skin ulcers and wounds. It has never become a mainstream medicine, and today it is mostly of interest as a wild plant rather than a proven remedy.
Uses & effectiveness
People have traditionally used American Adder's Tongue for a few purposes, but the scientific evidence behind them is very weak.
- Skin ulcers and wounds: The most common folk use is a crushed-leaf poultice placed on slow-healing sores. This is based on tradition, not on solid clinical research.
- Swollen glands and skin irritation: Folk practitioners sometimes applied it to swellings. Again, there is no reliable human evidence.
- As an emetic (to cause vomiting): Larger amounts taken by mouth can cause vomiting, and the plant was historically used this way. This is a risky use and not recommended.
Overall, no high-quality clinical trials support any health benefit. We simply do not have good evidence that it works for any condition.
How it works
The way American Adder's Tongue might affect the body is not well understood. Like many lily-family plants, it contains natural compounds that can irritate the stomach and may cause vomiting if eaten in larger amounts.
Any proposed wound-healing or soothing effects come from traditional use rather than from identified active ingredients or laboratory research. There is no clear, science-based mechanism that has been confirmed in modern studies.
Safety & precautions
Because there is so little research, the safety of American Adder's Tongue is largely unknown. Eating the leaves or corms, especially in larger amounts, can upset the stomach and cause nausea and vomiting.
People with sensitive skin may react to the fresh juice when it is applied topically. Anyone with a known allergy to lily-family plants should avoid it.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough information to consider it safe. Because the plant can cause vomiting and its effects on a baby are unknown, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it.
Children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions should not use this plant without first talking to a doctor or pharmacist. Never eat a wild plant unless you are completely sure of its identity.
Side effects
The most likely side effects when taken by mouth are nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset, since the plant can act as an emetic.
When applied to the skin, it may cause irritation or an allergic reaction in some people. Serious reactions are not well documented, mainly because the plant has not been studied carefully. If you notice a rash, swelling, trouble breathing, or severe stomach symptoms, stop using it and seek medical care.
Dosing
There is no established or standardized dose for American Adder's Tongue. Because it has not been studied in modern clinical research, no safe and effective amount has been identified.
If a product is sold commercially, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them. Even better, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it. Avoid eating raw leaves or corms, as this can cause vomiting.
American Adder's Tongue & Pregnancy
American Adder's Tongue & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 2 sources that drive our American Adder's Tongue monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing.
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Source
- Using Dietary Supplements Wisely — NIH NCCIH Source
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.
American Adder's Tongue: Common Questions
Does American Adder's Tongue interact with prescription medications?
How are American Adder's Tongue interactions rated?
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Where does this American Adder's Tongue interaction information come from?
What is American Adder's Tongue used for?
Is American Adder's Tongue safe to take?
Can I use it during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Is American Adder's Tongue the same as the trout lily in my yard?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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