Rosaceae
Agrimonia eupatoria L.
Agrimony
Traditional oral use; seek medical advice if it persists for more than three days.
Traditional use
Blood in the stool, dehydration or worsening symptoms: seek medical advice.
Discover the plantTHE SOLÉA HERBARIUM
900 plants to discover.
Search a name, explore a use and take time to understand.
67 plants to discover1–24 · Listed from A to Z
Fabaceae
Cassia senna L.
Alexandrian senna
Well-established use of standardized preparations for a short period.
Well-established medicinal use (EMA)
No more than one week for occasional constipation without reassessment.
Discover the plantAsphodelaceae
Aloe barbadensis Mill.
Aloe vera
Well-established short-term use of standardized medicines; seek professional advice before use.
Well-established medicinal use (EMA)
Laxative juice: no home use proposed.
Discover the plantApiaceae
Pimpinella anisum L.
Anise
Traditional use for bloating and flatulence.
Traditional use
No more than two weeks without advice; seek medical advice for fever or breathing difficulty.
Discover the plantAsteraceae
Cynara cardunculus L.
Artichoke
Traditional use for indigestion with feelings of fullness, bloating and gas.
Traditional use
Biliary precautions are essential.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Vaccinium myrtillus
Bilberry
Some fresh-fruit extracts have a traditional use for minor circulatory disorders. The trials do not allow a firm clinical conclusion.
Traditional use
Seek medical advice if symptoms persist beyond two weeks; no prolonged unsupervised use.
Discover the plantPlantaginaceae
Plantago afra L.
Black psyllium
Well-established medicinal use according to the EMA. Clinical support rests mainly on ispaghula seeds and husks (Plantago ovata), because of the similarity of constituents; these are not demonstrated direct trials specific to Plantago afra.
Well-established medicinal use (EMA)
Obstruction is possible with insufficient water. Seek medical advice if constipation lasts beyond three days.
Discover the plantAsteraceae
Cnicus benedictus L.
Blessed thistle
Traditional uses for temporary loss of appetite, dyspepsia and mild digestive spasms.
Traditional use
Do not confuse with milk thistle.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Plantago ovata
Blond psyllium
Seed husks: clinical data support their effect on constipation and stool softening.
Human studies
Pain, vomiting or persistent constipation: seek medical advice.
Discover the plantMenyanthaceae
Menyanthes trifoliata L.
Bogbean
Traditional use for temporary loss of appetite, bloating and flatulence.
Traditional use
Persistent digestive disorders or a red and swollen joint: seek medical advice.
Discover the plantMonimiaceae
Peumus boldus Molina
Boldo
Traditional use for indigestion and minor digestive spasms.
Traditional use
No essential oil for swallowing. Pain under the ribs or jaundice: seek medical advice.
Discover the plantApiaceae
Carum carvi L.
Caraway
Traditional digestive use; clinical effectiveness has not been demonstrated for all preparations.
Traditional use
Check for cross-allergies.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Ricinus communis
Castor — oil
Well-established use of pharmaceutical oil as a short-term laxative, after simpler measures have failed.
Human studies
Never use to induce labor; no prolonged course.
Discover the plantLauraceae
Cinnamomum verum J. S. Presl
Ceylon cinnamon
Traditional use for spasmodic discomfort, bloating and flatulence.
Traditional use
Check the species and form; essential oils are excluded from recipes.
Discover the plantFamily not detailed in the references for this profile.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.
Chinese licorice
Use of the monographed group; the source does not demonstrate a benefit specific to each species.
Traditional use
Licorice may raise blood pressure and lower potassium.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Rheum palmatum
Chinese rhubarb
Well-established medicinal use (EMA) of defined preparations for a short period; this recognition does not correspond to a body of robust direct trials of the species alone.
Well-established medicinal use (EMA)
Persistent constipation: investigate the cause; do not repeat treatment courses.
Discover the plantGentianaceae
Centaurium erythraea Rafn.
Common centaury
Traditional uses for temporary loss of appetite and mild digestive complaints.
Traditional use
Avoid in cases of gastrointestinal ulcers.
Discover the plantPapaveraceae
Fumaria officinalis L.
Common fumitory
Traditional use for heaviness after meals, slow digestion and flatulence.
Traditional use
Seek medical advice if symptoms worsen or persist beyond two weeks.
Discover the plantCupressaceae
Juniperus communis L.
Common juniper
Traditional use of the pseudofruits for mild digestive complaints.
Traditional use
Fever, lower back pain, blood in the urine or difficulty urinating: seek medical advice promptly. Does not treat a urinary tract infection.
Discover the plantMalvaceae
Malva sylvestris L.
Common mallow
Traditional use for irritation of the mouth or throat with a dry cough.
Traditional use
Seek medical advice if irritation lasts beyond one week, digestive discomfort beyond two weeks, or symptoms worsen.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Polypodium vulgare
Common polypody
Expectorant with traditional use.
Traditional use
Fever, breathlessness or purulent sputum: seek medical advice.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Salvia officinalis
Common sage
Traditional uses for heartburn, bloating and excessive sweating.
Traditional use
Essential oil: unfavorable benefit–risk balance according to the EMA; do not ingest.
Discover the plantFamily not detailed in the references for this profile.
Sideritis syriaca L.
Cretan mountain tea
Use of the monographed group; the source does not demonstrate a benefit specific to each species.
Traditional use
“Mountain tea” refers to several species: read the Latin name.
Discover the plantNot specified in the sources consulted.
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion
The EMA recognizes a traditional use for root preparations; the hypothesis of biliary stimulation calls for precautions in biliary tract disease.
Traditional use
Root only for this decoction. Biliary or liver disease: seek medical advice before use.
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