rhatany
Krameria triandra, krameria root, mapato, Peruvian rhatany, ratanhiae radix, ratanhiawurzel, red rhatany, rhatania
Common trade names
None known
Available forms
Available as powder, tincture*, and tea.
Uses
Used internally as an antidiarrheal for enteritis. Used externally for mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa and gums. Also used for fissures of the tongue, stomatitis, pharyngitis, noninfectious canker sores, chilblains, hemorrhoids, and leg ulcers.
Adverse reactions
GI: digestive complaints.
Other: allergic mucous membrane reactions.
Interactions
Herb-drug. Disulfiram, metronidazole: May cause a disulfiram-like reaction if herbal preparation contains alcohol. Advise patient to avoid using the herb and drug together.
Iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate, and calcium and magnesium: Decreases absorption if taken with rhatany tea. Advise patient to avoid using the herb and drug together.
Tretinoin: May cause skin irritation if used with topical rhatany. Advise patient to avoid using the herb and drug together.
Herb-herb. Echinacea: May potentiate echinacea’s antibiotic activity. Monitor patient closely. Advise patient to avoid using the herbs together.
Herb-food. Milk or cream: May inactivate the tannins in rhatany tea. Advise patient to avoid using the two together.
Cautions
Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding shouldn’t use this herb. The herb also shouldn’t be used for more than 2 weeks if taken without medical advice.
Excerpted from comprehensive monographs in Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook, 3rd Edition.
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