Tormentil: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) is a plant in the Rosaceae family that's found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It's traditionally used for diarrhea.

Tormentil contains ingredients called tannins that might help reduce skin inflammation. Tannins also have a drying effect. This effect might help control diarrhea and stop bleeding.

People use tormentil for diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, bleeding, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse tormentil with bloodroot, German sarsaparilla, potentilla, or sarsaparilla. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Tormentil overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Tormentil is possibly safe. Tormentil extract has been safely used in doses of up to 3 grams daily for up to 3 weeks. Side effects may include mild stomach pain and heart burn.

When applied to the skin: Tormentil is possibly safe.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if tormentil is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Tormentil overview.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of tormentil might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.

Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.

Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

Subbotina MD, Timchenko VN, Vorobyov MM, et al. Effect of oral administration of tormentil root extract (Potentilla tormentilla) on rotavirus diarrhea in children: a randomized, double blind, controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003;22:706-11..

Tunon, H., Olavsdotter, C., and Bohlin, L. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of some Swedish medicinal plants. Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis and PAF-induced exocytosis. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;48(2):61-76.

SCHENCK, G., FROMMING, K. H., and FROHNECKE, L. [Paper chromatography of the ingredients of tormentil tincture]. Arch.Pharm.Ber.Dtsch.Pharm.Ges. 1957;290/62(10):453-457.

Gazikalovic, E., Bodiroga, M., and Ognjanovic, J. [Determination of tannins in the rhizomes of Potentilla tormentilla]. Vojnosanit.Pregl. 1992;49(4):339-342.

Kite, G. C., Porter, E. A., and Simmonds, M. S. Chromatographic behaviour of steroidal saponins studied by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J.Chromatogr.A 5-4-2007;1148(2):177-183.

Moss, A. C. and Cheifetz, A. S. Reducing the torment of diarrhea: tormentil for active ulcerative colitis. J.Clin.Gastroenterol. 2007;41(9):797-798.

Huber, R., Ditfurth, A. V., Amann, F., Guthlin, C., Rostock, M., Trittler, R., Kummerer, K., and Merfort, I. Tormentil for active ulcerative colitis: an open-label, dose-escalating study. J.Clin.Gastroenterol. 2007;41(9):834-838.

Nikitina, V. S., Kuz'mina, L. I., Melent'ev, A. I., and Shendel', G. V. [Antibacterial activity of polyphenolic compounds isolated from plants of Geraniaceae and Rosaceae families]. Prikl.Biokhim.Mikrobiol. 2007;43(6):705-712.

Tomczyk, M. and Latte, K. P. Potentilla--a review of its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. J.Ethnopharmacol. 3-18-2009;122(2):184-204.

Fecka, I. Development of chromatographic methods for determination of agrimoniin and related polyphenols in pharmaceutical products. J.AOAC Int. 2009;92(2):410-418.

Volodina, E. V., Maksimovskii, IuM, and Lebedev, K. A. [The combined treatment of lichen ruber planus of the mouth mucosa]. Stomatologiia (Mosk) 1997;76(2):28-32.

Zaiteva SI, Matveeva SL Gerasimova TG Pashkov YN Butov DA Pylypchuk VS Frolov VM Kutsyna GA. Efficacy and safety of phytoconcentrate Dzherelo (Immunoxel) in treatment of patients with multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) in comparison to standartd chemotherapy. Research Journal of Medical Sciences. 2009;3(2):36-41.

Kaltalioglu K, Balabanli B, Coskun-Cevher S. Phenolic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and In-vivo Wound Healing Properties of Potentilla erecta L. Root Extract in Diabetic Rats. Iran J Pharm Res 2020;19(4):264-274.

Marcinczyk N, Golaszewska A, Gromotowicz-Poplawska A, et al. Multidirectional effects of tormentil extract on hemostasis in experimental diabetes. Front Pharmacol 2021;12:682987.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.