Overview

Lathyrus is a plant. People use it as medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, Lathyrus sativus is used in unleavened Indian bread. Lathyrus seeds are eaten as food and used as animal fodder throughout the world.

The flowers of sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) are grown for their color and fragrance.

There isn't enough information to know how lathyrus might work for any medical use.

How does it work ?

There isn't enough information to know how lathyrus might work for any medical use.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Any medical use.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of lathyrus for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Lathyrus is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. It is poisonous to nerves. It can cause muscle rigidity, muscle spasms, weakness, paralysis of leg muscles, weak heartbeat, decreased breathing, seizures, and death.

Lathyrus poisoning and its complications are rare in western countries, yet they have been documented for more than a century in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Despite the attempt to ban the sale of lathyrus in several states of India, distribution continues.

Several methods have been tried to deactivate the poison in lathyrus. Typically they involve soaking the seeds in water followed by steaming or sun drying. Roasting the seeds at high temperatures for twenty minutes also helps to destroy the poison. However, these methods are only 80-85% effective.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Lathyrus is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. It is poisonous to nerves. It can cause muscle rigidity, muscle spasms, weakness, paralysis of leg muscles, weak heartbeat, decreased breathing, seizures, and death.

Lathyrus poisoning and its complications are rare in western countries, yet they have been documented for more than a century in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Despite the attempt to ban the sale of lathyrus in several states of India, distribution continues.

Several methods have been tried to deactivate the poison in lathyrus. Typically they involve soaking the seeds in water followed by steaming or sun drying. Roasting the seeds at high temperatures for twenty minutes also helps to destroy the poison. However, these methods are only 80-85% effective.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use lathyrus while pregnant or breastfeeding because it contains poisonous chemicals. Avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Lathyrus overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of lathyrus depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for lathyrus. 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 your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
View References
Show More Show Less

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.