Overview

Jequirity is a climbing plant. The roots, leaves, and beans have been used as medicine.

Jequirity is poisonous. Despite serious safety concerns, some people take jequirity by mouth for asthma, constipation, liver disease, and other conditions. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

The jequirity plant contains many chemicals. Some chemicals in the leaves and root may help with allergy symptoms, improve blood sugar levels, slow blood clotting, reduce swelling, and kill bacteria, tapeworms, or cancer cells. Jequirity bean contains abrin, which is toxic to cells in the body.

How does it work ?

The jequirity plant contains many chemicals. Some chemicals in the leaves and root may help with allergy symptoms, improve blood sugar levels, slow blood clotting, reduce swelling, and kill bacteria, tapeworms, or cancer cells. Jequirity bean contains abrin, which is toxic to cells in the body.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

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

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Jequirity is LIKELY UNSAFE. Jequirity contains a chemical called abrin. Abrin is a poison and can cause death, even at low doses. Symptoms of toxicity include stomach cramping, followed by vomiting and severe diarrhea that can become bloody. Other symptoms include seizures, weakness, a fast heart rate, and liver or kidney failure. Symptoms can happen within hours or appear up to several days later. Death can occur after 3-4 days of persistent stomach problems and other symptoms.

When seeds come in contact with the skin, they can cause swelling, irritation, and severe eye problems.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Jequirity is LIKELY UNSAFE. Jequirity contains a chemical called abrin. Abrin is a poison and can cause death, even at low doses. Symptoms of toxicity include stomach cramping, followed by vomiting and severe diarrhea that can become bloody. Other symptoms include seizures, weakness, a fast heart rate, and liver or kidney failure. Symptoms can happen within hours or appear up to several days later. Death can occur after 3-4 days of persistent stomach problems and other symptoms.

When seeds come in contact with the skin, they can cause swelling, irritation, and severe eye problems.

While jequirity bean isn't safe for anyone to take, some people should be particularly careful to avoid use.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Jequirity is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Jequirity contains a chemical called abrin, which is a poison. Also, jequirity might cause labor to start. Avoid use.

Children: Jequirity is UNSAFE in children. Children are attracted to the bright colors of the seed, which is unfortunate since children are particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of jequirity bean. Children can die after swallowing just one seed. If exposure to jequirity bean is suspected, get immediate medical assistance.

Bleeding disorder: Jequirity might slow blood clotting. In theory, this might make bleeding disorders worse.

Diabetes: Jequirity might lower blood sugar. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use jequirity.

Surgery: Jequirity might slow blood clotting or lower blood sugar. In theory, jequirity might increase the risk of bleeding and interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using jequirity at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Jequirity

    Jequirity might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking jequirity along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Jequirity

    Jequirity might slow blood clotting. Taking jequirity along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

    Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with Jequirity

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Jequirity might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of jequirity 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 jequirity. 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.
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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.
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