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Tragacanth Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Other names for tragacanth:- Adrilel, E413, gum dragon, goma alatira, gum tragacanth, hog gum, shagal el ketira, Syrian tragacanth, and tragacanth tree.

Tragacanth gets its name from the Greek words tragos (goat) and akantha (horn)-probably because the dried plant sap is curved or twisted. African folk medicine regards tragacanth as a mild laxative and uses its leaves to prepare a first-aid lotion. The pharmaceutical industry once added the herb to pills and suspensions as a binding agent. Some bookbinders still use tragacanth as a glue and cloth stiffener.

The plant is a small branching thorny shrub, the stem of which exudes a gum, vertical slits giving flat ribbon-shaped pieces and punctures giving tears; these have a horny appearance, are nearly colourless or faintly yellow, marked with numerous concentric ridges; the flakes break with a short fracture, are odourless and nearly tasteless; soaked in cold water, they swell and form a gelatinous mass 8 or 10 per cent only dissolving.

Tragacanth is obtained by drying the gummy sap that oozes from the cut tap root and branches of Astragalus gummifer or other Astragalus species. These low thorny shrubs, members of the legume family (Leguminosae), are native to the Middle East.

Common doses of Tragacanth

Tragancath comes as a gum, gel, syrup, tablets, and powder. The FDA allows concentrations of 0.2% and 1.3% as a thickener, stabilizer, and flavoring agent in foods. As a laxative, some experts recommend the following dose:

• As tablets, 0.42 to 100 milligrams taken orally two or three times daily.

Uses of Tragacanth herb

Specifically, tragacanth may help to :-

• As a skin lubricant
• Constipation

Now you can find tragacanth in some foods, candies, toothpastes, and dental adhesives. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists tragacanth as a generally safe food additive.

Side effects of Tragacanth

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of tragacanth:

• allergic reactions, such as skin rash, itching, hives, abdominal pain, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, asthma, sneezing, joint pain, or fever
• skin inflammation (with topical gel).

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don't use tragacanth while taking fat-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin A, D, E, or K.

Important points to remember

• Avoid this herb if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Don't use tragacanth if you're allergic to any natural gum used in food or pharmaceutical products.
• Know that tragacanth gum may be contaminated by coliform or Salmonella bacteria, which may cause infection.

What the research shows

Tragacanth is safe for use in foods and other products, and no one has reported side effects in nonallergic persons. Although medical experts say the herb may be used as a mild bulkforming laxative, they point out that safe, effective alternatives are available.

Products containing tragacanth are sold as Tragacanth and Gum Tragacanth.