Wild Indigo Side Effects

Sometimes called yellow broom or baptisia, wild indigo is a plant native to North America. Despite the fact that herbalists use wild indigo for the treatment of medical conditions like diphtheria, influenza, skin ulcers and open wounds, wild indigo poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Features

• Wild indigo has the potential to cause side effects when taken orally or applied to your skin at doses of 30g or more per day, warns the University of California-San Diego.

Time Frame

• The risk of side effects from wild indigo increases when the herb is used for more than two weeks at a time, cautions the University of California-San Diego.

Side Effects

• Possible side effects of wild indigo include diarrhea, vomiting and nausea due to toxic chemicals contained in the plant like baptisin and cytisine, reports North Carolina State University.

Solution

• If you choose to take wild indigo, read all labels carefully and avoid taking more than the manufacturer's or your herbalist's recommended amount.

Considerations

• Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, avoid taking wild indigo while pregnant or nursing. If you have a history of stomach or intestinal problems, you should not take wild indigo, cautions RxList.