Hydrangea Root Uses

The hydrangea plant is a flowering shrub native to Japan. There are many varieties, but all hydrangeas have large showy flowers and are a common landscaping plant in the United States. Claims of health benefits of hydrangea roots abound, and hydrangea root has been used in Chinese medicine to treat some medical conditions. Scientific research does support the idea that there are substances in the hydrangea root that have medicinal value. Hydrangea root is available as a health food supplement in capsule and liquid form. The Federal Drug Administration does not approve these health food supplements for medicinal uses.

Chinese Medicine

• Hydrangea root extract has been used for hundreds of years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat bladder and kidney infections and other related problems. Claims have been made that drinking hydrangea root tea can dissolve kidney stones and reduce the back pain associated with having kidney stones. It is also recommended for the treatment of an enlarged prostate gland. According to the staff at the Mayo Clinic, there is not adequate research to back up these claims.

Scientific Research

• Researchers at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, Mass. and at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Cambridge, Mass. have identified a substance, halofuginone, in the hydrangea root, and in other parts of the plant, that shows promise for treating autoimmune diseases. When someone has an autoimmune disease, the immune system functions abnormally and attacks the person’s own tissue as if it were a foreign substance. Autoimmune diseases are usually treated by suppressing the immune system. A complication of this treatment is that the patient is less able to fight off infections. Halofuginone shows promise for treating autoimmune diseases because it does not suppress the immune system in general. This means that people who suffer from autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel syndrome can treat their conditions without suppressing their ability to fight diseases in general.

Toxicity

• The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture identifies the hydrangea as a toxic plant. Some varieties are mildly toxic, causing minor stomach problems or itchy skin. However, some hydrangea varieties are classified as Category One toxic plants. Plants in this toxicity category can cause a range of problems, from serious abdominal cramps to heart problems. Since the exact quantity and hydrangea variety cannot be controlled when using health food supplements, proceed with caution when assessing hydrangea root benefits.