Sorrel
Feb 16, 2025
Sorrel
Sorrel is a perennial plant that grows in Europe and Asia. The main ingredients in Sorrel are tannins, which are bitter compounds, along with proanthocyanidins and Flavan-3-ols.
The mechanism behind how sorrel may treat rhinosinusitis is by dehydrating cells and reducing secretions. Other possible actions sorrel may have include anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-platelet, but these were mostly in vitro studies.
Dosage:
Studies have looked at sorrel when used in combination with other products including Elderflower and Gentian root. The dosage of sorrel in these combinations was 36 mg TID for up to 14 days [18]. The main use of sorrel is for:
Rhinosinusitis: A product named Sinupret, which is a combination of multiple herbs including sorrel, was compared to placebo to see if symptoms of rhinosinusitis improved.
However, these patients also may have taken antibiotics and decongestants. Other studies did show symptoms improvement as well .
One study looked at Sinupret in combination with Nasonex and it showed symptoms improvement. Since sorrel has not been studied on its own, it is unclear which compound is improving rhinosinusitis symptoms.
Safety:
Sorrel is general safe but patients can overdose on the plant if ingesting more than 15-30 g though lower doses may be fatal as well. Oxalic acid is the compound that can cause overdose. In 1989, a patient did fatally over-dose on sorrel soup.
Medication Interactions:
Anticoagulants, Allegra, Calcium, Iron, and Zinc.
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