Watercress
Feb 17, 2025
Watercress
Watercress (scientific name Nasturtium officinale) is a plant native to the Mediterranean and areas of Asia commonly known as berro, garden cress, scurvy grass, scrubby grass, and spoonwort. Similar to wasabi, this supplement has no scientific uses. However, watercress was historically used against scurvy.
Other traditional uses include abortion, acne, alopecia, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, chemoprotection, vitamin deficiencies, warts, and cough. The most used dosage is 4-6 g of dry herb, 20-30 g of fresh herb, or 60-150 g of liquid dose in juice or tea.
The dosing is not evidence based. Possible side effects include derma-titis and gastrointestinal irritation, especially in patients with ulcers. Chronic use may lead to renal injury. Raw watercress should also be avoided, as it is commonly infested with liver fluke parasites.
Because one of the indications of watercress is to induce abortion, this medication is toxic to fetus and should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
This supplement has a high Vitamin K content and will interfere with anticoagulants to increase the risk of bleeding. It also decreases oxidative metabolites of acetaminophen circulating in the serum.
Use of watercress with Chlorzoxaxone may alter the effects of both due to reduced metabolism. Herbs with the adverse effects of increased bleeding and those metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system should be avoided with watercress.
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