Bessmertnik / Sandy everlasting (immortelle)
Helichrysum arenarium
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Mild — but bile-stimulating herbs are hazardous with biliary obstruction.
Contraindications: Gallstones with bile-duct obstruction / obstructive jaundice (a cholagogue can precipitate biliary colic — contraindicated); acute hepatitis; hypertension (folk caution — prolonged use); pregnancy/lactation (insufficient data — avoid prolonged use).
Interactions: Theoretical additive with other choleretics/cholagogues; caution alongside drugs affecting bile/liver.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Pregnancy/lactation: insufficient data — avoid prolonged use.
Evidence level
Documented in systematic traditional medicine literature.
Preparations
pharmacy 'flamin' extract · flowers
Part used: flowers
infusion/decoction (cholagogue tea) · flowers
Part used: flowers
Traditional use: liver/gallbladder cholagogue/choleretic — stimulate bile flow for biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis, 'for the liver', mild digestive
Proposed mechanism: flavonoids/chalcones (basis of the Russian official choleretic 'Flamin'), essential oil — choleretic/cholagogue
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not a food source.
Healing traditions
Sources (1)
- Russian pharmacopoeial 'Flamin'/Helichrysum choleretic literature; flavonoid-choleretic phytochemistry