Botanical Index No. 479

Groundsel

senecio vulgaris

Medicinal Actions

Carcinogenic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Hepatotoxic, Laxative, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Hemostat Poison Vermifuge Vulnerary Amenorrhea Anemia Bleeding Catarrh Chlorosis Constipation CVI Cystosis Depression Diabetes Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Encephalosis Epilepsy Fever Gout Headache Hemorrhoid Jaundice Mastosis Neurosis Odontosis Pain Phthisis Plethora Scab Sore Spine Tuberculosis Urogenitosis Uterosis Water Retention Worm Wound

General Dosage

Do not take it; 2 g tincture several ×/day, up to 15 g; 1–3 fl extract; 40–60 g juice.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids in considerable amounts and varieties, which can be carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, and mutagenic. Use of Senecio species can result in potentially fatal hepatic veno-occlusive disease in humans, with symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting with ascites. PAs are toxic to humans, with liver damage with cirrhosis and ascites, or seneciosis, or veno-occlusive disease reported in almost all cases of severe or fatal intoxications, from intakes of 0.5 mg/kg to 3.3 mg/kg. Horses grazing the plant develop anorexia, ascites, edema, encephalopathy with gait anomalies, and jaundice. LD50 = 140 mg/kg orl rat.

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