Botanical Index No. 625

Life-root, Squaw Weed

senecio aureus

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antipyretic, Astringent, Contraceptive, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Litholytic, Stimulant, Tonic, Uterotonic, Colic, Carcinogenic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Hemostat Pectoral Vulnerary Albuminuria Amenorrhea Anemia Atony Bleeding Bronchosis Childbirth Chlorosis Circulation Constipation Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Fever Fracture Gravel Heart Hematuria Hemoptysis Hepatosis Hysteria Infertility Leukorrhea Menopause Menorrhagia Nephrosis Neurosis Orchosis Pain Parturition Pulmonosis Sterility Stone Tenesmus Uterosis Vaginosis Water Retention Worm Bitter Contraceptive (f;

General Dosage

Do not take it; 1–4 g herb 3 ×/day; 2–4 g dry herb or root; 2–4 ml herb and/or root liquid extract; 4 g herb and/or root liquid extract 3–4 ×/day; 4 fluid oz herb and/or root decoction 3–4 ×/day; 14 g herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 14 ml liquid herb extract 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. Contains toxic PAs. Should not be taken internally. Contains PAs in considerable amounts and varieties, which can be genotoxic, carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, and mutagenic. Animal studies document placental transfer and secretion into breast milk of unsaturated PAs. Due to PAs, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. “Liferoot should not be ingested”. Use of Senecio species can result in potentially fatal hepatic veno-occlusive disease in man, with symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting with ascites. PAs are toxic to man, with liver damage with cirrhosis and ascites, or seneciosis, or VOD reported in almost all cases of severe or fatal intoxications, from intakes of 0.5–3.3 mg/kg.

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