Bittersweet Cautions
<p><strong>DO NOT OVERDOSE!!!</strong></p>
<p>Although there seems to be great variability in this remedy's toxicity ranging from the innocuous to the toxic (due to variations in the plan as well as the individual terrain), Bittersweet stalk is considered fairly toxic for practical and safety purposes. It is forbidden during pregnancy and lactation.</p>
<p>Solanine is thought to be a key toxin. It has the potential of paralyzing chest muscles. “In large doses it causes dryness and heat with stinging pain in the fauces, accompanied with thirst, sickness at stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, prostration or syncope, and spasmodic twitchings. With some persons it depresses the action of the heart and arteries, and causes a moderate degree of lividity on the hands and face. The head usually feels heavy and dizzy, and a cutaneous erythema may be developed.”King’s Dispensatory</p>
<p><strong>Note: </strong>In Europe the one- or two-year old stalk alone is currently used for this remedy, whereas traditionally both stalk and fruit were used. In the U.S. the still pliant and often green branch and twig are generally preferred.</p>