Evidence supporting the use of: Blue flag
For the health condition: Edema
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) has been used in traditional herbal medicine, particularly by Indigenous peoples in North America and later by Eclectic physicians in the 19th century, for a variety of conditions, including as a diuretic and for the management of edema (fluid retention). The rationale for this use was based largely on its purported ability to stimulate kidney function and promote urination, thereby reducing fluid accumulation in tissues. However, the evidence supporting this application is based exclusively on traditional use and anecdotal accounts rather than on controlled scientific studies. Modern herbal references occasionally mention Blue Flag’s historical use as a remedy for dropsy (an old term for edema), but caution that the plant is potentially toxic and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and other adverse effects. There are no clinical trials or pharmacological studies in peer-reviewed literature that validate the efficacy or safety of Blue Flag for edema in humans. Therefore, while its use for edema is rooted in tradition, there is minimal evidence to support its effectiveness, and safety concerns further limit its use in contemporary herbal practice.
Other ingredients used for Edema
AbrusAbuta
Achyranthes
Actaea spicata
Adzuki bean
Aerva lanata
Aescin
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
Akebia
Albizia
Albumin
Alisma
Allium tuberosum
alpinia galangal
amber
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Angelica
anthocyanins
apricot
Aralia
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
arjun tree
arjunic acid
Asam gelugor
asparagus
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
Baliospermum
bamboo
banana
banyan
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bearberry
Bergenia
berry
betony
big quaking grass
bilberry
bindweed
bioflavonoids
birch
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
Black Hellebore
blackthorn
Blepharis
blue flag
Boerhavia diffusa
bogbean
Bombax
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellic Acid
bottle gourd
bromelain
buchu
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butcher's broom
bасора
cabbage
cabbage leaf
cactus
calamus
Calotropis gigantea
Carthamus
Casearia esculenta
celery
Celosia
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chanca piedra
chen pi
chervil
chestnut
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chlorophytum
cinquefoil
citrus bioflavonoids
cleavers
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Collinsonia
commiphora
coriander
corktree
cornsilk
couch grass
cowslip
cucumber
Cucurbita
curcumen
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Cynomorium
dandelion
danshen
deer root
dioscorea
Diosmin
Dipsacus
dodder
Echinodorus
empresstree
enzyme blend
enzymes blend (proprietary)
Erythropalum scandens
escin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European five-finger grass
fang-feng
fernbush
Ficus simplicissima
fish protein
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavoglycosides
flavonoids
flavonols
flavonones
Flueggea suffruticosa
forsythia
four-leaved grass
fu ling
fungus
Gallesia
Gentiana macrophylla
Glechoma hederacea
Glycoside
golden shower tree
goldenrod
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
Guazuma ulmifolia
hawthorn
Heartsease
heather
Hedyotis
Hellebore
Hemidesmus
Hempnettle
hesperidin
Homalomena
horse chestnut
Horsemint
horsetail
hyacinth bean
Hyaluronidase
hydrangea
Hygrophila
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian kinotree
Indian sarsparilla
Japanese sophora
joe-pye
jujube
jungli-bean
juniper berries
knotgrass
Large-leaved linden
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Ligustrazin
Lilium polyphyllum
linden
Lindera
little ironweed
lodhtree
lophatherum leaf
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
luffa
Lysimachia
Manchurian thorn
maple
marigold
Meadowsweet
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microcos
Microtea debilis
Morinda
Moringa
mustard seed
Nardostachys
Nettle
Night jessamine
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
onion
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
Osthole
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
Palo Azul
Pansit-pansitan
papain
parsley
peach
pear
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Peptidase
Persimmon
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
Physalis angulata
Pimpinella
pine bark
pineapple
Plantago
Pluchea
Polygonatum
Polygonum
poplar
potassium
prickly ash
proanthocyanidins
procyanidol
protease
proteolytic enzymes
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pycnogenol
Pyrola
Pyrrosia
Qin Jiao
queen of the meadow
quercetin
rhubarb
rockweed
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Rumex acetosa
Ruscogenins
Ruscus
rutin
Rutosides
Sanguisorba
saponins
Sargassum
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
Scabrous Gentian
Scoparia dulcis
Scotch Broom
scrophularia root
seaweed
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
serratiopeptidase
Servicetree
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
sheep's sorrel
shepherd's purse
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
siler root
silk tree
Silkmoth
Smartweed
solomon's seal
Southern Tsangshu
Spanish Needle
Spatholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Speedwell
Spiraea
Stone Root
Sumac
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
Swertia
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tamarind
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Tayuya
Tea
Terminalia
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Tree of heaven
Triphala
Troxerutin
Trypsin
turmeric
Viola
Waterhyssop
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
White Heather
White oak
White Poplar
Winter Begonia
Wulinshen
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yellow Dock
Yellow root
Yerba buena
Yin Chen
Yuzu
Zedoary
Zingiberene
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by blue flag
BackacheCanker Sores
Edema
Epilepsy
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Glands (swollen lymph)
Headache (general)
Indigestion
Inflammation
Kidney Infection
Liver Detoxification
Menstrual Irregularity
Nausea and Vomiting
Nervous Exhaustion
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Pain (general remedies for)
Rashes and Hives
Wounds and Sores
