BLUE FLAG IRIS VERSICOLOR

BLUE FLAG (Iris versicolor L.) +

For orris, see Iris x germanica. Is it the irises, or the taxonomists (or me) who are screwed up. In
a rare show of bravery, Steinmetz (EFS) covers six species of Iris but then templates very repetitive
entries for all six, especially the two I treat as orris, almost identical in EFS. More modern writers
tend to aggregate some of these that are also called, colloquially, orris. The USDA accepts I.
pallida as orris, but also has listed I. x germanica as orris-root. Unlike the herbal PDR, I maintain
that Iris versicolor, the blue flag, is a distinct species. (See also, Orris.)

Activities (Blue Flag):
- Alterative (f; CRC; PNC); Analgesic (f; DEM; FAD); Anorectic (1; PNC); Antidermatotic (f; CAN); Antidote (f; MIC); Antiemetic (f; CAN); Antiinflammatory (f; CAN); Antiobesity (1; PNC); Catabolic (f; CRC); Cholagogue (f; CAN; DEM; MAD); Depurative (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CAN; CRC; MAD); Emetic (f; CRC; MAD; MIC); Hepatotonic (1; MAD); Laxative (1; CAN; CRC; DEM; FAD; PNC); Poison (f; DEM); Resolvent (f; CRC); Sialagogue (f; CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC; PNC).

Indications (Blue Flag) :
- Allergy (f; DEM); Amenorrhea (f; MAD); Biliousness (f; CAN; CRC); Bruise (f; DEM; FAD); Burn (f; DEM); Cancer (f; CRC); Cancer, breast (f; JLH); Cancer, kidney (f; JLH); Catarrh (f; MAD); Childbirth (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (f; MAD); Cholera (f; DEM); Cold (f; DEM); Constipation (1; CAN; CRC; FAD); Dermatosis (f; CAN; CRC); Diabetes (f; CRC; MAD); Diarrhea (f; CRC; MAD); Dropsy (f; CRC; MAD); Duodenosis (f; MAD); Dysentery (f; CRC); Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; MD); Dyspepsia (f; CRC); Eczema (f; CRC); Felon (f; JLH); Fistula (f; CRC); Gallstone (f; DEM; MAD); Gastrosis (f; CRC; MAD); Headache (f; CRC; MAD); Heartburn (f; MAD); Hemicrania (f; CRC; HHB); Hepatosis (f; CAN; CRC; DEM); Herpes (f;
CRC); Impetigo (f; CRC); Infertility (f; DEM); Inflammation (f; CAN; DEM); Jaundice (f; MAD); Malaria (f; MAD); Migraine (f; CRC; FAD; MAD); Morning Sickness (f; CRC); Nausea (f; CRC; MAD); Nephrosis (f; DEM); Neuralgia (f; CRC; MAD); Obesity (1; CRC; PNC); Ophthalmia (f; DEM); Otosis (f; DEM); Pain (f; CRC; DEM; FAD); Pancreatosis (f; CRC); Parotosis (f; CRC); Proctosis (f; CRC); Psoriasis (f; CRC); Rheumatism (f; CRC; DEM; FAD); Salivation (f; CRC);Sciatica (f; CRC); Scrofula (f; CRC; DEM); Sore (f; DEM; FAD; MAD); Sore Throat (f; DEM); Spermatorrhea (f; CRC); Stomachache (f; CRC); Swelling (f; DEM; FAD); Syphilis (f; CRC); Tumor (f; JLH); VD (f; CRC); Vomiting (f; CAN); Water Retention (f; CAN; CRC; MAD); Whitlow (f; CRC); Wound (f; DEM).

Dosages (Blue Flag):
 - 0.6 - 2 g dried rhizome in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.3 - 1.2 g powdered root (MAD); 1 g powdered root (PNC); 1 - 2 ml liquid extract (1:1 in 45% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2 - 4 ml liquid extract (PNC); 4 - 12 ml tincture (PNC).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Blue Flag):
-  Class 2b, 2d. May cause nausea and vomiting. Fresh root may irritate mucosa (AHP). Fresh root and its furfural (volatile oil) may cause nausea, vomiting, and may irritate the GI tract and eyes (CAN). Furfural irritates the mucousmembranes, causing lacrimation, inflammation of the eyes, irritation of the throat, and headache. Because of the irritant oil, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Recent exchanges I have seen indicate that the fresh root makes proportionately much more potent and toxic solutions than the dry ones, which being much weaker, are taken in larger doses. The
information provided me said that naturopaths may tend to work with the drier roots and larger doses. Then, when someone gets a fresh herbal tincture and takes the same dose, irritation and nausea can result. LD50 of furfural, 127 mg/kg (CAN). Iridine poisonous to humans and livestock, hepatotonic in animals. Reduced intake of food in rats (MAD; PNC).