Cissus Quadrangularis is a fairly unknown plant in western society and there has not been a substantial amount of laboratory testing on it, so this brings up the question:
Is Cissus Safe?
Cissus has been use as a natural treatment for many centuries by people all over the world and it has been considered by some as a “wonder plant”. Cissus has also been used, in the past few years, by athletes, either in supplements or taken as an extract by itself. There have been very little, if any, complaints that cissus has cause any serious ill effects.
It has been written that cissus may cause side effects such as headache, intestinal gas, dry mouth,diarrhea, and insomnia. There is no sufficient evidence to support this through case studies, although we have read through some forums, blogs, and articles, that cissus quadrangularis has caused some diarrhea when taken in strong doses. Ayruvedic herbs can be potent, especially on a bodily system that may be imbalanced. It is always advised to start herbal supplements at low doses to see how your body reacts. We also strongly advise taking cissus quadrangularis on an empty stomach first thing in the morning with lemon water. The lemon water alkalizes the body allow for better vitamin/mineral uptake.
Cissus is a plant in the grape family and is therefore a very effective anti-oxidant for the body. The anti-oxidant capabilities allows the body to detox which promotes better vitamin/mineral absorption. Cissus also supports healthy digestion and helps with weight management. Cissus is 100% natural (when taken in pure extract form) and has been used since ancient times. It is written about in ancient Ayurveda texts.
There have been many clinical studies done with cissus to test the bone mending capabilities and the tendon/ligament repair (collagen production). Both of these studies were successful in showing that cissus does have bone enhancing capabilities. One of the tests was done on pregnant rats to see if, when given cissus quadrangularis during pregnancy, there would be an effect on the fetal bone growth. The offspring were healthy and showed enhanced bone growth and the mothers were safe and healthy.
Is Cissus Safe during Pregnancy?
It has been written that Cissus should not be taken by pregnant women. Like anything, you should consult your physician if you are not sure of ingesting something while pregnant. There have been no cases of cissus adversely affecting a pregnancy. Due to the fact that there has been little, or no, testing of Cissus on humans it is hard to say whether cissus is 100% safe or not during pregnancy.
Is Cissus safe for Children?
Since cissus is a 100% completely natural plant and has been shown to have multiple positive healing capabilities on humans, there should be no reason why Cissus is not safe for children. I would suggest, however, lower doses than the recommended for bodybuilders. I would suggest 500-700 milligrams per day at first for children. Just check daily to see if there are any adverse effects as everybody should do with anything they ingest.
Is Cissus safe for Adults and Elderly?
Cissus is suggested for older adults as it has been clinically tested and shown to be used as preventive/alternative natural medicine for bone diseases such as osteoporosis. It’s anti-oxidant qualities provide older adults with a good environment to fight sickness and disease. There have not been any side effects found with adults using a normal dosage of Cissus Quadrangularis Extract. The suggested dosage of Cissus Extract is 800-2000 milligrams per day. Athletes who train heavy or those with serious ligament, bone, or tendon injuries can work up to 5000 milligrams per day.
Cissus Quadrangularis may sound too good to be true, and that is why the Cissus Experts are sure your experience with Cissus Extract will be a positive one. The healing qualities of this plant are powerful and never cease to amaze. With no found adverse effects and no negative side effects, cissus can heal and help just about everyone.
Cissus most certainly does give me diarrhea. I still take it, but I have to do so in moderation.
I’m surprised to hear you say that you haven’t encountered any forum or blog postings to this effect. I’ve read this claim numerous times now, and I’ve seen people complain about this several times. I’ve also experienced it myself, as I said.
We have seen some comments that cissus has caused diarrhea, but it is hard to prove it was the cissus alone. Cissus should be taken on an empty stomach 20-30 minutes before meals.
Everyone’s body reacts different to herbs so there will always be a few who respond with nausea or some other discomfort such as diarrhea. Herbs should be taken with care, and like you do, in moderation if you feel some discomfort.
Many times holistic herbs may potently be counteracting on an imbalance in the body which may cause some of these symptoms. When the body is in balance usually these do not occur.
You are correct that it was misleading when we said we “haven’t encountered any…”, as we have, yet we always feel there is not substantial evidence to validate it as a side effect as no case studies have shown them. We are changing our wording on this paragraph and we thank you for pointing it out. We, at The Cissus Experts, try to be as unbiased and neutral as possible when sharing information about Cissus Quadrangularis.