Sheep sorrel
Rumex acetosella
Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Native American.
Also called Sheep's sorrel, Field sorrel
Oxalates; avoid with kidney problemsA sour wild plant that folk healers used to help urine flow, and one of the herbs in Essiac tea.
Did you know? The tea called Essiac is named after Canadian nurse Rene Caisse. Its name is her last name spelled backward.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Kidneys, bladder & UTIs. Traditional use to help urine flow. No human studies on sheep sorrel itself.Traditional proof
- Cleansing & detox. Called a 'blood cleanser.' The liver and kidneys already clean the blood, and no good proof supports this claim.Not supported
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Some Native and European herbalists used it as a diuretic (helps the body pass urine) and as a 'blood cleanser.' It is one of the four herbs in the Essiac tea blend.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Diuretic, Alterative. Energy: cooling.
How people take it
Folk use is usually a cup of tea made from dried leaves, or fresh leaves added to salads. No tested human dose is known.
Tea and food.
Where to get it
Grows wild in fields, poor soil, and roadsides across Europe, North America, and Asia. Most people gather it wild or buy it dried in tea blends, including some Essiac products.
Be careful
Sheep sorrel is high in oxalic acid, which can irritate the mouth and stomach. Oxalates can add to kidney stones and kidney damage when eaten in large amounts. Do not use it if you have kidney disease or a history of kidney stones.
Avoid if: kidney disease; kidney stones; pregnancy; breastfeeding.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are in the Essiac tea blend. Neither has proof for cancer.
- Works well together
Also in Essiac tea. Its slippery inner bark forms a soothing coating in the gut and throat.
- Works well together
Turkey rhubarb is also in Essiac tea. It is a strong laxative, so it needs care.
- Use cautionWater pills (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
Its diuretic effect may add to the fluid and salt loss from diuretic drugs.
Found in these formulas
Essiac tea (Native)
The honest take
Sheep sorrel has almost no human research. Essiac tea has been sold with cancer claims, but tests have not shown it fights cancer. Its 'blood cleansing' use is a traditional idea with no real proof.