Nightshades

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Latest Edit: Hector 2014-03-13 (EDT)

See Also Naturopathic Therapies
See Also Clinical Nutrition


Nightshades refer to plants in the Solanaceae family. These plants are used as food, spices and medicine and for some are associated with an intolerance that contributes to conditions such as arthritis. Solancaceae species are often rich in alkaloids where the toxicity or intolerance ranges from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities.

Guidelines

Foods in the nightshade family include:

  • potatoes
  • tomatoes
  • peppers and chili peppers (Capsium family)
  • eggplant
  • paprika

As well as, the family includes Datura, Mandragora (mandrake), Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Lycium barbarum (wolfberry), Physalis philadelphica (tomatillo) and Physalis peruviana (Cape gooseberry flower).

Uses

Avoiding nightshades is commonly recommended as treatment for the following conditions:

References