Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
An annual or biennial in the borage family. The name viper’s bugloss does not mean a treatment for bites. The plant has irritating hairs and is listed in List B for its aerial parts.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
The name viper’s bugloss does not mean a treatment for bites. The plant has irritating hairs and is listed in List B for its aerial parts. A photograph alone cannot validate identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Why this plant appears in the guide
ANSM lists Echium vulgare for the following part: aerial parts. List B covers plants whose potential adverse effects outweigh the expected therapeutic benefit. Listing documents a tradition and a warning, not an indication to try.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceIrritating hairs and alkaloids
NC State identifies pyrrolizidine alkaloids, digestive symptoms and liver-injury risk. Coarse hairs can also irritate skin; animal observations must not be confused with a human frequency.
This entry describes a risk or interaction, not a beneficial property.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Do not self-medicate with this List B herbal material. A historical indication is not equivalent to a medically assessed contraindication profile for every preparation.
Medicine interactions
- The reviewed references do not define a complete interaction profile. Do not add this plant to treatment on the assumption of compatibility; a pharmacist must assess it.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- Mouth pain, digestive symptoms and skin irritation; liver injury is identified in the toxicological source.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
No self-directed use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The sources in this entry do not establish a safe formulation or dose for these situations.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric use is proposed. Keep this plant material and related products out of children’s reach; never taste the plant to identify it.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Available evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
NC State identifies pyrrolizidine alkaloids, digestive symptoms and liver-injury risk. Coarse hairs can also irritate skin; animal observations must not be confused with a human frequency.
Constituents to know.
Their presence and quantity depend on the plant part and preparation.
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Constituent or group identified in the toxicological source, without a standard concentration applicable to a harvested plant.Read the reference
Irritating hairs and alkaloids
The risk is not limited to contact: compounds in the plant parts make ingestion inappropriate as a home remedy.
This entry describes a risk or interaction, not a beneficial property.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
Observe the flowers without tasting leaves or stems, and use gloves for necessary handling.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Safety assessment: Echium vulgare
This entry describes a risk or interaction, not a beneficial property.
- Type of research
- Institutional descriptive toxicity entry; this is not an efficacy trial.
- Preparation concerned
- Plant material and exposure-relevant parts described by the source; no preparation proposed.
- Observed results
- NC State identifies pyrrolizidine alkaloids, digestive symptoms and liver-injury risk. Coarse hairs can also irritate skin; animal observations must not be confused with a human frequency.
- Limitations to consider
- The reference describes a hazard, not a predictable frequency for every person or a safe dose. The “insufficient evidence” label concerns therapeutic use; it does not minimise the reported toxicity.
What can we take from this?
The reference describes a hazard, not a predictable frequency for every person or a safe dose. The “insufficient evidence” label concerns therapeutic use; it does not minimise the reported toxicity.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List B, January 2026, page 14Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Kew POWO — Echium vulgare L.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- NC State Extension — Echium vulgareAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: 謝麗霦 · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.