Quercetin

Quercetin is a plant pigment (flavonoid). It is found in many plants and foods, such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, berries, Ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort, American elder, and others. Buckwheat tea has a large amount of quercetin. People use quercetin as a medicine.

Quercetin is used for treating conditions of the heart and blood vessels including “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), high cholesterol, heart disease, and circulation problems. It is also used for diabetes, cataracts, hay fever, peptic ulcer, schizophrenia, inflammation, asthma, gout, viral infections, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), preventing cancer, and for treating chronic infections of the prostate. Quercetin is also used to increase endurance and improve athletic performance.

How does it work?

Quercetin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which might help reduce prostate inflammation.

Prostate pain and swelling (inflammation).
Heart disease.
High cholesterol.
High blood pressure.
Exercise-induced respiratory infections.
Kidney transplantation.

By Mouth:

For prostate pain and swelling (prostatitis): 500 mg twice daily.

Quercetin is SAFE for most people when taken by mouth short-term. Quercetin has been safely used in amounts up to 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. It is not known if longer-term use or larger amounts are safe.

Quercetin can cause headache and tingling of the arms and legs. Very high doses might cause kidney damage.

When given intravenously (by IV) in appropriate amounts (less than 722 mg), quercetin is POSSIBLY SAFE. But larger amounts given by IV are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. There have been reports of kidney damage at higher doses.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of quercetin during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.