Supplement guide

Avens - Geum Urbanum

Learn about the uses, forms, amounts, and precautions for Avens - Geum Urbanum. This guide brings the relevant conditions together so you can see who the information covers, how preparations differ, and what to consider before use.

Prepared by Dr. Edward M.Kim, PharmD · Clinical Director, SupplementSafety editorial team · Sources and editorial method

First released · Updated · View changes

What is it used for?

  • Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine (as an antidiarrheal) to help relieve diarrhea [Source note 2].

  • Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine (as a febrifuge) to help reduce fever [Source note 3].

  • Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine (as an astringent) to help relieve sore throats [Source note 4].

  • Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine (as a stomachic) to aid digestion [Source note 5].

  • The above uses can be combined on the product label if from the same traditional or non-traditional system of medicine (e.g., Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve diarrhea and as an astringent to help relieve sore throats).

  • For multi-ingredient products:

    • To prevent the product from being represented as a "traditional medicine", any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific active ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Avens is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine help reduce fever).

    • When ALL of the active ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.

Who does this guide cover?

Adults 18 years and older

How is it taken?

Oral

Which forms are covered?

this reference excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.

Acceptable dosage forms for oral use are indicated in the dosage form drop-down list of the source’s list of accepted product forms listed in this reference and specified route of administration are indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.

Quantities

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract*, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)

1 - 12 grams of dried herb top and/or root, per day [Source note 6].

*Note: Solvents allowed for the method of preparation "Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract)" as part of this reference are ethanol and/or water only.

How is it used?

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

How long is it used?

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

Warnings and precautions

  • Ask a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.

  • Ask a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

When should it be avoided?

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

Possible side effects

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

Storage

Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the applicable product regulations.

Preparation details

Ingredient identity, preparation requirements, and other details that define the scope of this guide.

Ingredients and preparations
Table 1. Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information
Proper name(s)Common name(s)Source information / Source material(s)Source information / Part(s)Source information / Preparation(s)
Geum urbanum
  • Avens
  • Bennet's-root
  • Blessed Herb
  • City Avens
  • Cloveroot
  • Colewort
  • Geum
  • Goldy Star
  • Herb-bennet
  • Way Bennet
  • Wild Rye
  • Wood avens
Geum urbanum
  • Herb top
  • Root
Dry

References: Proper name: USDA 2024; Common names: Gardner and McGuffin 2013; BHP 1983; Grieve 1971; Source information: Williamson et al. 1988; Grieve 1971.

Other ingredients

Must be chosen from the current source ingredient database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Preparation and quality requirements
  • The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the source authority source’s product quality guidance.

  • The active ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the source ingredient database.

Guide change history

Updates to this SupplementSafety.org guide.

  1. Minor updates

    Updated guide wording, organization, and source presentation. Added our editorial change history.

  2. Initial release

    Initial SupplementSafety.org guide prepared from source reference material.

Validation: Not yet completed. Editorial updates do not constitute clinical validation.

Sources

Source information

This guide organizes source material about uses, preparations, amounts, and precautions. Read the conditions alongside each statement; the information may apply only to particular preparations or populations.

The source document includes supporting references. We have not independently summarized or assessed every cited study for this guide.

Source document version
January 30, 2026
Source captured
Aug 15, 2026
Editorial work
Editorial preparation. Independent clinical review has not been recorded for this guide.

Full citations are available through the link above. Verification is required to open them; reading this guide does not require verification.

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