Kiwi

• What other names is Kiwi known by?
• What is Kiwi?
• How does Kiwi work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Kiwi.

What other names is Kiwi known by?

Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia de Chine, China Gooseberry, Chinese Gooseberry, Groseille de Chine, Kiwi Fruit, Souris Végétale, Teng Li Gen.

What is Kiwi?

Kiwi is a plant that produces fruit. The fruit is used as a food and as a medicine.

Medicinally, the fruit is used for treating asthma.

In foods, kiwi is used as a meat tenderizer and an ingredient in some sports drinks. It is often eaten as a fruit.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Asthma. Although study results are mixed, there is some evidence that eating vitamin C-rich citrus fruits, including kiwi, once or twice per week might improve lung function in people with asthma.
• Constipation. Early research suggests that eating two kiwi fruits per day for 4 weeks increases the number of bowel movements in people with constipation.
• High blood pressure. Early research suggests that eating three kiwi fruits per day for 8 weeks reduces blood pressure more than eating one apple per day in people with high blood pressure.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of kiwi for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).