Bidens pilosa

Botanical

What is it

Bidens pilosa (Spanish needles, beggar-ticks) is a globally distributed Asteraceae weed used in traditional medicine across Africa, Asia, and Latin America for infections, inflammation, and metabolic complaints.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Blood glucose / diabetes

Mixed Evidence

Animal data and small human reports suggest possible glucose-lowering activity, but no high-quality RCT evidence supports routine use.

How it works

Phytochemistry includes polyacetylenes, flavonoids (centaureidin, quercetin), and chalcones. In vitro studies show antibacterial, antimalarial, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activity. Animal studies on diabetic models show modest blood glucose-lowering effects, possibly via PPAR activation and alpha-glucosidase inhibition. Human clinical evidence is limited to small studies; rigorous RCTs are sparse.

Dosage

Traditional teas use 5–10 g of dried aerial parts. DSLD label data is limited. No FDA-recognized dose.

When and how to take it

Traditional tea with or between meals.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Aerial parts / leaf extract / tea

Traditional preparation.

Not formally characterized.

Safety

Traditional use suggests reasonable tolerability at tea doses. Asteraceae-family allergy is a concern (ragweed, daisies). Higher-dose extract safety not well characterized.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to absent data. Asteraceae-allergic individuals should be cautious. People with diabetes who try it should monitor blood glucose.

Interactions

Potential additive effects with antidiabetic medications, antihypertensives, and antiplatelets based on traditional and preclinical activity.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the same as a daisy?⌄

It is in the same family (Asteraceae) and people allergic to daisies or ragweed may react.

References

Bidens pilosa on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Bidens pilosa on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Bidens pilosa (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.