Evidence supporting the use of: Pseudostellaria root
For the health condition: Adrenal Fatigue
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Pseudostellaria root, also known as Pseudostellaria heterophylla or "Tai Zi Shen," is primarily used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, it is classified as a mild tonic herb believed to support "qi" (vital energy), nourish the yin, and moisten the lungs. There is a long tradition of using Pseudostellaria root to help alleviate fatigue, weakness, and symptoms associated with general debility or convalescence. The concept of "adrenal fatigue," however, is not recognized in either conventional biomedicine or traditional Chinese diagnostic frameworks. While Pseudostellaria root is used for fatigue-related symptoms in TCM, the application to "adrenal fatigue" is a modern reinterpretation, not found in classical texts.
Scientific evidence for Pseudostellaria root’s effectiveness for "adrenal fatigue" is minimal. Most available studies focus on its general adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, or anti-fatigue effects in animal models or in vitro, rather than directly addressing adrenal function or the specific syndrome of "adrenal fatigue." There are no well-conducted clinical trials or robust scientific reviews supporting its use for this condition. Thus, the use of Pseudostellaria root for adrenal fatigue is justified mainly by tradition, with some extrapolation from its general anti-fatigue reputation in TCM, but lacks direct scientific validation.