Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Hedyotis diffusa, also known as Oldenlandia diffusa or Bai Hua She She Cao in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a long history of use as a "heat-clearing" and "detoxifying" herb. Within TCM, it is commonly used as a component of herbal formulas intended for infections, fever, and inflammation, which are interpreted as needing "clearing of heat and toxins"—a concept roughly paralleling the modern idea of antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory support. However, its traditional use is not as a direct substitute for antibiotics, but rather as a supportive remedy for conditions that may involve infections.

From a scientific standpoint, some in vitro and animal studies report that Hedyotis diffusa extracts exhibit antibacterial activity against certain pathogens, and possess anti-inflammatory effects. However, the evidence is preliminary, and there are no high-quality clinical trials validating its efficacy as an alternative to antibiotics in humans. Thus, while tradition strongly supports its use for "infections" or "heat toxins," scientific evidence is still limited and not robust enough to recommend it as an antibiotic alternative. Its main justification for use in this context is tradition, with some suggestive but inconclusive preclinical data.

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