Synopsis

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

Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) has traditionally been used in Western herbal medicine as a "bitter tonic" to stimulate appetite, particularly in cases of deficient or poor appetite. The root and root bark contain alkaloids such as berberine, berbamine, and hydrastine, which impart a bitter taste. In herbalism, bitter compounds are thought to promote appetite by stimulating the secretion of digestive juices and enhancing gastric motility, thus increasing a person's desire to eat. This traditional use is documented in various herbal texts from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Oregon grape was recommended as a digestive aid, especially for individuals experiencing "sluggishness" or poor appetite due to liver or digestive insufficiency.

However, while there is a clear tradition of using Oregon grape for appetite stimulation, modern scientific studies directly evaluating its efficacy for this indication are lacking. Most research on Oregon grape and its constituents focuses on antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties rather than on appetite specifically. The traditional rationale is plausible—since bitter herbs in general have mild evidence for increasing appetite—but Oregon grape itself has yet to be validated in clinical trials for this use. Thus, the evidence rating is moderate for tradition (2/5), but there is insufficient scientific validation at this time.

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