Synopsis

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

Zanthoxylum (including Zanthoxylum americanum, Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, and related species) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly among Native American tribes and in traditional Chinese medicine. For bites and stings, Zanthoxylum species were commonly used as poultices or topical applications to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and prevent infection. The bark, berries, or leaves were sometimes chewed and then applied to the affected area. Ethnobotanical records indicate use for bee stings, snakebites, and insect bites, with some tribes referring to it as "toothache tree" due to its numbing properties, which could also provide relief from the pain of bites and stings. Phytochemical studies have found that Zanthoxylum contains alkaloids, lignans, and essential oils with antimicrobial and mild analgesic properties, which could theoretically help with symptoms of bites and stings. However, there is very limited clinical or laboratory evidence directly validating its efficacy specifically for bites and stings. Most support comes from historical texts and ethnobotanical surveys rather than controlled studies. Thus, the use is primarily justified by tradition, with some plausible mechanisms of action suggested by phytochemistry but not thoroughly validated by modern research.

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