Evidence supporting the use of: Pareira
For the health condition: Bladder (irritable)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Pareira, also known as Pareira brava or Chondrodendron tomentosum, has a long history of use in traditional herbal and homeopathic medicine, especially for urinary tract and bladder conditions, including what is sometimes referred to as an "irritable bladder." Traditional herbalists in South America and later in Europe used Pareira for symptoms such as frequent urination, pain during urination, and bladder irritation. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Pareira was included in several pharmacopoeias and materia medica texts as a remedy for cystitis and other urinary complaints, often in the form of tinctures or decoctions. However, scientific evidence supporting its efficacy for these uses is sparse. Most of the literature consists of case reports and traditional accounts rather than controlled clinical studies. Some laboratory studies have explored the alkaloids present in Pareira, but these have focused more on antimicrobial or muscle relaxant properties in vitro rather than direct effects on human bladder function or symptoms. As a result, the use of Pareira for irritable bladder is chiefly justified by tradition and historical practice, with only anecdotal evidence or expert opinion supporting its use. It is not widely utilized in modern evidence-based medicine for this indication, and more rigorous clinical research would be needed to validate its effectiveness for bladder irritation.