Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Buckthorn (commonly referring to species such as Rhamnus cathartica or Rhamnus frangula) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, mainly as a purgative or laxative. Its application in supporting or treating cholera is rooted in historical practices rather than modern scientific validation. During the 18th and 19th centuries, before the mechanism and transmission of cholera were understood, practitioners often used strong purgatives to "cleanse" the body of perceived toxins or infections. Buckthorn’s purgative properties made it a candidate for such treatments. However, this approach was based on pre-scientific theories of disease and has since been discredited; inducing diarrhea in already dehydrated cholera patients is now known to be dangerous rather than helpful.

There is a lack of robust scientific studies or clinical trials supporting buckthorn’s effectiveness against cholera. Modern medicine treats cholera primarily through rehydration therapy and, in some cases, antibiotics. Historical records may note the use of buckthorn in cholera cases, but this was out of a lack of better options and based on theoretical rather than evidence-based reasoning. As such, the tradition exists, but scientific support is minimal to nonexistent, and current medical consensus strongly advises against using purgatives like buckthorn in cholera management.

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