Synopsis

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

The blackboard tree (Alstonia scholaris), commonly known as the "devil tree," has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems in South and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, various parts of the plant, particularly the bark, have been used to treat respiratory ailments, including bronchial congestion, cough, and asthma. Ayurvedic and folk medicine practitioners have used decoctions of the bark and leaves for their expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. The traditional rationale is that blackboard tree preparations help to clear phlegm and ease breathing in cases of bronchial congestion.

There is some preliminary scientific interest regarding the plant’s bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids and iridoids, which may exhibit anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory effects. However, robust clinical trials substantiating its efficacy for bronchial congestion in humans are lacking. The majority of supporting evidence remains anecdotal or based on in vitro and animal studies, which show potential but are insufficient for strong scientific validation. Therefore, the use of blackboard tree for bronchial congestion is primarily justified by tradition, with limited scientific support at this time.

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