Evidence supporting the use of: Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
For the health condition: Congestion (bronchial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Prickly Ash (commonly referring to Zanthoxylum americanum or Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American and early North American herbalists. It was used as a remedy for a variety of ailments, especially those involving the respiratory system, such as bronchial congestion. Traditional uses typically involved preparing teas, tinctures, or decoctions from the bark or berries of the plant, which were believed to act as stimulants for the circulatory and lymphatic systems, as well as expectorants to help clear mucus from the airways.
Despite this history, there is very limited scientific evidence supporting the efficacy or safety of Prickly Ash for treating bronchial congestion. Most modern herbal references list its use for respiratory complaints based on traditional practices rather than clinical trials or pharmacological studies. Some phytochemical analyses have identified compounds in Prickly Ash that may have mild stimulant or anti-inflammatory effects, but these findings have not been directly linked to improvements in bronchial congestion in controlled studies. As such, current recommendations for Prickly Ash in this context are based primarily on traditional use, and its evidence rating remains low.
More about Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
More about Congestion (bronchial)
Other ingredients used for Congestion (bronchial)
allspicealoe vera
alpha-pinene
waterhyssop
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
clove
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
turmeric
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ethanol
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
grape
onion
green tea
horseradish
Indian tinospora
licorice root
lovage
mustard seed
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
spruce
ophiopogon root
oregano
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rosemary
scrophularia root
shiitake mushroom
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
yellow root
squawvine
boneset
mullein
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
mugwort
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
blackboard tree
lingusticum wallichii
buckthorn
fritillaria
lemongrass
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
chrysanthemum
juniper berries
siler root
sweet flag
oriental arborvitae
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
eucalyptus
menthol oil
aster root
abies spectabilis
horehound
Sichuan pepper
cayenne pepper
soursop
Alcohol
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ardisia
Angelica
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Adrenergic amines
Asteracea
Allyl Sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Black spruce
Bicarbonate
Blepharis
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Boswellic Acid
Bayleaf
Black galingale
Barleria
Bitter Grass
Bisabolene
Bael
berry
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Bee products
Bombax
Buddha's Hand
Borage
Bupleurum
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Borneol
Camellia sinensis
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Chinese Mountain Ant
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Citrus
Cineole
Cajuput
Chinese Raisintree
Cowherb
Curcumen
Cistus
Curcuma
Calamus
Cinnamaldehyde
Carthamus
Culvers Root
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Ephedra
European Elder
Eclipta
Echinacea
Elder
Essential Oil Blend
Ephedrine
Galangal
Ivy
Mustard
Mallow
Sandalwood
Vervain
Other health conditions supported by Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Backache
Bites and Stings
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Canker Sores
Chest Pain
Circulation (poor)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Constipation (adults)
Cuts
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dyspepsia
Ear Infection or Earache
Eczema
Fever
Glands (swollen lymph)
Gout
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Hemorrhoids
Inflammation
Insomnia
Itching