Evidence supporting the use of: Southern Prickly Ash
For the health condition: Congestion (lymphatic)

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Synopsis

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

Southern Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), also known as Hercules' Club or Toothache Tree, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine among Native American and early North American practitioners. It was commonly employed as a "blood purifier" and stimulant for the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Specifically, traditional herbalists used the bark and berries to address conditions associated with sluggish lymphatic drainage, swollen glands, and general congestion of the lymphatic system. The rationale was based on observed "warming" and stimulating effects, which were believed to help move fluids and relieve blockages in the lymphatic and circulatory systems. However, there is little to no modern scientific research directly validating these uses, and the phytochemistry of Southern Prickly Ash has not been thoroughly studied in this context. Some related species in the Zanthoxylum genus have demonstrated mild immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies, but direct evidence for lymphatic congestion is lacking. Thus, its reputation for supporting lymphatic congestion is grounded in traditional herbal literature rather than clinical trials or robust pharmacological data. Overall, the evidence supporting Southern Prickly Ash for lymphatic congestion is based mainly on historical use, with a low level of scientific validation.

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