Evidence supporting the use of: Blackboard tree
For the health condition: Congestion (sinus)

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Synopsis

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

The blackboard tree (Alstonia scholaris), also known as devil tree or scholar tree, has a long history of use in traditional medicine across South and Southeast Asia. Its bark, leaves, and latex have been employed in various folk remedies, including treatments for respiratory issues such as cough, asthma, and congestion. For sinus congestion specifically, traditional practitioners in Ayurveda and other local medicinal systems have used decoctions or extracts of blackboard tree bark and leaves for their purported anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties. However, direct scientific studies evaluating the efficacy of Alstonia scholaris for sinus congestion are scarce. Some laboratory research has indicated that extracts from the plant may have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, but these studies are preliminary and not directly related to the treatment of sinus congestion in humans. Overall, while the use of blackboard tree for sinus congestion is justified by tradition and ethnobotanical reports, there is minimal scientific evidence to support its effectiveness for this condition. Thus, its use remains primarily traditional, and further research would be necessary to establish its clinical benefit for sinus congestion.

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