Synopsis

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

Heartwood from various plants, particularly from species such as Santalum album (sandalwood), Pterocarpus santalinus (red sandalwood), and Acacia catechu (black catechu), has been used in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support digestive health, including the treatment of dyspepsia (indigestion). In these traditions, heartwood extracts are believed to have cooling, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties, which are thought to soothe the gastrointestinal tract and alleviate symptoms such as bloating, discomfort, and loss of appetite. Texts like the Ayurvedic classics mention the use of heartwood preparations for calming "pitta" imbalances, which are associated with digestive disturbances.

However, the scientific evidence supporting heartwood’s efficacy for dyspepsia is limited. While some laboratory studies have identified antioxidant and mild anti-inflammatory properties in heartwood extracts, robust clinical trials in humans are lacking. The rating of 2 reflects the established tradition of use and a small amount of supportive preclinical data, but not substantial validation from modern clinical research. As such, heartwood’s use for dyspepsia is primarily justified by long-standing traditional practices rather than strong scientific validation.

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