Evidence supporting the use of: Chinese Goldthread
For the health condition: Eye Infections

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Synopsis

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

Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis), known as "Huang Lian" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a long history of use for treating various infections, including eye infections such as conjunctivitis. The primary active constituent is berberine, an alkaloid with demonstrated antimicrobial properties in laboratory settings. In TCM, decoctions or topical washes containing Goldthread are prescribed to "clear heat" and "dry dampness," terms that correspond to infection and inflammation in biomedical terminology. Historical texts and modern TCM practice both cite its use for red, swollen, or purulent eyes.

However, while berberine and Goldthread extracts have shown antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in animal studies, robust clinical trials specifically investigating their efficacy and safety for human eye infections are lacking. Most evidence remains anecdotal, based on traditional formulations and centuries of empirical use. Therefore, while scientific plausibility exists due to berberine's properties, the primary justification for Goldthread's use in eye infections remains traditional, with limited modern clinical validation.

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