Evidence supporting the use of: Wahoo
For the body system: Gall Bladder

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Table of Contents

Synopsis

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

Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus), also known as burning bush, has a history of use in traditional North American herbal medicine, particularly among Native American and early European-American practitioners. Historically, the bark of Wahoo was used as a bitter tonic and purgative, believed to stimulate bile flow and thus support the liver and gall bladder. Early herbal texts, such as King's American Dispensatory (1898), note its use in treating "hepatic torpor" (sluggish liver) and gall bladder complaints, primarily due to its purported cholagogue effects (stimulating bile secretion). However, these uses were based on empirical tradition and the observed cathartic effects of the plant rather than rigorous scientific investigations.

Modern scientific validation for Wahoo's effectiveness or safety in supporting the gall bladder is lacking. There are no well-designed clinical studies confirming its benefits for gall bladder health, and the plant contains cardiac glycosides, which can be toxic in higher doses. Therefore, while its use is justified by historical tradition, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support its efficacy or safety for gall bladder support. It is not widely used in contemporary herbal practice for this purpose due to safety concerns and lack of modern research.

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Other body systems supported by Wahoo

Digestive System
Gall Bladder
Gastrointestinal Tract
Liver

Products containing Wahoo

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