Synopsis

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

Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) has a long history of traditional use in herbal medicine, including for oral health and supporting the gums. Native American tribes and later Western herbalists have used Oregon grape root as a mouthwash or gargle to help with mouth and gum irritations. The root contains alkaloids, most notably berberine, which is known for its antimicrobial properties. However, while there is some laboratory evidence that berberine and related alkaloids can inhibit the growth of oral pathogens, direct clinical evidence for Oregon grape specifically improving gum health is limited.

Most of the support for Oregon grape in gum health comes from its traditional use and from extrapolation of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions observed in general herbal medicine. Some herbalists recommend diluted Oregon grape preparations as mouth rinses for minor gum inflammation, but these uses have not been rigorously tested in modern clinical trials. Therefore, the evidence base is primarily traditional rather than scientific, and the overall strength of evidence for supporting the gums is modest.

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