Clerodendrum indicum (also known as "Tubeflower" or "Bharangi" in Ayurveda) has a longstanding history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda for respiratory ailments, including headache associated with sinusitis. Ethnobotanical and Ayurvedic literature documents the use of Clerodendrum indicum root, leaves, and sometimes flowers in formulations intended to relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion, sinus headaches, cough, and other upper respiratory tract issues. The rationale for its use is often attributed to its purported anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and analgesic properties.

Traditional Ayurvedic texts (such as the Charaka Samhita and Bhavaprakasha Nighantu) mention Bharangi as a remedy for “Shiroroga” (head diseases, including headache) and “Peenasa” (sinusitis or chronic nasal catarrh). The plant is typically administered as part of polyherbal preparations, sometimes as decoctions or powders.

However, direct scientific evidence supporting the use of Clerodendrum indicum specifically for sinus-related headache is limited. Some modern pharmacological studies have reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of plant extracts in animal models, but these are preliminary and not specific to sinus headache. Thus, its use for sinus headache is primarily justified by traditional practice rather than robust clinical or scientific validation.