Evidence supporting the use of: Black Hellebore
For the health condition: Headache (tension)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger) has a long history of use in traditional European herbal medicine. Historically, hellebore species, including black hellebore, were used for a variety of ailments, including headache, mental disturbance, and as a purgative. Notably, writings from ancient Greece and through the Middle Ages document the use of hellebore as a remedy for "melancholy" and head pain, sometimes in the context of balancing the humors or treating what was thought to be an excess of black bile. However, these uses were based on Galenic and humoral medical traditions rather than empirical evidence.

There is no modern scientific validation for the use of black hellebore in the treatment of tension headaches or any other type of headache. Helleborus niger contains toxic compounds, including glycosides such as helleborin, which can cause serious side effects (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac disturbances) if ingested. Due to its toxicity, black hellebore is not recommended in contemporary herbal practice and is considered unsafe by most modern standards.

In summary, while there is a historical tradition of using black hellebore for headache, this is not supported by scientific evidence, and its use is largely obsolete and potentially dangerous in the context of modern medicine.

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