Evidence supporting the use of: Black Hellebore
For the health condition: Headache (tension)
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.
Other ingredients used for Headache (tension)
ashwagandhawaterhyssop
black cumin
Indian frankincense
chamomile
cucumber
turmeric
turmeric
feverfew
ginger
greek mountain tea
kudzu
lavender
lemon
licorice root
magnesium
moringa
passionflower
passionflower
Peppermint
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
sage
schizonepeta
triphala
chickweed
Indian bael
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
commiphora
blackboard tree
peony
Szechuan lovage
morus
chrysanthemum
wintergreen
menthol oil
aster root
cayenne pepper
Avens
Agastache
Angelica
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Aerva lanata
Anemone
Amor seco
Atractylone
Black Seed
Blackthorn
Broussonetia
Balsam
Bayleaf
Butea monosperma
Bael
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Black willow
black salt
Bombax
Borassus Palm
Borassus aethiopum
Black Hellebore
Borneol
Camellia sinensis
Chinese Silkvine
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Cinquefoil
Citron
Cajuput
Coca
Campylandra fimbriata
Centipeda
Corydalis
Carthamus
cola nut
Clerodendrum indicum
DIVI-DIVI
Dragonhead
Dichrostachys glomerata
Erodium cicutarium
Evodia
Elephant's Head
Fernbush
Gnaphalium
Gardenia jasminoides
Galangal
Henna
Herb Robert
Hempnettle
Horsemint
Indian Coraltree
Indian Fagonia
Ledebouriella
Lesser speargrass
Litsea
Linden
Ligustilides
Lotus
Labrador Tea
Large-Leaved Linden
Loranthus
Linalool
Mentha haplocalyx
Mustard
Mallow
Malva sylvestris
Mountain mahogany
Matapalo Tree
Morning Glory
Meadowsweet
Macaranga indica
Nardostachys
Nymphaea nouchali
Osha
Onosma bracteatum
Osmanthus
Premna
Piper chaba
Pulsatilla
Pluchea
Pimpinella
Paeoniflorin
Poppy
Plectranthus amboinicus
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Rue
Rubiaceae
Sophora
Spanish Needle
Self-Heal
Salvia
Sensitive Plant
Sagebrush
Sandalwood
Semecarpus anacardium
Stereospermum
Sweet Bay
Storax
Sedanenolide
Tamarind
Vervain
Water Pepper
Willow
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Yerba buena
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Black Hellebore
Abdominal PainAsthma
Backache
Depression
Dizziness
Edema
Epilepsy
Fever
Gout
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Hemorrhoids
Inflammation
Influenza
Menstrual Irregularity
Migraine
Nausea and Vomiting
Nervous Exhaustion
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Pain (general remedies for)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wounds and Sores