Evidence supporting the use of: Rubiaceae (unspecified)
For the health condition: Headache (tension)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
The Rubiaceae family includes a wide variety of plants, some of which have been used in traditional medicine to address headaches, including tension-type headaches. For example, Coffea (coffee) and Cinchona (source of quinine) are prominent members of this family, and Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) is also sometimes referenced. Traditional practices in various cultures have employed decoctions, infusions, or powders from Rubiaceae species to alleviate headache symptoms, often attributing this effect to their purported anti-inflammatory or analgesic properties.
However, the scientific evidence supporting the use of unspecified Rubiaceae species for tension headaches is limited. While caffeine (from Coffea) is sometimes used in combination with analgesics for headache relief, and Cinchona has a history in treating malaria rather than headaches, there is little direct research on the efficacy of most Rubiaceae plants for tension-type headaches specifically. Most references to their use for headaches are found in ethnobotanical surveys or historical texts, rather than in controlled clinical trials. Therefore, the justification for their use in this context is primarily traditional, with only modest evidence supporting efficacy, and the quality of such evidence is generally low.
More about Rubiaceae (unspecified)
More about Headache (tension)
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 oil
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
sage
schizonepeta
triphala
chickweed
Indian bael
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
commiphora
blackboard tree
peony
lingusticum wallichii
morus
chrysanthemum
wintergreen
menthol oil
aster root
cayenne pepper
Avens
Agastache
Angelica
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Aerva lanata
Anemone
Acetylsalicylic acid
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
Elephant's Head
Galangal
Lotus
Mustard
Mallow
Poppy
Sandalwood
Vervain
Other health conditions supported by Rubiaceae (unspecified)
AnemiaAppetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Asthma
Backache
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cuts
Depression
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dyspepsia
Edema
Energy (lack of)
Fatigue
Fever
Gastritis
Gonorrhea
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Hypertension
Inflammation
Insomnia
Jaundice (adults)
Liver Detoxification
Memory and Brain Function
Migraine
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
PMS (general)