Evidence supporting the use of: Rubiaceae
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.
Other ingredients used for Headache (tension)
AconiteAerva lanata
Agastache
Albizia
alpinia galangal
Amor seco
Anemone
Angelica
Asarum heterotropoides
ashwagandha
aster root
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
balsam
bayleaf
black cumin
Black Hellebore
black salt
black seed
Black willow
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Broussonetia
Butea monosperma
cajuput
Camellia sinensis
Campylandra fimbriata
Carthamus
cayenne pepper
Centipeda
chamomile
chickweed
Chinese silkvine
chrysanthemum
cinquefoil
citron
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coca
cola nut
commiphora
Corydalis
cucumber
Dichrostachys glomerata
divi-divi
dragonhead
elephant\'s head
Erodium cicutarium
Evodia
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
feverfew
Galangal
Gardenia jasminoides
ginger
Gnaphalium
Greek mountain tea
Hempnettle
henna
Herb Robert
Horsemint
Indian bael
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Indian frankincense
kudzu
labrador tea
Large-leaved linden
lavender
Ledebouriella
lemon
Lesser speargrass
licorice root
ligustilides
linalool
linden
Litsea
Loranthus
lotus
Macaranga indica
magnesium
mallow
Malva sylvestris
Matapalo Tree
Meadowsweet
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Moringa
Morning glory
Morus
Mountain mahogany
Mustard
Nardostachys
Nymphaea nouchali
Onosma bracteatum
Osha
Osmanthus
paeoniflorin
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
passionflower
passionflower
peony
Peppermint
Pimpinella
Piper chaba
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
poppy
Premna
Pulsatilla
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Rubiaceae
rue
sage
Sagebrush
Salvia
Sandalwood
schizonepeta
Sedanenolide
Self-Heal
Semecarpus anacardium
Sensitive Plant
Sophora
Spanish Needle
Stereospermum
Storax
Sweet Bay
Szechuan lovage
Tamarind
Triphala
turmeric
turmeric
Vervain
Water Pepper
Waterhyssop
Willow
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Wintergreen
Yerba buena
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Rubiaceae
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)
