Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Swertia, particularly Swertia chirayita, has been used in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and folk medicine in the Himalayas for a variety of ailments, including infections. Its use for bacterial infections is primarily based on traditional practices rather than robust scientific validation. Historically, swertia has been used as a bitter tonic and for its supposed "antimicrobial" and "febrifuge" (fever-reducing) properties. Traditional healers have employed extracts of swertia for digestive issues, fevers, and skin conditions, some of which may be associated with infections.

There is some laboratory evidence (in vitro studies) that extracts from Swertia species exhibit antibacterial activity against certain strains, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These studies often use crude extracts and are not standardized for clinical use. No high-quality clinical trials in humans have established swertia as a reliable or safe treatment for bacterial infections. Thus, while there is a traditional basis and preliminary experimental support for its use against bacteria, the evidence is of low quality and insufficient for clinical recommendations. The use of swertia for bacterial infections is therefore justified by tradition, with limited and weak scientific backing.

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