Evidence supporting the use of: Oak Bark
For the health condition: Influenza

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Oak bark (Quercus species) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, primarily for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. In various parts of Europe and Asia, oak bark decoctions and extracts have been used to treat sore throats, diarrhea, and inflammatory skin conditions, often attributed to its high tannin content. Historically, its use for respiratory infections, including influenza, is based more on its general antimicrobial and astringent effects rather than on targeted antiviral activity. There is no robust clinical or pharmacological evidence demonstrating that oak bark is effective specifically against influenza viruses. Modern scientific literature provides little to no data on the direct effect of oak bark or its constituents on influenza virus replication, symptom relief, or disease duration in humans. Thus, while oak bark may have a minor role in folk medicine as a supportive remedy (such as in gargles for sore throat during flu), its use for influenza is justified primarily by tradition rather than by scientific validation.

More about Oak Bark
More about Influenza

Products containing Oak Bark

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.