Evidence supporting the use of: Rhus glabra
For the health condition: Itching

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

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) has a history of traditional use among various Native American tribes and in North American folk medicine, where it has been applied topically or consumed as a decoction for its purported anti-inflammatory and antipruritic (anti-itch) effects. Ethnobotanical records indicate that some indigenous groups used poultices made from the leaves or bark of Rhus glabra to soothe skin irritations, rashes, and itching, often associated with minor wounds or insect bites. However, these traditional uses are primarily anecdotal, passed down through oral histories and early ethnographic accounts.

There is a lack of scientific studies specifically examining the efficacy of Rhus glabra in treating itching. Modern pharmacological investigations have identified some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in the plant, but there is no direct clinical or preclinical evidence linking these constituents to relief of pruritus in humans. Thus, while the traditional use is documented, the strength of evidence is weak and not substantiated by rigorous scientific validation.

More about Rhus glabra
More about Itching

Products containing Rhus glabra

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