Evidence supporting the use of: Prickly ash (mixed)
For the body system: Lymphatics

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): 2

Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum spp.) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly within North American indigenous and eclectic medical systems of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was commonly employed as a "stimulating alterative" and was believed to enhance circulation and lymphatic drainage, supporting the body's ability to clear metabolic waste. Prickly ash bark and berries were included in formulas aimed at treating lymphatic congestion, swollen glands, and other related conditions.

Despite this traditional reputation, there is very limited modern scientific research substantiating these specific lymphatic actions. Most of the evidence is anecdotal or based on traditional herbal texts, such as King's American Dispensatory and the writings of eclectic physicians, which describe prickly ash as a "lymphatic stimulant." These sources often grouped it with other herbs like cleavers and red clover for lymphatic support.

Contemporary phytochemical analyses have identified various alkaloids and essential oils in prickly ash, but their direct effects on the lymphatic system have not been rigorously explored in controlled scientific studies. Therefore, the use of prickly ash for lymphatic support is justified primarily by tradition and historical use, rather than by robust scientific validation.

More about Prickly ash (mixed)
More about Lymphatics

Products containing Prickly ash (mixed)

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