Evidence supporting the use of: Henbane
For the health condition: Nausea and Vomiting

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Synopsis

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

Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, primarily for its antispasmodic, analgesic, and sedative effects. Its historical use for nausea and vomiting is largely attributed to its content of tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which exert anticholinergic effects. These compounds can inhibit the action of acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors, leading to reduced gastrointestinal motility and secretions, thereby potentially alleviating symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Scopolamine, in particular, has been isolated from henbane and is known for its effectiveness against motion sickness and postoperative nausea, though in modern practice it is usually sourced from other plants or synthesized directly.

However, the direct use of henbane itself for treating nausea and vomiting is not widely documented in contemporary clinical literature, and its use is overshadowed by the risk of significant toxicity and side effects (e.g., hallucinations, delirium, dry mouth, tachycardia). Thus, while its traditional use for gastrointestinal complaints, including nausea, is established in some herbal texts and ethnomedicinal records, there is limited scientific validation for its safety and efficacy in this context. Modern medicine employs purified and standardized forms of its active constituents rather than the whole plant. Therefore, henbane’s use for nausea and vomiting is best understood as traditional rather than scientifically validated.

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