Evidence supporting the use of: Black Hellebore
For the health condition: Nervous Exhaustion

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Synopsis

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

Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger) has a long history of use in traditional European herbal medicine, particularly in the context of treating various mental and nervous disorders, including what was termed "nervous exhaustion" (a historical diagnosis roughly corresponding to modern concepts of neurasthenia or chronic fatigue). Ancient Greek and Roman sources, such as Hippocrates and Dioscorides, documented the use of hellebore for "melancholia" and as a purgative for mental disturbances. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Black Hellebore continued to be used in similar contexts, often as part of complex herbal preparations aimed at restoring balance to the nervous system.

However, the plant is highly toxic, containing compounds such as helleborin and hellebrin, which can cause severe gastrointestinal and cardiac symptoms. Because of its toxicity, its use declined sharply with the advent of modern medicine. There is little to no modern scientific research validating the efficacy or safety of Black Hellebore for nervous exhaustion or related conditions. Current herbal practice generally avoids its use, and it is not recognized in contemporary pharmacopoeias as a treatment for nervous exhaustion. Therefore, any support for its use in this context is based almost entirely on tradition rather than scientific validation.

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