Evidence supporting the use of: Animal Tissue
For the body system: Pituitary
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Animal tissue, specifically glandular extracts from animal pituitary glands, has been used traditionally in various systems of medicine and early 20th-century supplements to support the human pituitary body system. The rationale behind this practice is the concept of "like supports like," which posits that ingesting animal organs may support the function of the corresponding human organ. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dried pituitary extracts were sometimes used in attempts to treat pituitary insufficiency or related endocrine disorders, before the advent of synthetic hormones. However, the scientific evidence for oral supplementation with pituitary tissue supporting human pituitary function is minimal. The proteins and hormones in animal pituitary tissue are typically broken down during digestion and are unlikely to exert targeted physiological effects. Modern endocrine therapy has replaced such preparations with purified or synthetic hormones, which are both safer and more effective. As such, while the use of animal pituitary tissue as a supplement is supported by historical precedent and tradition, there is little to no robust clinical or scientific validation for its continued use for pituitary support.
Other body systems supported by Animal Tissue
Adrenal CortexAdrenal Glands
Circulatory System
Intestinal System
Joints
Muscles
Pituitary