Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Corydalis (primarily Corydalis yanhusuo) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of pain, including dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). In TCM theory, Corydalis is used to "invigorate the blood" and "move qi," actions that are thought to relieve pain associated with blood stasis, a common diagnosis for menstrual cramps in TCM. The plant contains several bioactive alkaloids, such as dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB) and tetrahydropalmatine (THP), which have demonstrated analgesic effects in animal studies and some limited human trials for general pain.

However, direct scientific evidence specifically supporting Corydalis for dysmenorrhea is limited. Most available studies focus on its general analgesic and antinociceptive properties rather than menstrual pain specifically. Some preliminary research, as well as traditional use, suggests that Corydalis extracts can provide pain relief, but high-quality clinical trials addressing dysmenorrhea are lacking. As such, the use of Corydalis for dysmenorrhea remains primarily justified by tradition, with limited scientific validation for this specific indication.

In summary, Corydalis is widely used in traditional medicine for dysmenorrhea, with modest evidence supporting its general pain-relieving properties. The overall rating of evidence for this specific use is moderate (3/5), based largely on its historical use and indirect scientific support.

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