Evidence supporting the use of: Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
For the health condition: Circulation (poor)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Prickly Ash (commonly referring to Zanthoxylum americanum or Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly within Native American and early North American herbal traditions, for supporting circulation and alleviating symptoms associated with poor blood flow. Traditional herbalists have used the bark and berries as a "circulatory stimulant," claiming it can increase peripheral blood flow, reduce coldness in extremities, and support overall cardiovascular function. These uses are primarily based on empirical observation and the doctrine of signatures, as well as experience passed down through generations.
However, scientific evidence directly supporting these uses is limited. While preliminary pharmacological studies have identified compounds in Prickly Ash with potential vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties, there are very few, if any, robust clinical trials or systematic reviews confirming its efficacy for improving circulation in humans. As such, the primary justification for using Prickly Ash to support poor circulation remains rooted in traditional medicine rather than in scientific validation.
In summary, while Prickly Ash is traditionally used for poor circulation, and there are plausible mechanisms suggested by its phytochemistry, the strength of evidence supporting its effectiveness remains low, and it should be used with caution and awareness of the limited scientific backing.
More about Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
More about Circulation (poor)
Other ingredients used for Circulation (poor)
acetyl l-carnitineajoene
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
amino acids
anthocyanins
arjun tree
ashwagandha
asparagus
astaxanthin
astragalus
beet
bergamot
berry flavor
bilberry
black cumin
black currant
black garlic
black pepper
sesame
black tea
blueberry
bromelain
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butcher's broom
caffeine
capsaicinoids
cat's claw
caterpillar mushroom
celery
chen pi
cherry
Chinese salvia root
chokeberry
cinnamon
citrus bioflavonoids
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
clove
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coleus forskohlii
cordyceps
turmeric
curcumin
d-alpha tocopherol
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
dong quai root
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
fish oil
fish protein
flavonols
flaxseed
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
garlic bulb
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
onion
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
hawthorn
hesperetin
hesperidin
hibiscus
horse chestnut
horseradish
Indian tinospora
iron
knotweed
kudzu
l-arginine
l-carnitine
l-citrulline
lovage
mackerel
magnesium
marine lipid
moringa
mustard seed
naringin
nattokinase
nettle
niacin (vitamin B3)
niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
orange
oyster mushroom
pine bark
policosanol
pomegranate
quercetin
redcurrant
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
rose hips
rosemary
rutin
safflower oil
sardines
shiitake mushroom
black ginger
spinach
tocotrienols
triphala
ubiquinol
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vegetable blend (proprietary)
vitamin B
vitamin E
seaweed
water
watercress
watermelon
mulberry
sarsaparilla
suma
jiaogulan
tangerine
gastrodia
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
Indian bael
inula racemosa
punarnava
commiphora
smilax
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
peony
lingzhi
lingusticum wallichii
prickly ash
siler root
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
ganoderma
morinda
zanthoxylum
birch
polyphenols
purslane
yerba mate
biota seed
goji berry
herbal blend (proprietary)
Sichuan pepper
yohimbe
cocoa
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
enzymes blend (proprietary)
cayenne pepper
ashitaba
2-(nitrooxy)ethyl 2-amino-3-methylbutanoate
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Aralia
Arjuna
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate
Antler
Autumn elaeagnus
Arginine Creatine
Arginine nitrate
Angelica
Aronia melanocarpa
Allicin
Arginine aspartate
Achyranthes
Auricularia
Adrenergic amines
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Astragaloside
anthocyanidins
Asteracea
Arjunic Acid
Alliin
anthocyanosides
Allium tuberosum
Arginine silicate
Atractylone
Bishop's Weed
Butea monosperma
Black galingale
berry
Bur-Reed
Bioflavonoids
Bee products
Buddha's Hand
Buckwheat
Bassia scoparia
Boerhavia diffusa
Borneol
Coumarin
Centella triterpenes
Chinese Silkvine
Cinnamomum
Chinese Mountain Ant
Carqueja
Calycosin
Capsinoids
Codonopsis
Capillary Artemisia
Cyanidin
Curcuminoid
Citrus
Capsaicin
Catecholamine
Cowherb
Curcumen
Centella asiatica
Coca
Chocolate
Curcuma
Chestnut
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Carthamus
cola nut
Currant
Diallyl sulfide
Diosmin
Dismutase
Danshen
Dong Quai
Date
Diosmetin
Dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/Etetraenoic Acid Isobutylamide
epicatechin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Elk antler
Evodiamine
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Essential Oil Blend
Ephedrine
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
European-Five Finger Grass
Echium
Fruit
Flavonoids
Fo-Ti
Flat-stem milk-vetch
Fatty acids
Flavanones
Fagopyrum
Flavoglycosides
Flavans
Forskolin
Flavonones
Flavanols
Flavones
Ginsenosides
Glycoside
Garlic
Ginkgo Flavone Glycoside
Mustard
Mistletoe
Pistachio
Sumac
Sweet Orange alcohol
yohimbine
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Backache
Bites and Stings
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Canker Sores
Chest Pain
Circulation (poor)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Constipation (adults)
Cuts
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dyspepsia
Ear Infection or Earache
Eczema
Fever
Glands (swollen lymph)
Gout
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Hemorrhoids
Inflammation
Insomnia
Itching