Evidence supporting the use of: Henbane
For the health condition: Cramps and Spasms

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) has been used traditionally for centuries to treat cramps and spasms. This historical use is primarily due to its content of tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which possess anticholinergic properties. These compounds act by blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system, leading to muscle relaxation and reduction of involuntary muscle contractions. Ancient Greek and Roman physicians, including Dioscorides and Galen, prescribed henbane for a variety of spasmodic and painful conditions. In medieval European herbal medicine, henbane was valued for its sedative and antispasmodic effects and was often included in remedies for colic, neuralgia, and other spastic disorders.

However, modern scientific studies directly evaluating the efficacy and safety of henbane for cramps and spasms are limited. While the pharmacological action of its alkaloids is well-established and forms the basis for some modern antispasmodic drugs (e.g., hyoscyamine sulfate), the use of whole henbane preparations is rare today due to their narrow therapeutic window and risk of toxicity. As a result, while traditional use is well-documented and plausible based on known mechanisms, robust clinical evidence is lacking. Thus, its use for these indications is justified by tradition and pharmacological rationale, but not by contemporary clinical trials.

More about Henbane
More about Cramps and Spasms

Products containing Henbane

We currently have no products on Caring Sunshine that contain this ingredient.