Synopsis

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

Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum spp.) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in North America and China, for various digestive complaints, including acid indigestion (dyspepsia). Native American and traditional Western herbalists have employed prickly ash bark and berries as a "stomachic"—an agent believed to stimulate digestion and relieve symptoms such as bloating, gas, and discomfort caused by indigestion. The rationale for its use is largely based on its reputed ability to promote saliva and gastric juice secretion, thereby supporting digestive processes. However, while these uses are well documented in ethnobotanical and herbal literature, such as King's American Dispensatory and texts by folk herbalists, scientific validation is minimal. There are few modern clinical studies investigating prickly ash for acid indigestion, and most available information is anecdotal or based on traditional knowledge. Some animal studies suggest mild stimulatory effects on the digestive system, but these are neither comprehensive nor directly relevant to human acid indigestion. Thus, the justification for using prickly ash for acid indigestion is primarily traditional, with limited low-quality evidence and no robust clinical trials to confirm efficacy or safety for this purpose.

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