Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus) has a long history of use in Indigenous medicine of the Pacific Northwest. Traditional knowledge from various First Nations peoples includes the use of Devil’s Club as a spiritual and physical remedy for a variety of ailments, including as a support for individuals seeking to overcome addiction—particularly to alcohol and tobacco. The plant has been used in ceremonial contexts to promote strength, purification, and to ward off negative influences, with the root bark often prepared as a tea, decoction, or poultice for these purposes.

However, scientific research specifically validating Devil’s Club for the treatment or support of addiction is lacking. While the plant contains several bioactive compounds (such as polyynes and sesquiterpenes) and has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic properties in preliminary studies, there is no clinical or pharmacological evidence directly linking these constituents to addiction treatment or support. Therefore, while its use in this context is grounded in tradition and cultural practice, it is not supported by modern scientific studies. The evidence rating is low (1) due to the absence of experimental or clinical validation for addiction-related uses.

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