Evidence supporting the use of: Sophora flavescens
For the health condition: Cholera

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Synopsis

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

Sophora flavescens, known as Ku Shen in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long-standing historical use for treating a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea and dysentery—conditions with symptoms that overlap with cholera. In classical TCM texts, Ku Shen is often included in herbal formulations aimed at "clearing heat" and "drying dampness," which are interpreted as addressing infections that cause severe diarrhea. However, while there is historical precedent for its use in treating severe diarrheal diseases, including symptoms similar to cholera, there is limited direct clinical or pre-modern documentation specifying cholera itself, especially as defined in a modern microbiological sense (i.e., infection with Vibrio cholerae).

Modern pharmacological studies have identified that Sophora flavescens contains alkaloids, such as matrine and oxymatrine, which demonstrate antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. Some studies suggest these compounds may inhibit the growth of various bacteria, but there is a lack of direct clinical or experimental evidence showing effectiveness against Vibrio cholerae or the treatment of cholera in humans. Therefore, while its use is rooted in traditional practice for conditions with similar presentations, scientific validation for its use specifically in cholera remains minimal.

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