Synopsis

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

Southern Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), also known as Hercules' Club or toothache tree, has been traditionally used in North American folk medicine, particularly by Native American groups and later by herbalists in the southern United States. The bark and berries were often prepared as teas or tinctures and used for a variety of ailments, including colds with fever, sore throats, and as a general stimulant. Ethnobotanical records suggest that Southern Prickly Ash was valued for its diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) properties, which were believed to help "break" a fever and promote recovery from colds and respiratory infections. There is, however, little to no modern clinical research validating its efficacy for treating colds or fever, and any effects are based on historical usage rather than scientific trials. The active compounds, including alkaloids and essential oils, may have some antimicrobial or circulatory stimulant effects, but these have not been clearly linked to beneficial outcomes in cold or fever treatment in rigorous studies. Thus, the use of Southern Prickly Ash for colds with fever is supported primarily by traditional use, with only limited pharmacological rationale and no robust scientific validation.

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