Synopsis

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

Hairy Fig (Ficus hirta), also known as “Wuzhimaotao” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of use in East and Southeast Asia for a variety of digestive complaints, including dyspepsia (indigestion). Traditional medical texts and ethnobotanical records describe the root and fruit of Hairy Fig as being used to “strengthen the spleen,” “regulate Qi,” and alleviate symptoms such as abdominal bloating, poor appetite, and discomfort after eating—typical features of dyspepsia. Decoctions and soups containing Hairy Fig are popular in folk medicine in southern China and neighboring regions for their perceived benefits to digestive health.

Although there are a few preliminary laboratory and animal studies suggesting that extracts of Ficus hirta may have gastroprotective effects or influence gastrointestinal motility, robust clinical studies in humans are lacking. No high-quality randomized controlled trials have directly evaluated its efficacy for dyspepsia. Thus, while its use is well-documented in traditional medicine and supported by longstanding practice, scientific validation remains limited and the evidence is best characterized as traditional with low to moderate strength (rating: 2). Further clinical research would be required to substantiate its specific effects and mechanisms in the treatment of dyspepsia.

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