Prickly Chaff Flower (Achyranthes aspera) has a long history of use in various traditional systems of medicine, especially in Ayurveda and folk medicine across India and parts of Asia. It has been used to address a range of conditions, including those involving swelling and inflammation. Specifically, traditional texts and ethnobotanical records cite its application for "swelling of glands," which is typically interpreted as swollen lymph nodes or lymphadenopathy in modern terminology. The plant is described as possessing anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and detoxifying properties, and preparations (such as decoctions or poultices) have been applied to reduce localized swelling or used internally to address systemic swellings.

However, while these uses are well-documented in traditional sources, scientific validation for the specific effect of Achyranthes aspera on swollen lymph nodes is limited. Some laboratory and animal studies have demonstrated general anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which could theoretically support its traditional use, but no clinical trials or rigorous studies directly confirm efficacy for swollen lymph glands in humans. Therefore, current support for this use primarily comes from traditional knowledge rather than strong scientific evidence.